Valdisara, Kara, Martaug, and Orislav did, in fact, get standard harness for the horses.
If one of those four volunteers to explain what happened, everyone should just read their spoiler sections. Likewise with Grumblenaught and Yalka, and with Deserach.
So it sounds like the party wants to hustle the mounts? Did you want to hustle for three hours, or four?
Martaug will be driving. He will have the team at normal movement for the first hour... it doesn't let the fatigued horse rest, but it does let it come down from the rough riding for a bit. After the first hour though, he will step it up to hustle them along for the next 2 hours. If we find a water source along the way, we well let the team stop for a drink and to crop at some of the grasses. If Martaug sees any grasses he knows has an invigorating effect (Knowledge: Nature), he will try to get the horse to eat a bit (using Handle Animal if needed to get it to eat). That should move us about 10 miles down the road in 3 hours. Give the team a rest and then hustle on to be there in just under two more hours.
He will periodically look back along the trail to see if anything untoward is behind us. A single circling raven, for example.
Martaug will be driving. He will have the team at normal movement for the first hour... ... After the first hour though, he will step it up to hustle them along for the next 2 hours. ... That should move us about 10 miles down the road in 3 hours. Give the team a rest and then hustle on to be there in just under two more hours.
He will periodically look back along the trail to see if anything untoward is behind us. A single circling raven, for example.
No invigorating grasses, I'm afraid, but you do find a small brook. The restbreak is too short to really help the horses, and you can't afford the hours it would take to bring them back to full strength.
(Orislav could call down another blast of positive energy, though. If he did so after, say, the four hours, the horses would arrive with no damage and no fatigue.)
Otherwise, so noted. If your plan goes as expected, you should arrive in the neighborhood of the farmstead perhaps a half hour before sunset.
Valdisara:
An hour later, you remember. It was an aside you heard during a lecture once. Sometime early in the reign of the Whispering Tyrant, a resistance movement formed, led by a small group of paladins. One, a holy champion of Aroden, had gone on a quest through the upper planes, looking for a weapon. What he'd found was a gigantic spoon, which he remade into a golden mace that could keep powerful evil at bay, but only when the sun shone down upon it.
The assault failed, of course, but within a few years, an anonymous painting, commemorating the battle, found its way to the temple at Vigil. The setting in that painting, from the foothills in the west to the types of trees and grasses, matches your current surroundings.
If the painting is accurate (and who knows? Maybe the painter just lived around here and picked a local landscape as her bakcground...) then something important, brave, and upright made a stand not far from here.
(Orislav could call down another blast of positive energy, though. If he did so after, say, the four hours, the horses would arrive with no damage and no fatigue.)
I thank Orislav for his evident favor with the Heavens, as I feel a charge of Goodness surge thru me, and Lightening whinnies in delight.
After the break Martaug gives the horses, something stirs at the back of your mind. There's something ... familiar about some of these elements.An hour later, you remember. It was an aside you heard during a lecture once. Sometime early in the reign of the Whispering Tyrant, a resistance movement formed, led by a small group of paladins. One, a holy champion of Aroden, had gone on a quest through the upper planes, looking for a weapon. What he'd found was a gigantic spoon, which he remade into a golden mace that could keep powerful evil at bay, but only when the sun shone down upon it.
The assault failed, of course, but within a few years, an anonymous painting, commemorating the battle, found its way to the temple at Vigil. The setting in that painting, from the foothills in the west to the types of trees and grasses, matches your current surroundings.
If the painting is accurate (and who knows? Maybe the painter just lived around here and picked a local landscape as her background...) then something important, brave, and upright made a stand not far from here.
The paladin bows her head in remembrance of those who likely fought and died in these hills, offering a prayer to Iomedae for their brave sacrifice. When finished, she raises her eyes and again scans the landscape to the rear and sides of the trail, alert for any signs of pursuit or danger. After a moment, she says to her companions, "Very near here, I believe a great battle was fought many years ago. A holy champion of Aroden, armed with a weapon forged in the god's name, bravely tried to prevent a deep evil from spreading through these lands - unfortunately he and his companions gave their lives in the process. We should attempt to locate the site if we have the time, to pay our respects to the honored dead. Perhaps after this foul business tonight is completed."
