-Episode 13-Free No More
Threshing 22
Warm, Cloudy, no rain, flags fully extended, can sail
-Smell Fish-
Scene #84 (Positive Alteration):
The sounds of people being tortured in Thorn faded pretty quickly as we saw the horde move on. I slept restlessly afterwards, but in the morning, inspecting the perimeter, I saw Ronan supervising the completion of the village ramparts started the previous day, and we agree that I should survey the countryside to figure out what is going on while he gets the militia back on its feet.
Terra is on the wall looking down at goblin corpses, and the stench of rotten fish and dead goblin is strong in the air. She is smiling. “We did it,” Terra looks at me in satisfaction, then points at dead ogres, “and got some big ones too.” I nod, then head outside the village walls. Terra comes with me.
The two of us are quickly joined by Sylvia who starts cutting off ears and checking for valuables. “Are we going back to Firth to collect bounties?” I ask the girl. She stops and sighs.
“Do it anyway,” Terra urges, and starts doing the same.
“No! Stop. Let the people who dig the graves do that. They can take the trophies, empty the purses, take whatever trophies. It’s fair for their labor. We have other work to do,” I insist.
Q: Do the ladies agree? EXCEPTIONAL YES E: Positive for Serpent Cult: a Waste of a Path
“Alright, what do you have in mind?” Terra asks, noticing an apparent goblin corpse still moving a bit and plunging a nearby spear into it.
I look towards Thorn, “The three of us will take a look at Thorn, then see where the raiders went.” Terra and Sylvia nod in agreement.
—
Q: Are there corpses along the road? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Corpses in the streets? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Have the survivors fled? YES
We enter the burnt out husk of Thorn. The village is eerily silent. The gate, undamaged, was wide open. Looking around, every barn, home and shop was put to the torch. Charred human remains are visible in some of the structures. Sylvia’s eyes widen in shock. Terra’s narrow in rage.
“Is everyone dead?” Sylvia asks in a hushed whisper. Terra nods slowly as I lead them towards the great stone manor house.
Q: Was it robbed? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Do I find evidence? YES Q: Does she recall who wore it? EXCEPTIONAL NO
The manor house looks untouched. The door carefully propped open. I step inside and see that the inside has been stripped clean of anything of value that could have been carried out. Upstairs, the ornately decorated master bedroom has been vandalized, but in an adjacent well appointed bedroom, I see no signs of intrusion. Nothing has been taken. Everything is completely untouched. Sylvia opens the wardrobe and admires the outfits within. Terra chimes in, “This must have been lady Tabith’s room.”
I raise an eyebrow, “Why wasn’t she robbed?”
Terra shrugs, “No idea.”
We head back outside, and realizing there is no sign of life here, start heading south down the road towards Firth following the footprints of goblins, ogres, hostages, and the hoofprints and wagon ruts. It is clear that the horde stripped the village and carried away as many hostages as it could manage!
-Morning-No Encounter-
The three of us follow the road, and the goblin tracks, to Green Fox Inn, but slip off the road into the trees as we approach.
Q: Is it garrisoned? YES (Stealth check passes-Roll 3d6 goblins and d4 ogres-14 and 4) Q: Are there corpses visible? YES
Green Fox Inn looks completely unscathed, but there are several goblins outside, wide brimmed hats shading their eyes from the sun, and even a couple of ogres lounging about. The dark haired tavern girl from before brings them more ale, and they bark at her in derisive laughter as she goes back inside.
Looking more closely, I see half a dozen dead bodies on the other side of the Inn’s yard, thrown into a pile. Flies buzz around the carcasses. Another ogre steps out from the inn, standing up as it slips out through the door, and with a half bare bone in its hand, points towards the stable where a few restless horses wait, shouting an order to another ogre. The goblins cackle as the other ogre walks over, drags out an animal and kills it to their delight. The ogre with the bone then drags the animal carcass inside the inn.
Terra tenses up, nocking an arrow. I shoot her a warning glance, “We just want to see what’s going on. I don’t want to tangle with three ogres and goddess only knows how many goblins.”
Q: Does she stand down? NO
“We can’t just bypass this,” she hisses.
Intimidate 16
“Are you just going to throw your life away after last night’s victory?” I hiss back.
Persuasion 18
Sylvia fixes the woman with pleading eyes, “Let’s just go!”
–Afternoon Encounter-None-
Terra reluctantly relaxes her draw and we move on past, slipping away from the road and passing through devastated countryside. Smoke rises from burnt out barns and cottages. Stray animals wander loose. We occasionally see the charred corpse of a farmer, or perhaps one’s wife, tied up to the burnt frame of what must have been their home.
“Did they kill everyone?” Sylvia whispers in shock.
Terra growls, “Every last person they could.”
I shake my head, “No. Do you see the remains of children? They took hostages…lots of them. They only killed those who fought back. These are hobgoblin tactics. It isn’t just a raid. This is conquest.”
Q: Has she heard details of how hobs operate? EXCEPTIONAL NO
Terra’s eyes widen, “What do you mean?”
“I saw a hobgoblin last night. He may have been in command of the forces that attacked Rabbit’s Fall and Thorn. They don’t want mere plunder. They want conquest. They want to rule. They will enslave this land and everyone in it. And any who fight back will get to watch their loved ones murdered before their eyes,” I take a deep breath and shake my head, “And that is what your people may face when the horde comes back.”
Terra’s jaw twitches and she looks at the burnt out cottage and considers my words. “Let’s get on with it.”
Q: New banners? NO Q: Old ones still in place? NO (Perception 8, we don’t notice)
I nod, and we continue towards Firth. What strikes us as odd is that there is no traffic on the road in or out of the city. “Everything looks normal, but there is no trade…the gates are sealed.” I observe.
-Perception 22-
“Well, everything looks normal except that there is an ogre in that guard tower,” Sylvia points out.