After a time, she turns to look at the others who were with her during the recent attack - Martaug, Orislav, and Kara. "So, to which of you three did Brach and the hobgoblin refer when they called for the "return" of a murderer and escaped slave?"
Grumblenaught will claim the seat next to Martaug, keeping a sharp eye out ahead, his loaded crossbow in his lap.
Now and again, partial verses of a dwarven marching chant escape from the dwarf, a rumbling sing-song quickly bitten off each time he notices that he is actually audible.
After Yalka's mention of the windmill, he elaborates briefly on the barbarian's description. "Might be more'n one of 'em about, but I can find it if we needs, sure enough."
Some few minutes after Valdisara volunteers her historic tale, the dwarf speaks up again, his deep voice bearing a note of uncertainty this time. "Friend o' mine back in town, he says them Blackspeare's took a shine to weapons... magic weapons like she tells about in her story. Wonder if mebbe this all tangles together somehows?" He twists to look over his shoulder at the passengers in the wagon bed, one bushy eyebrow cocked in inquiry.
- Orislav: You'd taken 10 hp in wound damage and 3 points of Constitution damage, which drops your hp total another 2 points.
- Kara: You're down 9 hp damage from the hobgoblin's sword and 1 point of Constitution damage, which drops your hp total another point.
- Grumblenaught: has taken 3 hp damage from a fall.
- Yalka's horse Lightening: has taken 4 points of Constitution damage, which reduces her hp total by 6 points.
- The horse Brach rode in on: Is fatigued, has 5 hp lethal damage, and 4 points of non-lethal damage from Orislav's Stormburst.
- The other horses have taken 3 hit points from hustling, and are fatigued.
Grumblenaught, as you're coming up to the hills surrounding the Rolsen farmstead, you'd reckon that the windmill is about 3 miles due west of you, and that distance is almost entirely uphill.
I don't mean to step on the conversation: you all have a lot of clues here and you've got time to discuss them, and I don't want to step on Valdisara's question. But I'm also curious: is anybody making any other preparations before arriving at the farmstead? If so, when?
Yalka just stays alert, looking for the nearest sign of the farmstead, or any trouble that may appear.
"I'm guessin' dey was talkin' ta me," Martaug says to Valdisara. "Dey seemed ta have a beef against dose'a my blood. My Ma was a slave back in Belzkin, but she an' my whole tribe'a been dead an' bones picked for more'n 9 summers. Ain't never been a slave ta no man or orc and I damn sure ain't gonna start by bein' chained up by some jimson-weed chewin' religious fanatic knobgoblin bent on increasin' da slave labor he can bring back ta da church."
As they approach the farm house, Martaug contemplates the family, to see if he can remember anything of substance about them.
Valdisara nods her head at Martaug's words, seemingly accepting them at face value. "No man deserves to be bound to a life of slavery, so it is well that we were able to fend them off. I have no doubts we will see them again, however, and the rest of their band as well."
The paladin takes a moment to consider Grumblenaught's suggestion. "If these rogues know that a holy relic was lost in the area, then it is possible you are correct. However, I don't know if it indeed was lost in the failed assault, or even if the battle took place near here. The landscape through which we pass looks very similar to one I saw depicted in a painting of the attack while I was in Vigil. Other than that, I only know the legend of the failed stand and the forging of the golden weapon. It was said that the holy mace held evil at bay as long as the sun shone upon it."
"The motivation behind this attack is important to understand, I think. Does anyone know of any reason why this family might be attacked? Are they wealthy, or do they have enemies in the area? Now that we are underway, does anyone know the layout of the farmstead, how many live there, and whether the family has children? Remember what the Deputy said: 'Don't... trust... after.. boy'. If not, what did that mean? Our time will be short once we arrive, we need to discuss what we know and can guess and lay whatever plans we are able now."
Valdisara:
So far as you can tell, Martaug is not under any compulsion or enchantment. That's all you can tell.
Martaug, who's met the family:
Ever since you've been in the area, you've had contact with the Rolsens. You've traded goods (honey, perhaps?) and some common daylabor for clothing --Hilden's a good weaver, her work is simple but sturdy and warm in the winter-- and sometimes for meat and goat cheese.
They've never mentioned your half-breed heritage, and it doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest. The boy, Gunlar (pronounced "goon-lahr") is always hungry for information about the world outside the farmstead, and his parents usually encourage him to ask you questions.
They raise sheep and goats, and keep a dozen or so chickens and a few donkeys. Ulrich isn't happy sitting around, so he's almost always working on some project or another. This summer, Gunlar has begun investigating the lands around the farmstead when he has an afternoon free. This strikes you as potentially dangerous, but he's reached his 10th birthday, and he doesn't strike you as inclined to take foolish risks.
How large is their farm? Hard to say. Ulrich maintains a solid fence himself, and Hilden insists that he stay at home every night, so it can't be longer than a dozen miles in perimeter. It might be considerably smaller than that.
Their farm house, on the other hand, you're familiar with. It's a small main building, perhaps 20 feet wide by twice that in length, one large room with a high ceiling and sleeping quarters up on a loft running along the east side. Tools are kept in two sheds outside. They've cleared much of the acreagefor pasture out back, but the land right around the house is littered with a couple large oaks, small trees, shrubs, and rocks.
Kara will thank Orislav for the divine mending, and apologize for such reckless action. "I was attempting to level the field, as it were."
After Valdisara's story, Kara will ask her, "I've heard differing portions of that tale about many places in Lastwall. Do you hail from there?"
After Valdisara's story, Kara will ask her, "I've heard differing portions of that tale about many places in Lastwall. Do you hail from there?"
At Kara's question, the paladin's eyes become shuttered and her demeanor instinctively more distant. "I come from nowhere."
Hearing the chill in her voice, Val sighs and adds in a more conversational tone, "I was raised in Vigil, so in a sense the answer to your question is yes. Iomedae's faithful in the Holy Citadel of Light reared me. And you?"
Brooding silently while listening to the conversation of the wagon-riders,
Yalka suddenly chimes in:
"Yalka think family will know more what Bandits after. First we need get there, keep them safe is first thing."
Her eyes looking inward for a moment, Kara puts on a sad smile. "I was born in the very heart of Taldor, home of jealousies raised to mountainous heights, and revenge made the height of fashion. The more I think about it, the more I believe that some deity must have put me there so that I would want to leave. I think my time in Lastwall is what truly raised me, for until then I was not a grown woman, simply a girl with high hopes, and grand adventures of do-gooding in my heart."
"I was born near here, on a small farmstead south of town. But I haven't been there in years. I was actually looking for Deputy Win when I came into town this morning, intending to ask him whether anyone was living there now."
"I hope he's doing better."
"When I was a boy, I spent alot of time exploring the woods and streams around the farm. Do you suppose this boy we seek to protect has done the same? And perhaps found some relic or the clue to wealth?"
"If I were planning on making some attack on a farmstead, I think I'd keep an eye on it until I did. That way I could be sure to catch my targets at home or learn where their wealth was kept. Perhaps the bandits Win fears has done the same. Would scouting ahead be a good idea? We might be able to capture a spy and learn from him."
rise from my seat in the wagon, so I can get a look at the other wounded, to be sure the bandaging is still secure
Oops, did I do heal checks on all? And, if so, how many uses should I deduct from the Healer's Kit? According to the skill description, it would really only help if someone has a 'deadly wound'. And a deadly wound (?) would require 5 uses from a kit.
By my reckoning, you've used three uses from your healer's kit, Orislav: on the poisons affecting Deputy Wygate, Kara, and yourself.