Terra and I looks where she is pointing, and Terra shakes her head, “And a pair of goblins in that one.”
“The banners are missing,” I note as well, eventually recognizing the obvious.
“So…the city was just conquered? Overnight?” Sylvia asks in confusion.
Terra looks at me in disbelief as well.
“I think so,” I quietly squeeze out the words.
“No! That can’t be. Why isn’t there smoke curling up from the ruins? Like from all of the little farmsteads we passed? Like from Thorn? How can a city just…fall like that? We fought off a horde? And Firth…it’s huge! With massive stone walls, towers, an army!” Terra exclaims.
“Is Alfred trapped inside? Edwin?” Sylvia gasps in fear.
I nod, “Probably.”
“We need to get them out,” Sylvia urges.
I shake my head, “I don’t think so.
-Stealth checks-Pass- Q: Is the fishing fleet gone? EXCEPTIONAL YES
We circle around the city to get a better look at the harbor, and as I suspected, there isn’t a single boat in the harbor. I nod towards the empty docks. Goblins can be seen milling about, barking orders at laborers emptying out a warehouse, but the isn’t a single boat inside.
“Looks like everyone who could flee by boat probably did. Perhaps Alfred and his father got away. They have money, and friends,” I explain.
“That’s the Balanced Scale…could we swim over at night and get our stuff back?” Sylvia asks.
I laugh, “Maybe? Are you that good of a swimmer hauling back that kind of coin? If it hasn’t been looted, it’s still under guard. Want to risk your life for a bunch of coin?”
“Don’t we?” Sylvia asks.
“I want to kill the goblin king,” Terra urges.
“And how would you manage that, pray tell. If he is in the keep and in control, he’s as hard a target as King Gerard was. But we don’t have a powerful evil cult backing us up or his son serving him up as a sacrifice.” I argue.
-Persuasion 20-
Terra slumps back in resignation, “Alright. So what do we do?”
“Go back to Rabbit’s Fall, and report what we’ve learned. Goblins hold Firth. The gates and fortifications are intact, the fleet is gone, and they now have a city full of hostages…both the city itself and every captive they took along the way. Let’s go,” I command and lead my companions away from the scene.
-Evening-Farmers (at Work) Q: Dead? NO-(convert to 1d4 farming families in hiding-1 family-
As we make our way north past Green Fox Inn, I hear a voice call out to us, “Hey!” I hear from the treeline. Looking over, I see a frightened looking man, “Can we come with you?”
“Where?” I ask the man.
“Wherever you are going? You have weapons. You’re heading north. Are you going to Thorn?” the man asks. I see a woman and five children of varying ages peering out from behind him. They have a dairy cow with some sacks of grain thrown over its back with them.
“Thorn’s gone. We are going to Rabbit’s Fall. It’s safe for now. Come along,” I reply.
“Thorn’s gone,” the man gasps in disbelief. “Hothgorn’s gone too. We slipped away in the fighting.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, then we start walking back home, slowing our pace so the children can keep up, and occasionally taking turns carrying the little ones.
-Night Encounter-Tradesman-Q: dead? YES Q: Were his goods taken? YES -Medicine 20-Q: Did he die recently? NO Q: Goblin arrows? NO Q: Wolf? NO
After dark, we stumble across a corpse in the road. The man wears and apron and looks to well dressed to have been a mere farmer. The woman covers the eyes of her youngest child. Examining the corpse, I realize he probably died several hours ago…shortly after we passed through this way in the morning. It appears he was struck by a crossbow bolt, but the bolt was then removed…probably when the man’s purse was taken.
“What happened?” Terra asks.
“Bandits…preying on a refugee, no doubt,” I reply.
“Seriously? Goblins conquer the fucking city, and we’ve got a gang of bandits looking for easy coin killing people fleeing for their lives? Even worse than fucking goblins!” Terra fumes. “If I find them, they’ll wish they’d never been born!”
Q: Anyone return to Thorn? NO Q: Sawmill spared? YES
I close my eyes and sigh, “Let’s go.” We redouble our pace back home. As we pass through Thorn, I pause when I spot the sawmill. I snort, “Yeah, spared the sawmill. The hobgoblins plan to rule this region. Left the stone manor house intact, and the sawmill. They aim to have their slaves rebuild and serve.”
“We need to join up with the king’s army and retake the city!” Terra exclaims.
I look her over, “With what army? I don’t think the king’s forces have enough manpower to storm those walls. Depends on how many goblins are inside…and ogres. And whether they are willing to see their families slaughtered on the walls as they launch the attack.”
Terra’s face blanches. Sylvia looks at me incredulous, “They’d do that?”
I give a slow nod, and we return to Rabbit’s Fall in silence.
—
Q: Did the clean up go as expected? EXCEPTIONAL NO
Late morning, there is a disturbance, and Ronan looks around to see Lady Agness, Gustav, and her four remaining men at arms approaching. “Arrest that man!” she commands her men.
Q: Do they obey? YES Intimidation 17+5 for “friends”=23
Ronan lets out a deep sigh as four of the men he commanded throughout the night and the last few days draw swords and approach. “You really don’t want to do this,” he warns loosing his hammer from his belt and hoisting his shield.
Q: Do villagers gather in support? YES
The men falter and look at each other as several members of the village militia, along with the hunters from Thorn rally around behind Ronan.
“He saved us!” shouts Tor. “And what did the two of you do? Get in the way! All of these years, just ignore my warnings and get in the way!”
“Leave my land!” Lady Agnes demands. “Pack up your house and get your rotten carcass off of my lands.”
“This is MY home!” Tor counters.
Ronan shakes his head, “We aren’t going anywhere until my friends return.” Then he looks to Tor, “Are you sure you want to stay here?”
Tor fumes, “This is my land. My son is buried her. My wife…we’ve lived her for generations.”