"I cain't think of any reson ta attack the Rolsens fer any gain from da family demselves," Martaug offers. "I've known 'em almost since I been here, an' dey've been nuthin' but nice ta me."
"Ulrich is da father an' as good a man as I know. He looks ta da balance in his farmin'... not agressively goin' after resources he would have trouble maintainin'. Hilden's a good woman, an' a pretty decent weaver. Dey have a boy, Gunlar, who's about 10 summers old, or maybe a bit more. Gunlar is a keen lad an' always askin' questions about how da world is a'workin'. If it were him as da source'a trouble dat Win was talkin' about, I would be surprised. But someone should stay close ta him at all times."
"Da farmstead is pretty small... dey got livestock an' a couple'a outbuildings, some trees where we could steak out a watch. I'll volunteer for dat, since I don't need light ta see and might be able ta alert everyone if dey are sneakin' in. I can give a bird call if I see anyone comin' in... da red cockaded night pheasant is a bird from dis region dat should have headed south fer winter a couple'a months ago. No real chance'a any still bein' 'round, but dey have a common call dat da normal person might not think twice 'bout hearin'."
As we come in close to the property, Martaug will call Ulrich out by name and lay the info on him as quickly as he can.
Martaug, you guide the wagon towards the Rolsen farmstead. You've never approached it from this direction, but you change course a little and dead-reckon to where you think it ought to be, and you find it without losing much time.
You call out for Ulrich, but it's Gunlar who bursts through the front doorway and comes running out to meet you. For those of you who haven't met him, Gunlar is short for his age, but well-built and muscled. His simple cream-colored shirt, black pants are sized for someone a little larger and flap about as he runs. He dodges a few stones and other obstacles in the yard. "Martaug! Have you seen --?"
And he stops, agape at the lot of you, armed and armored. "Oh wow!"
Hilden appears in the doorway. "Martaug? Ulrich's not here. They left at midmorning to investigate some caves." She hesitates, uncertain about what it means that all of you have ridden up to her gate.
"With treasure!" beams Gunlar.
Without waiting for the wagon to fully halt, Grumblenaught drops to the ground, nods brusquely to the young boy and bows to the farmwife, before blurting "Missus, you jes' said "they" went to look at some caves.. who might them plurals be, what went wit' yer husband?"
Looking slightly surprised at his own outburst, he manages to dig up an embarrassed grin, accompanied by a shrug. "Talkin ain't me best habit, but Grumblenaught be what I am called, and I reckon me an' this whole wagon o' folks be at yer service."
Missus, you jes' said "they" went to look at some caves.. who might them plurals be, what went wit' yer husband?
Talkin ain't me best habit, but Grumblenaught be what I am called, and I reckon me an' this whole wagon o' folks be at yer service.
Hilden is more than a little taken aback. "Ah, w-, well, in that case would you all like to come in and--"
The boy blurts, "Father went with that man from town, to look at the cave I found, 'cause there's probably treasure there, and the man said that he might could tell if it was stolen or not, and if it's not, then it's mine, 'cause I'm the one who found it."
Glancing at the young boy first, I turn back to Hilden, and add in a humble voice:
"Excuse us, we here by request of Deputy Win.
He say Bandits readying attack your farm here tonight. Perhaps now we know reason they interest in attack.
Deputy very sick from many bites of Giant Spiders, the kind sometimes live in caves. He send us here protect you and family."
Martaug nods in agreement with what Yalta says "Yeah, Win came back inna bad way. Bit several times, lucky ta... well, ta 'a made it back. He di'n't say anything about yer man, but he was so clouded from his injuries he couldn't say much. What he did say was dat dese brigands planned on attackin' your house tonight. We don't gotta lotta time. Ya gots anywhere ya and da boy can hide? It might not be you specifically dat dey want... We came to help defend the farmstead an' if'n we can do dat, we can go look for Ulfric afterwards. In da mean time, get gone if ya gots a hidey-hole somewheres closeby. Take da boy an' get up in da loft if'n ya aint. We'll try to keep ya safe and sound."
Hilden grows pale. "Constable Wygate? B- but didn't... Wasn't Ulrich ,,, ? They left together, just this morning."
Deserach, Valdisara
Gunlar looks confused for a moment. "Martaug, what happened to Father?"
Then, "But, Mom, there's a thicket up there," he says, gesturing back behind the house "just off the goat pen, on the other side of the river crossing. It's deep in the brush, an' there's only one way in, and it's pretty well hid. One of the goats got out and wandered in there back in summer, and Father couldn't find it 'cept for its bleating."
"This morning we see Deputy Win very sick from spiders in Carrion Hill.
He talk of boy, like this one, and old mine... But you say also see Deputy Win this morning? Yalka think bad magic involve here. If you like, Yalka help Hilden move goats to clearing with supplies for day or two. It sound safe there if Bandits come here, us armed warriors find your man. He maybe find Giant Spiders like Win, or if this bad magic be real..."
"Gunlar, what more do you know about this cavern? It could be very important, so do your best to remember as much as possible."
Valdisara listens with growing concern at the rapid exchange between the group and the two Roslens before them. Despite the knowledge that further delay may very well mean Ulrich could perish, she adds nothing but a nod to Martaug's suggestion that the family get somewhere safe and the group go about searching for the missing man later.
At a break in the discussion, the paladin interjects, "We really have no time, assuming the Deputy's warning is true. Madame, you and your son need to get to a safe place immediately. The thicket sounds like it might do. We can discuss the whereabouts of the cave and your husband later, after things are secure here. I am sure that is what both your husband and the deputy would want. The rest of us need to get into position - Martaug's suggestion of the tree for keeping watch sounds good, and at least one of us should stay with the Roslens. The rest perhaps should take position in the house, assuming that is where the family usually is this time of day."
She looks towards the woman for confirmation.
We really have no time, assuming the Deputy's warning is true. Madame, you and your son need to get to a safe place immediately. The thicket sounds like it might do. We can discuss the whereabouts of the cave and your husband later, after things are secure here. I am sure that is what both your husband and the deputy would want. The rest of us need to get into position - Martaug's suggestion of the tree for keeping watch sounds good, and at least one of us should stay with the Roslens. The rest perhaps should take position in the house, assuming that is where the family usually is this time of day.
She looks towards the woman for confirmation. Hilden nods. "Aye. I'm startin' supper now, for the three of us an' a guest. Once it gets dark, the dangerous things come out, an' we stay put."
Gunlar leads you to survey the protective nest surrounded by thick walls of thorny shrubs with small white flowers and small trees.
Martaug and Orislav
The entrance isn't obvious, and is awkward for full-grown humans to navigate; you wouldn't be able to get a horse --or even a donkey-- in there without cutting open the crawlspace leading in. People inside might be hidden from view; they would certainly have both partial concealment and some cover. There's room in there for six or seven people packed like cordwood, or three people with room to maneuver. As you follow Gunlar back there,
"Gunlar, what more do you know about this cavern? It could be very important, so do your best to remember as much as possible."
"Well, ma'am, I can tell you what I told the const'ble.
"I was out explorin' 'bout a week ago. Mom don't want me wanderin' outside of sight o' the homestead, but I'd been curious about some caves I seen over yonder, on the other side of those walnut trees," he says, gesturing towards the fading sun. "Anyways, I could still see the smoke from our cookfire, so's I wasn't really out of sight..."
"So, anyways, I go over there and there's a pretty deep shaft, and I crawl down it. And I know, you got to be careful, so's I brought some of the heavy rope Father uses for mending fences, and I brought a torch and some tinder."
Gunlar looks at Yalka. "There were spiders there, sure, but nothing really big. Maybe the size of my fist? And they were scared of the torch when I waved it at 'em.