Ronan looks at the woman, “I’m going into your house now to collect my companion’s things.” Then he glances back at some of the villagers, “Abel, Torrence, Michal…you three come with me.” Then he looks at one of the men at arms, “And you too, Jorn. To make sure I don’t take anything other than what my companions left when they went on patrol this morning. I’ll have our mule packed for when they return.”
Q: Does Lady Agnes Agree? YES
Lady Agnes takes a few deep breaths, then responds, “Fine. See to it that you only take what is yours.”
Ronan nods, and with his escort retrieves the company’s supplies.
—
Insight 15
Returning home to Rabbit’s Fall, the gate guard looks away from us as we enter. I stop, “What’s happened?”
“Lady Agnes has ordered you and…” glancing at Terra, then back towards the ground, “And Tor to leave.”
I nod, “Is Ronan still here?”
The guard nods, “Yes. He’s at Tor’s house. He has all of your things that were left in the manor house.”
I nod, “Thank you. I’m sure you stood up in his defense.”
Q: Does the guard confess? EXCEPTIONAL NO
The guard looks away. I shake my head as we head back to Tor’s house with the farmer and his family behind us.
—
-Immersion-See Something Beautiful that stirs a memory-
Scene #85 (Negative Alteration):
Stepping inside Tor’s small house with the tired farmer and his family crowding behind at Terra’s urging, my eyes fall upon a small painting in Tor’s hand. “Your wife?” I ask.
His face seethes with rage and he throws it down on the bed. “I won’t leave my home!”
“Father,” Terra whispers, “You need to listen to Garrick. He has something important to tell you.”
I give her a grateful look. Ronan’s worried eyes meet mine, he knows this won’t be good.
“Hobgoblins have seized control of Firth. Gates are intact, no apparent damage to the city. No fires. Looks like it surrendered without a fight. These refugees are from Hothgorn. It was razed. There are no survivors in Thorn that we could find, all of the houses were burned, but the sawmill left intact. The town gates and walls were not damaged, nor was the manor house…at all. Just robbed. And hostages taken. From the tracks, I’d say everyone who wasn’t killed was dragged along to Firth. And that entire city is now captive as well, so even if the king’s army is loyal and returns home to liberate their city, they’ll only succeed if they can ignore the cries of their loved ones being hurled down from the ramparts at them. There is an internal rot in this kingdom that is bearing rotten fruit. It has fallen. The survivors can either die, flee or be enslaved. That’s all there is too it,” I tell the two men.
Q: Will Tor escape with us? YES E: Resolution of ‘Pigs Hollow and Garth agree to support Lord Hevran’: the Judgment of Pleasures Q: will Lord Hevran sue for peace? YES
The farmers behind me gasp at this revelation for they did not realize what all we had discovered. Tor looks up me with tears of defeat in his eyes, “Alright. I will leave.”
I nod my head. “In the morning. We need rest, and there may be others who come with us.”
Soon, we sprawl out on an uncomfortably crowded floor and drift off to sleep. There is a long road ahead.
-Threshing 23-
-pleasant, cloudy, gentle wind-
-Immersion-see something broken above me-
Q: is sir jon small dead? EXCEPTIONAL NO (when Hothgorn rejected his advice, they also drove him out of town. Therefore, he wasn’t present when the town was razed, but helped Fish Hook resist…He then rode to Red Claw, and discovered they had not been attacked, but refuse him welcome. He is now heading back east to seek out Lord Helvarn) Q: Are Paula’s wild women with the army? YES (this gives Helvarn an adventuring team for a special mission)Q: Was Princess Jenn killed when the keep was taken? NO
Scene #86:
I get up off the crowded floor and begin collecting my meager possessions. As the farmer and his family share the meal the prepares us, I look up and see that the mug the farmer uses is cracked.
“Your mug is cracked, yet you didn’t leave it behind,” I note.
Q: mother’s mug? YES
The man looks at me and smiles whistfully, “My mother carved it for me. I couldn’t bear to leave it.”
I nod respectfully, then take the bowl that is offered me. Soon we are outside, packing up for travel. I start asking around for supplies, food for our journey, a cart and oxen, a pack, other things of that nature.
Q: Can we obtain a brace of oxen? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: a mule cart? NO Q: Another mule? YES Q: Basic kit for me? YES
Q: Does anyone gift us something unusual? NO
Q: Does Festus call everyone? NO
After collecting what I can, I ask Brother Festus to call an assembly of the village, but he declines, “You are no longer in charge here. Lady Agnes has instructed you to leave. I am sorry.”
I nod, “Well, thank you for the help you provided when it was needed. Look after this community, the coming years will be very hard.”
-Persuasion 8-
I step to the village square, and call out for anyone who will listen. “We stood together and drove off a goblin threat. But now goblins have taken Firth. A hobgoblin leads them. If they can hold the city, then in the seasons to come, they will seek to enslave you and your children. If you want a better life than that, now is the time to flee, before the road north is blocked. But if you wish to remain here, I will not argue.”
Q: Does Lady Agness counter? YES -Persuasion 10-
On hearing my words, Lady Agnes appears and calls upon her people, “Do not listen to this man! He lies. King Jon leads his army and my husband, who you all know to be a fearless warrior, is at his side. If goblins have taken Firth, our new king will soon drive them back out! Do not abandon your homes, or your fields, or risk slaughter in the jaws of gnolls as you cross the highlands into a land where you do not speak the language. Remain here in the land of your father’s and my family will protect you as it always has. As my soldiers did two nights ago.”
Q: Do any follow us? Unlikely NO Q: Do the farmers stay? Likely YES Q: do the hunters stay? Likely YES
The farmer and his family shift a bit as they see us preparing to leave, the man says, “We are going to stay here, with your permission, my lady?” he bows towards Lady Agnes.