"So, I lowered myself down the shaft, but I lost my grip on the rope, and I dropped down, an' hit water. I'd fell below the surface, an' my torch went out, of course, an' when I reached the top of the water, there wasn't air or nothin', just rock, so I felt my way along till I came to a pocket of air. And I climbed up out of the water into a cave or somethin', but I still couldn't see anything. There wasn't flutterin' or anything like you'd expect with bats. It was just still. Every time I'd take a step, it sounded really loud. Even the dripping made little splashing sounds. And I was gettin' all cold and all, so I felt my way back to the water, but I ran into two big wooden boxes. They was all sealed up and locked, but they were heavy! So, I took a deep breath, and I swam back down and then back up to the shaft, and then I climbed out and came straightaway to tell Mom and Father."
Hilden lays a reassuring hand on Gunlar's shoulder. "Sure'n we're not the first folks to live here, and there were terrible days long past, and sure'n relics and legacies still crop up. But the gods only know what might be down there, an' Ulrich was sensible 'bout it. When the constible came round to see us, Ulrich told him about Gunlar's find, and the two of them set off to investigate."
Gunlar adds, "An' if there was treasure there, an' if it weren't claimed, the const'ble said it'd be mine, 'cause I was the one that found it. But I'd give it all away right now, if Father'd have come home with you."
Martaug, there's a fine tree in the front yard. A DC 15 climbing roll would get you into the lower boughs, hidden from view.
You have ten minutes before the sun sets. The temperature is already beginning to drop, and the skies in the east are deepening.
Sachiko, five hours earlier:
You approach Urthula's mansion. it's smaller than you rmeember it, and drab. When you were here before, it was lit with colored torches and draped in festive banners. In today's light, it is simply a large two-story house, in one of the older sections of town.
Upon your approach, a serving man, with more than a trace of elvish ancestry, answers the door. He wears simple workclothes (... again, you seem to recall the man from that evening, when he wore a splendid navy-and-scarlet tinic and jacket...) and looks to have been out in the kitchens.
"Good afternoon," he begins, and then pauses, unsure of how to continue.
"Valdisara is right. Perhaps the use of a dress, to hide my breastplate? I would need to place my shield and sword elsewhere, obviously, but within reach. If Grumble agrees, we could attempt to use silhouettes through the windows to sell the deception. Is this agreeable, Grumblenaught?"
I ask the young boy:
"Can you point where is shaft? Yalka curious see before dark come."
Martaug cocks his head quizically at Hilden "Who's yer guest? Better get dem ta ground, too. Be a bad host ta get yer guest attacked while ya head ta safety." He gives her a little wink to let her know he's making a joke. As soon as he they woman and child start moving to relative safety, Martaug runs over to the tree and pulls his rope out of his backpack. Throwing it over one of the main limbs and knotting it to use to climb up/slide down. Once he gets to the limb and is out of site, he'll reel up the rope and have it ready to drop down.
I ask the young boy:
"Can you point where is shaft? Yalka curious see before dark come."
The paladin shakes her head at Yalka. "You stay with us for now." Turning to address Hilden, she says, "Is there an outbuilding inside or behind which we can put the wagon and team?"
Whilst the farmer's lad shows off the hidey-thicket, Grumblenaught stumps around the house and the sheds, noting potential lines of fire and available cover, as well as checking which of the doors can be locked or latched (and from which direction.)
"Here y'be, lass," he says to Valdisara, passing her the carved ram's horn he carries, with a twinkle in his eye. "Sure'n ye don't have true dwarfish lungs, but I reckon ye can sound it loud enough fer us ta hear at th' house if ye needs help."
He looks at Kara, tilting his head upwards, trying to look indignant. "Not that I mind posin' as the lad, not at all... but if'n yer next words is ta ask me ta shave me beard, yer not gonna hear th' answer yer wanting."
"Missus," he adds, before Hilden leaves for the safety of the thicket, "yer supper smells a treat.. can ye spare a ladle's worth, ta fortify me innards fer tonight's work?"
|
"Is hiding the Rolsens family away from the farmhouse really the smart thing to do, should we not be protecting them? If as has been mentioned before our adversaries have spies already would they not observe this?"