She grins, “There is an empty house for you,” and gestures towards Tor’s abandoned home.
Tor’s face flashes with rage for a moment, a trait he shares with his daughter, but then he closes his eyes and tells the man, “Take good care of it. It has been a good home.”
Then he leads the spare mule we were given, loaded with food for the journey and as much of his household goods as he could reasonably expect it to carry, out of the village. We follow after, heading towards Thorn.
Q: Is “syvlvia’s” dog alive? YES Q: Does it follow us? YES
As we depart, the dog that adopted Sylvia in the days before the battle and that has been hanging around the village, taking her scraps, follows along behind us. Sylvia smiles back at it, “Come along dog! At least someone is listening to reason.”
—
Passing through Thorn, Sylvia suggests, “Maybe we should we should revisit the manor house. The goblins forgot to plunder one of the rooms. Maybe there is something worth taking? We’ll need money after all.”
Q: Has anyone returned to Thorn? YES Q: Lady Tabith? NO d4=1 Q: A family? NO (roll 2d20=11, female) Q: Does she hide from us? EXCEPTIONAL YES E: Positive for Garrick: the Recruitment of the Spiritual
-Stealth 4-
As we are about to enter the manor house, I notice movement out of the corner of my eye, “Terra!” I hiss as I draw an arrow and pursue the movement, Terra circles the other direction. Within moments, we have cornered a young girl, perhaps ten years old. “Stop!” I warn her, I lower my weapon, “We don’t mean to harm you.”
She makes a dash for it, but Terra grabs her and hoists her above the ground. The girl is kicking and screaming in terror, “Let me go!”
Q: Does the girl bite? EXCEPTIONAL YES E: Resolution of ‘The companions prepare to defend Rabbit’s Fall’: the Overthrow of Misfortune Q: Does Terra let go? YES
“Stop wiggling!” Terra demands, then yelps in pain as the girl bites her, and throws her to the ground.
I lunge for the kid, bus she scrambles to her feet and runs away. “Damn it,” I curse, but Terra starts to take off after the girl, “Let her go.” I warn. “She’s not going to listen to us. Probably just lost her family.”
“But if we leave her here, the goblins will ultimately find her,” Terra protests.
-Persuasion 5-
I nod, “Yes. They will. But Rabbit’s Fall is less than an hour’s walk away. When she gets hungry, she’ll go there, and someone will help her. Right now, even if we chase her down, we won’t be able to calm her or get her to come with us…and right now, we can move faster as a group than if anyone else had listened to us.”
Q: Will Terra stand down? Unlikely NO
“I am not leaving her behind!” Terra insists, and starts after the girl. I follow, hoping to quickly track the child down.
—
-Sylvia likely finds some gold. Thorn generates about 680 surplus coin per month. As the Baroness’ only daughter, I suspect Tabith might have 3d6x10 (80) gold laying around her room and some jewelry-three gold rings, one with a moonstone and gold & silver inlay, another simply gold with the silver inlay, and the third, a simple gold ring in the shape of a coiled serpent- Q: A clue? YES Q: Trapped? NO Q: locked? YES Rolls a 20 to open a lock
Snooping around the manor house, Sylvia soon finds a small coffer inside the undisturbed room. Carefully inspecting it, she soon has it unlocked and finds two nearly full pouches of gold coins, and a trio of gold rings. One has a nice piece of moonstone and silver accents, the other has silver woven through it and the final one, a simpler gold ring, appears to be like a coiled serpent. She smiles as the drops them into her pouch for later.
Outside, Ronan and Tor wait with the mules and the dog.
—
18 tracking vs 7 stealth- Persuasion 19
Terra relentlessly tracks the girl and we find her hiding under a lumber pile behind the mill, “Come out! We won’t hurt you,” coos Terra. “I’m sorry I grabbed you. I was worried.”
The girl studies her face, and then slowly emerges from hiding. She is covered in soot, her dress is torn, and her face is stained by tears.
“What’s your name?” Terra asks.
“Lisith,” replies the girl. “Are they…all…gone?” she whimpers sad and fearful.
“Yes, the goblins are gone for now,” replies Terra.
The girl starts to hyperventilate, “No…not the goblins…my parents…my brothers and sisters…where are they?” she cries.
Q: Any sensitivity? NO
“Dead,” responds Terra, and the girl bursts into tears.
-Persuasion 20-
I push her aside, “We think they are dead, but they may have been taken captive. But you should come with us,” I tell the girl. “We are going far away from the goblins. If we learn they are free and alive, perhaps you can return home, but you cannot stay here.”
The girls slowly regains her self control and stammers out, “Okay.”
Q: Has she scavenged anything? NO
I peek inside her shelter, but she is leaving nothing of value behind. I take her hand, and return to the others. Then we leave Thorn, and take to the road north.
-Morning Encounter-Bandits (3d4=9)-(practicing weapon skills)-Party passes stealth check
We decided to cut northeast through the forest to intercept the north road without getting any closer to Firth itself. Along the way I hear the clash of steel, joking, laughter and curses. I signal for the company to stop, then Terra and I creep forward to see what is going on.
We spot a group of rough looking armed men, no uniforms. A few are watching the road, some are cleaning weapons, four are practicing their combat skills. Terra whispers, “Bandits! We should take them!”
“And…what? There are five of us who can fight, plus a child. If anyone is badly wounded, our speed is halved or worse. We go around,” I warn.
“And leave them to ambush someone else? They probably killed that man we found yesterday! What if those farmers had blundered into them?” She fixes me with steely eyes.
I close my eyes, then concede, “Get Ronan and Sylvia up here. Your father stays with the girl and the mules, keeps the girl safe. We hit them fast and hard. If they run, let them. If they surrender, put them down. We can’t afford prisoners right now.”
Terra nods with a wicked gleam in her eyes, “That’s what I’m talking about.” Then she slips away and returns a short time later with the rest of the ambush team.
Q: Does Tor tag along anyway? YES
I glance back and see Tor as well, plus the girl, wide eyed, holding tight to the mule’s reigns. The dog tags along behind Sylvia. I shake my head. Terra shrugs, “He insisted”
Q: Is there a captain? YES Q: Thugs? EXCEPTIONAL YES (1,2, 6 for distribution)
I signal everyone into position, take aim and but an arrow straight through one man’s neck as he prepares to bring the blow down on his fellow. An arrow and crossbow bolt take down his adversary, and Sylvia’s arrow sinks into another man’s thigh as he yells for help. Then as they search for us, Ronan and Terra bring down another man while my arrow misses its mark.
Q: 1/3rd down, do they break for it? YES
They begin to run, but Sylvia brings down the man she wounded before he can get away through the trees and shrub.
Q: Is Lisith freaked out? Very Likely-NO
“Move quick,” I order, and my companions race forward to ensure the enemy keeps running. “Syvlia, check the corpses.” I glance back at Lisith, but she just stands there, eyes fixed on me, breathing slowly and deeply, waiting. “Lisith,” I say gently, “Bring the mules forward.” She nods and obeys.
Q: Does anyone have armor that fits me? YES Q: Is it the studded set? NO
Sylvia quickly collects purses and a couple of necklaces that two men were wearing, while I strip one man about my size of his armor. Two of the men are still alive when we leave. Terra heads over to put them out of their misery, “Leave them,” I say, “They are not threat to us…or to anyone else right now.”
Q: Does she relent? YES
She looks down at them, “Got lucky, bastard,” and spits on one of them as she rejoins our formation near the front with me.
Out in front, away from the other’s earshot, Terra asks, “I thought we were going to put them down if they surrendered?”
I continue scanning the road ahead and explain, “We did put them down, and are not burdened with prisoners. If their gang returns, they’ll likely have to tend them, or face desertions. Anyway, those two are no longer a threat to anyone right now. Whether they live or die is up Freia’s mercy. Not yours. Not mine.”
Terra smirks, “Fair enough, I guess.” And we press on.
-Afternoon Encounter-smell of baking bread-We are approaching Tree Stump Inn-
We are soon drawing closer to the Tree Stump Inn, and I nod to Terra, “Scout ahead. Make sure goblins don’t hold it. If they do, I want a strength estimate and we’ll likely go around. If not, well…I’m not exactly welcome there. Maybe you can buy us lunch.” I wink.
Terra laughs and moves on ahead while we hold up for a few minutes off the road to wait.
Q: Do goblins hold the place? YES (3d6=13 goblins and wolves) (Terra Stealth 19, Wolf scent perception 18) Q: Are the men dead? YES
Terra returns with an ashen look on her face. “Goblins, a lot of them, but worse, there’s a pack of wolves, saddled. Wearing saddles! I’ve not seen that before. And I saw four bodies strung up along the wall…Stumpy, Arnold, Mayvis and even Old Kett. They got them all. I think they’ve got Myra captive. I smell fresh bread baking, like she does.”
-Party Stealth check, pass non scenting target-
I nod and doublecheck the wind, “This way,” I head our company downwind so we can bypass the inn, giving it a wide berth, then returning to the road a few bends past the inn.
-Evening Encounter-None-
-Camping-Pass Survival check-there will be no night encounter-
About fifteen miles north of Tree Stump Inn, our company sets camp a short distance off the road. I reestablish our usual night watch, with Ronan and Terra as first watch, I warn the girl I’ll wake her to stand watch with me for second, then Sylvia and Tor on third watch.
Ronan warns, “That girl won’t be much use as a sentry.”
I nod agreement, “That’s not the point. I want her to feel she is useful. Needed. She’s lost and alone right now. She needs to belong.” Ronan manages a light smile and shrugs his shoulders, then pats me on the back as he goes over to help unpack the mules.
Sylvia bounces over, “So…Tree Stump Inn? We passed it?”
I nod, “They’re dead.”
Sylvia’s face drops, “Damn. I was just there a few nights ago.” I nod. “All of them?” she asks.
I shake my head, “Terra thinks the girl is still alive.”
“The one that was flirting with Ronan that time?”
I nod, “Yep. That one. We can’t save her. There were too many for us. We’d need a company of king’s men in support to get through unscathed.”
Sylvia slumps down in shock and sorrow, then resumes her meal.
-topic-Enemy- Q: Does Tor know gnolls? YES
Tor approaches me, “My daughter listens to you. That’s something.”
I chuckle, “Just barely. She’s a good soldier. You taught her well.”
He shakes his head, “Sometimes I wonder,” he pauses, then takes a deep breath, “The Gnoll Highlands. Ever been through them.”
“No, I haven’t. I don’t like the sound of them. But from the maps I’ve seen, once we pass Last Crow, and I hope we can rest there, we cut west, follow the road, and in two, maybe three days, we should reach the barony of Oldenfall. If we are lucky.”
“That’s a big if,” Torn warns, “Gnolls will be on us the entire time if they catch our scent, but won’t strike right away. They’ll watch us. Stalk us. And just when we think we are home free…that’s when they’ll hit us. That’s if an ankheg doesn’t grab one of us. Or we stumble into a band of ogres.”
“Do you seriously have a better idea? Or are you just trying to worry me over things we cannot avoid?” I raise my eyes to meet the old man’s.
Q: Does he have a better idea? Very Unlikely-NO
Tor sighs and glances down, “No. No better ideas. I just…wanted to warn you is all.”
I nod and gently smile, “Thank you. I appreciate it. I’ve never seen a gnoll before. Only heard the tales. We’ll move as fast as we can without giving ourselves away.”
“Thank you,” Tor responds before going to lay down for his rest.