Deserach will bring these points up outside the earshot of the family, in hopes to not further upset them with brash words.
"Now this is just a bit of academic presupposition but suppose these Blackspears Bandits are the living dead? By all reckoning they should be dead and gone some fifty to sixty years. Could Win and the farmer have stumbled into an old treasure cache guarded by the spirits of the bygone bandits?"
After unsaddling Jaks and brushing him down I will make my way to sit down near Grumblenaught more in an attempt to be out of the way then to be social. I will idly fidget with the long pommel of my gilded scimitar.
Kara:
Hilden is a human woman, in her early 40's, who's life has been simple, lonely, and often stressful. Her hair is blond, with some white streaks showing, pulled back in a practical bun. She stands straight at 5' 6", heavy-set, with calloused hands and muscles toned for endurance rather than strength. Her spare dresses are black and dark brown, with a modest wimple and cream-colored aprons.
Gunlar, by the way, is, as I've said, a litle small for his age, but shows no signs of the typical awkwardness of kids going through growth spurts. He's got blond hair, straight and cropped in a "page boy" cut, and you notice that his eyes rest on a lot of practical things, like the way a scabbard is secured, or the kinds of shoes you all wear.
Yalka:
Where's the cave? Gunlar tells you "it's in a batch of caves, some of which lead back to each other, and some of which don't. It took me an hour on foot to get there, so it'd be maybe a 10-minute hard ride, and that mostly uphill, into the foothills of the mountains. If you got ridin' right now, I'm guessin' that you'd probably make it to the caves by sunset.
"But as Mom was sayin', this area's dangerous at night."
Martaug:
Hilden nods, "Yes sir. Ulrich and the constable ought to'be been back by now, an' he was going to stay for dinner."
And you can Take 20 and get into the tree. (Or even Take 10, if two others assist you up.)
Valdisara:
Hilden turns towards you a litle confused. "We don't have much of a place for horses, certainly not where they might stay hid."
Gunlar turns to address his mother, "Beggin' yer pardon, Ma'am, but we have the nursing pen. None of the goats are nursing kids now, an' there's none sick and needin' to be isolated. We could put the horses there."
He turns to Valdisara and continues, "It ain't a high fense, and horses could probably jump it if they had a mind to. But it'd be a reasonable corral."
Grumblenaught:
Hilden is too worried to laugh, but she smiles a little, "Help yourself, all of you. there was more than ---" and her voice trails off, entertaining unhelpful worries.
As you discuss your plan, gunlar just stands there, a dubious look playing over his face. "Mom, he don't look much like me."
Orislav:
It looks to be a cool, clear autumnal night. The new moon was five days past, so there will be a waxing crescent tonight.
Everybody:
On a square grid, place letters acros the top, running west to east, A through R, and numbers down the side, north to south, 1 through 17. Each square represents 5'
There is a earthen rise, probably human-made, but over a century old, which the Rolsen's simply call "the berm". It's over 12' high, and it was made to protect the farmhouse against the elements, particularly the winter snows. It's to the north and west of the farmhouse, with corners at B3, I3, G8, E8, C15, and B15.
The farmhouse itself is situated on the 20'-by-30' rectangle with corners at F-K, 14-17. The roof is sharply slanted, and asymmetric, with the peak ten feet from the western walls. This makes the western part of the farmhouse almost two stires outside. A chimney sticks out of the roof, at J15, almost six or seven feet out from the rooftop. The roof is made of some sort of shale tiles on the western slope, and tight thatching on the eastern side.
The makeshift corral for the horses is situated on the rectangle running from M-O, 9-15. Their goat and sheep run is much, much larger, running hundreds of yards to the north.
there's a small stone "fence" sturdy, thick, but only two feet high, in C19, and running through C20 through H20.
There's a small stream running along the north edge of the berm, and through the goat and sheep run. Just north of it, is heavy overgrowth and Gunlar's thicket, on the rectangle ranging from O-Q, 2-4.
Martaug's your tree's in cells M-N, 19-20. You're 20' off the ground, hidden by the lower branches of foliage.