-Party activities-share a drink-
Before the rest of us start turning in for bed, Terra fumbles around the mule with her dad’s possessions. “I knew you’d bring some old man!” she grins, pulling out a clay bottle which she uncorks, takes a swig, then passes it to Sylvia. After Sylvia’s plug, it passes to Ronan, then Tor, then to me.
It’s a sweet wine, a nice comfort. I nod for Lisith to take a pull, “Long roads ahead. It’ll put some hair on your chest.”
The girl’s eyes widen, “I don’t want hair on my chest!”
Sylvia laughs, “He’s just teasing. Try it! It’s good. Just one pull.”
Q: Does she? NO
The girl shakes her head, so I take another pull and pass it back around. It does doesn’t make a third pass all the way through the group.
24th Threshing
-Pleasant, Clear Skies, strong breeze-
-Immersion-6th sense, oppression-
Scene #87 (Positive Alteration):
The next day, I wake with a sense of dread, wondering if I’m doing the right thing or simply leading my friends and companions to their deaths, or abandoning a kingdom that could still be saved. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, “Lydia, if you can remember me, Pray for me.” I mutter as I get up and put on a dead man’s armor before joining Sylvia and the others for breakfast.
As I sit down, Lisith smiles and hands me a wreath she’s made of stalks covered in little purple flowers. “That’s a crown of sage,” Lisith says, “father says it makes people smarter. Mom says it’s for people who are already smart.”
I smile, take the crown and place it on my head, “Maybe I’ll be smarter one day.”
Lisith giggles, “You’re already smart.” Then she points at Terra, “Hers is to make her smart!”
Terra looks up in surprise and starts to object but is interrupted by Sylvia’s laughter, “She got you didn’t she!”
We all laugh, even Terra. Soon we are done with breakfast and on the road again.
-Morning Encounter-None-
-Afternoon Encounter-Beavers-
As the sun crests the heavens and begins its slow descent, we see some beavers scurry across the road ahead, dragging some small branches after them towards whatever great palace they are construction. We don’t even draw for a free lunch. “Lost Crow Inn should be a little ways ahead, right? Terra, go check it out.” I nod and lead my company off the road to wait.
Q: Did the goblins sack Last Crow Inn? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Is it abandoned? YES
A short time after we sent her, Terra returns, “No signs of life. No signs of battle either. I think they fled.”
I nod, “Smart people.” I signal the rest of the company to follow me, and soon we arrive at the heavily fortified tavern. “Alright, Ronan, Sylvia, check it out. Tor, Lisith, water the mules.” I secure the gate, then Terra and I climb up the watchtower, but stay low as we scan the surrounding area. “Not a bad place to hole up for the night. No fire though. I don’t want the chimney smoking and telling someone we are here.”
Terra nods in agreement, “I’ll go check for supplies. See what food they have.”
“Dwarven wine, I hope,” I respond with a grin. She gives me a puzzled look, then goes on with her mission.
Q: Were all valuables taken? YES
Sylvia reports back to me, “Ronan says they didn’t flee in a panic. I tend to agree. They took everything of value. I couldn’t find any hidden cash boxes, no stary coins. The wardrobes were empty. They just loaded everything worth taking up onto a wagon and left, I guess.”
I nod, “What about food?”
“Terra is pulling some stuff together. We will certainly eat well tonight!” She grins.
“Yep, but cold. We can’t light that hearth,” Sylvia starts to object, but I explain, “We don’t want anyone to see us.”
“Oh, right. That. Yeah, cold salami is better than no salami, I guess,” she responds with a shrug.
-Evening Encounter-None-
We take our time enjoying the comfort of warm beds. Brush down the mules and check their hooves, restock provisions, enjoy some wine, and generally relax while taking turns at watch.
-Night-Secure base-No Encounter-Party Activity-Plan the Road ahead-
As the evening winds down, Ronan, Sylvia and I, with Lisith sitting beside me at the table, pump Tor for more information about the road ahead. He tells us that we will be following an ancient road, but unlike the north road through the forest, most of the stonework is still in place. Near the end of the second day, we’ll pass through the ruins of an old city, and then a day after that, we’ll reach Oldenfall. Gnolls often inhabit the ruins or the hills just north of it, which are riddled with old mines. I listen intently, then shake my head. “Well, travel fast, travel quiet, and keep your eye’s sharp. This is the way to our new homes.”
After that, we turn in, taking turns on watch as normal.
-Conversation topic-Relics-
During second watch, when Lisith and I are in the watchtower together, she asks me, “Have you ever seen a miracle?”
I raise an eyebrow and ask what she means. She explains, “Not the prayers the village priests do where they pray and the candles light up, or they hold fire in their hands, but…just something strange the goddess does that you can’t explain. I saw a statue of her when I was young. About two years ago. My dad took me to the village of Fish Hook and the statue of Freia there wept tears of blood. People said they could cure the sick. Do you believe that?”
I nod thoughtfully, “Yes. Yes I do. I’ve seen it. Not…not the statue in Fish Hook. But in an old abandoned temple of Freia deep in these very woods. There was a great basin at the foot of a giant statue of the goddess. And we needed water from it. But it was guarded by a foul demon, and it nearly killed Sylvia. But we defeated it. Terra, Ronan and I, and our friend,” I pause at that word, but press on, “Edwin. But when I placed Sylvia in the waters of the basin, her wounds healed. Her eyes flew wide, and she was fully restored, as though she had never even been scratched!”
Q: Does she believe me? YES
Lisith’s eyes widen in wonder. Then she smiles, “I knew it had to be true.”
I rub her head, “Of course it’s true. Now, we need to get back to our watch duties.” We return our full focus back to our sentry duties.
Fate of the Kingdom
Q: Does Helvarn try the infiltration approach? Likely-EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Does the team free the key hostages? Unsure-YES Q: Does the team take down Horath? Unlikely-NO Q: Is the team destroyed? Unsure-EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Is a general uprising started? Unsure-EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Is the Feldholm army successful? Likely-EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Is the queen dead? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: suicide? EXCEPTIONAL YES
(Sir Jon Small let Paula and her team of troubleshooters through the secret dungeon entrance through which he, Lord Hevran, and Garrick had escaped imprisonment less than a week before. Several Lord Horgram was with him, eager to avenge the destruction of his hold and learn the fate of his family, members of King Gerards bodyguard were with them as well. Nina Lightfinger, small and unobtrusive, lead Brumhild Wild Heart, a savage from Cragmere who shuns all armor, ahead of the team. They quietly take down the cell guards and liberate the prisoners, including lady Horgram and the Baroness Thorn, while the rest of the team moves up into the palace. They spot the one armed hobgoblin warlord in his throne room with several of his lieutenants, a squad of bodyguards and half a dozen ogres, plus some goblins. Paulla unleashes arcane fire against the goblin command as the armored knights rush forward. Ogres and hobgoblins are slaughtered as goblins perish in the flame or flee the fury of a skilled battlewizard, a foe most have never faced! Horath, though missing an arm from years gone by, cuts down one of Small’s men and retreats with two of his sons, while the third commands a rearguard to buy his father and brothers time. Jewel Stormborn, the dwarven veteran, fights her way up to the highest tower bearing the banner of House Free and with the help of Lord Fredo of Rabbit’s fall, cuts down the ogre and goblins in the watchtower, hoists the king’s banner and lets out a single blast from her horn. It is answered by the army positioned just out of sight.
Hearing the horn and seeing the banner raised, the people of Firth begin a general revolt. The goblins panic, and though ogres kill a great many people, the gates are soon thrown open allowing the army to enter even as goblins and ogres attempt to flee through them. It is an absolute massacre, streets slick with blood and the air filled with the cries of the dying.
After the fighting settles down. Sir Jon Small and Lord Hevran find Princess Jenn bound up in her father’s former bedchamber. She weeps with joy at the sight of these two men. Faithful servants of her family. But she aches that she might now carry her would be conqueror’s child, a knowledge she dares not speak aloud lest her words make it a certainty. She confesses to having murdered her brother when he attempted to surrender the kingdom to the hobgoblins and states that Father Clovis, Lady Tabith, the lord and lady of Red Claw are all Children of the Serpent, and are enemies of the state. Her officers promise they will be brought to justice. Paulla and her company are each knighted, and Lady Paulla is granted Red Claw as her estate.
In the aftermath of the battle, there is one final tragedy, Queen Rebecca threw herself from the keep’s battlements out of despair for her lost husband, her lost sons, and her daughter’s lost innocence.
In the meantime, a small band of refugees continues their journey north. Not knowing that the land behind them is safe once more. Or as safe as any land can be in this age of strife.)
-25th Threshing-
-Pleasant, Light morning rain, good wind-
-Immersion-See something shiny, glinting, through a gap-
Scene #88:
While Sylvia is getting breakfast ready, she notices something she hadn’t seen the night before. As the morning light streams through the tavern window, she catches a glimmer of light from between the floorboards behind the bar. “I already checked there,” she mutters, but gets down anyway and starts to pry the board loose, only to find that it lifts up easily as the nails only hold it loosely in place. “What’s this?” she smiles.
Q: Does she find an old sword? YES Q: Magic? YES Q: Shortsword? NO E: Action by Serpent Cult: the Postponement of the Inside Q: Longsword? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Do they take down Queen Jenn? NO Q: Is Lucretia killed? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Father Clovis? YES
(Father Clovis, still in the keep, attempts to murder Princess Jenn, but is stopped by Lord Herschel of Pig’s Hollow)
Sylvia gasps as she lifts the great sword out from its place of concealment. “It’s almost as big as I am!” she marvels. Then grins as she sets it on the bar, and puts the wooden slat back in place. The examines the large black pearl in the weapon’s pommel and the piece of pink corral in the hilt. “Fancy”
When the rest of the company comes down for breakfast, Sylvia smiles, and says, “I found something for you, Ronaaan.”
He raises an eyebrow, then his eyes widen as they fix upon the sword. “Dwarven steel.” He picks up the weapon and swings it a bit. “A masterpiece.” He examines the pearl and coral, and wonders, “Why stones from the sea and not from the earth? Very strange.” There are markings on the blade, but none of us know the meaning. He rigs up a scabbard from a bedcloth so he can carry it on his back until we can purchase a proper one. “Thank you.” He bows towards Sylvia. She gives a little curtsy and tells him he is welcome.
-Morning Encounter-Butterflies-
As soon as we are done with breakfast, he start our journey north into the Gnoll Highlands. There is a light rain, which will not hide our tracks, but the path is rocky anyway. I hope it helps to mask our scent instead.
As we travel, we notice a bush with hundreds of butterflies hanging underneath its leaves, taking shelter from the rain. Terra picks up a rock and flings it at the bush, causing the insects to erupt from it in a swirl of color. Sylvia protests, “What did you do that for? It’s raining!”
Terra shrugs, “I thought it’d look pretty. For the girl”
Q: Is Lisith impressed? YES
“They’re beautiful!” Lisith responds, awestruck by the sight. The butterflies soon shelter once more within a more distant shrub and our company carries onward.
-Afternoon Encounter-None-
-Evening Encounter-None-
-Survival 11, we’ll have to check for a night encounter-
-Camp activity-Storytelling-
The rain stopped before lunch, but we faced no other obstacles throughout the day. As the sun dipped down at the horizon, Terra and I debated the best place to set camp, but eventually found a place just below a low rise where our sentry would have a good view, but the rest of the camp could be concealed.