Inside the farmstead:
The door is on the south side of H17, with windows (slatted and shuttered, but with no panes) at J17 and K16. The kitchen is in the est end of the house; Hilden's weaving and spinning tools are against the western wall, ground floor. A steep ladder in I14 up to H14 leads to a loft with four beds and footlockers. under the stairs is another, shorter, door, leading outside to the animal pens. A 6"-high window stretches across most of the western wall, and two small windows --with glass-- give a good view of the land both north and south, from 15' above the ground.
"oh... Shaft more far than Yalka think... Will stay here then."
OK, here's a very crude map based on Chris's description.
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"oh... Shaft more far than Yalka think... Will stay here then."
OK, here's a very crude map based on Chris's description.
Very cool, Quandary, thanks!
The only changes I'd make are (1) the stream flows just to the south of the thicket, and the area around the thicket is overgrown and "rough terrain" for at least 10 feet to the south and then just off the map to the north, and (2) the window you have facing south in K17 is actually facing east in K16.
The goat pen extends far off the map, and comes all the way down to the north wall of the farmhouse.
But i really appreciate the job!
I'm afraid I don't own PhotoShop, Quandary. And I don't know what GIMP is. My version of the map is an Excel Spreadsheet. I'm trying to figure out how to make it available to you folks...
Or I could figure out how to use MapTool...
Yalka peers around the surrounding area, wary for spies...
Martaug helps get the wagon into the goat pen, sets the break before climbing down, and heads for the tree. If Yalka and Valisara can help boost him a bit so he only has to take 10, that would be quite helpful. Once in position (say M19)he will get his spear handy and keep his eyes peeled for movement.
At Gunlar's remark, Kara pauses, looking askance at Grumblenaught. "You are right, Gunlar. Perhaps we could make do with me. Alternatively, I could simply hide in the loft, with Orislav and Deserach, while Grumble takes position on the roof. It may be better to sell a deception though."
"How about this then. Orislav and Deserach could take positions within the loft, hopefully keeping them out of the direct line of fire, and giving a good view overhead of the home. Grumblenaught, I know that you prefer ranged combat, so a position on the house would be best then, with a quick way down available to you, unless you wish to simply jump off. I will pose as Hilden, hiding my armor as best I can, and placing my arms out of easy view of any windows, but still within easy reach. Does this strike everyone as a sound plan? If so, we should act with as much haste as we can muster."
All right. It sounds like Grumblenaught --once he has his fill of a hearty lamb and vegetable stew-- is 20' up on the rooftop. Martaug is 20' up in the boughs of the oak tree in front. And Valdisara is with Hilden and Gunlar in the thicket.
Yes?
That's the three who can see in the deepness of a night without a moon.
Orislav, Yalka, Deserach, (all hidden) and Kara (disguised as Hilden) are in the farmstead. (We don't know where Sachiko is, currently. Not yet back with you.)
The daylight fades. Human eyes adjust as best they can to the darkness, but you're seeing mostly the outlines of dark black things against gray outside. Inside, a small hearthfire casts everything in russets and ochres. The tang of the spices in the dregs of the stew permeates the house.
An hour passes. And a little more.
And Martaug and Grumblenaught:
A male voice calls out, from out front of the farmstead. "Boy! Son! Come out! It's your dad!"
Valdisara:
Hilden grows pale, and says, blind in the dark and green, "No. No, it isn't."
Gunlar stoops down to pass through the doorway, as if he hadn't heard his mother.
Martaug:
Orislav:
Grumblenaught:
You see, coming around the berm, another figure, also human, also male, dressed in a dark green poncho-like cloak. He's gaunt, and missing his nose and left ear, but he moves with a freakish grace. He steps so deftly through the stream that he doesn't make a sound. He's coming up to the back half-door of the farmstead, on the center of the north wall. He's carrying a dark spear. He's intent on moving up to the farmstead, and you don't think he's seen you.
The horses whinny and stamp out in their pen, nervous about something.