As we settled in for the night, Tor tells us the story of Jenny Greytongue. “Jenny Greytongue is an old hag in the woods puts on a friendly face, but she is the vilest of monsters. A pair of hunters ventured deep into the woods in pursuit of a big white stag they had seen. After chasing the beast for several hours, the exhausted men lost sight of their quarry, but came across a small cottage. That’s where they met Jenny Greytongue. She was sitting on her porch knitting a shawl and she called out to them to come and stay for a spell.”
“Hungry, the men agreed to be her guests and she asked one of the men, John, to go out back and cut some wood for the stove, while the other man, Hanson, went up into the attic to pull down some salted pork.”
“As it turned out, none of the wood had been cut, so it took John half an hour to gather up, strip down and split all of the logs for a good fire. When he returned, Hanson was nowhere to be seen. The old crone said that he had spied a white buck out the window and taken off in pursuit! “
“Disgusted by his friend, John sat down for his meal, as he was completely famished by this time and had no idea which way Hanson might have gone. The stew was delicious, but when he drank the last of the broth, he saw a human finger in the bottom of his bowl…wearing Hanson’s wedding band!”
Q: Does Sylvia recognize the name? NO
Sylvia and Lisith stare wide eyed at the old man. “Eew!” Sylvia says and Lisith looks horrified. Terra grins and says that his is one of her favorite stories. Ronan asks if anyone went out and killed the damned fiend. I lean back and have take and other sip of ale from one of the bottles we’d taken from the inn.
-Night Encounter-None-
–26th-Threshing-
-Pleasant, Clear Sky, No usable breeze-
-Touch, leather-
Scene #89 (Positive Alteration):
After a good night’s rest, we prepare for our second day crossing the highlands. The captured armor feels a bit rough against my skin as I don it over my tunic, but it is comforting nonetheless. When I join Sylvia for breakfast, she passes out some fresh berries that Terra and Lisith had gathered for us to supplement the dried meat, bread and hard cheese that form the bulk of our diet on the road.
-Morning-No Encounter-
-Afternoon-No Encounter-
-Evening-Murder of Crows-
We travel throughout the day, eyes on the horizon and wary of the dangers of the land, but aside from the occasional wild cattle in the distance, and birds or hares that scatter as we draw near, we see little sign of life. Just the scattered bones that litter the trail.
As the sun dips down towards the horizon, we near the ruins of an ancient city. “We can find a place to shelter there, but…others shelter there too. We’d best be careful,” Tor warns.
I nod, “Looks like it was once a great city.” Tor agrees.
As we enter the place, we see black mound up ahead. But drawing close, hundreds of crows take flight, and we can see that they were sitting on the corpse of a horse, picking it clean. I approach the carcass.
Q: riding mount? NO Q: weapon kill? YES Q: Another nearby? EXCEPTIONAL NO Medicine 14-
It looks like a draft horse, and has two arrows jutting from its side. Human manufacture. I am not sure how long it had been there. Something consumed most of the meat, but the crows seem to take even more.
We look for a secure place to camp among the ruins.
-Survival 18-No night encounters-
Terra spots a small, ruined house with sturdy stone walls. We can see that others have used the place before, judging from the scorch marks of a long forgotten campfire, but was we settle in, we choose not to light a fire. Instead, we crowd together inside our tents, mules and the dog inside the stone walls, making the place fairly crowded, but at least we will be hard to spot and can limit the number of foes who can reach us through the ancient walls.
–27th Threshing-
-Cool, cloudy, no rain, consistent gentle wind-
-Touch, Fluffy-
Scene #90:
The morning of our final push through the Highlands, I wake with Lisith curled up next to me in my tent, her head right up against my cheek, the tangled mop of hair rubbing my nose. I sneeze, waking both the girl and Ronan lying beside us. “Sorry about that. Good morning.”
Ronan groans and sits up as the girl groggily slides back off me. “I thought she was in Tor and Terra’s tent.” Ronan observes.
“I got scared,” Lisith protests. “What if we run into Jenny Greytongue?”
“Then I’ll cut her in half,” shrugs Ronan. “Nothing to worry about.”
Q: Does this reassure her? YES E: Progress on ‘Goblins decimated’: Excitement regarding the Inside
“Good!” Lisith responds. “You shouldn’t eat people!”
“That’s right, little one,” Ronan responds rubbing her head. I look at him in surprise, and his face resumes its normal dour countenance.
“Let’s get ready to go…go get your things,” I tell the girl as I sit up to dress for the day.
-Morning Encounter-cattle fighting-
We quickly get the company moving again as the wind worries me. Our scents will carry well on a day like this. A short distance from the ruined city we spot a small herd of wild cattle. Two of the bulls have horns locked together trying to show their dominance. The heifers watch the duel, seemingly unimpressed.
Sylvia snickers, “Fighting over the girls. Must be nice.”
“You never had a couple of guys fighting over you?” Terra asks, raising an eyebrow.
Sylvia shakes her head, “Nope. Not for that reason. Maybe for who got to keep the bread they snatched from my hand, but no…not that way.”
Terra shrugs, “Eh, me neither. I think I scared all the lads from my village away.”
“You are a bit intense sometimes,” I observe.
She looks over towards me, “I’m actually very pleasant to be around…when goblins aren’t mucking about killing people.”
“Fair enough,” I reply, “I look forward to seeing that side of you sometime.”
Ronan chimes in, “I kind of like you the way you are.”
Q: Does she appreciate that? NO
Terra sighs and rolls her eyes at that.
-Afternoon Encounter-dappled stallion- Q: Tack and bridle? YES
Midday, I notice a horse keeping pace with us a great distance away. It has no rider, but wears a saddle and bridle. I nod towards Terra, “See that over there?”
Terra follows my gaze, “Yeah, I do.”
“Let’s try and capture it.” I suggest, uncoiling the rope from my pack and forming a lasso. Terra takes another rope from the mules and does the same. The two of us are soon setting off towards it while the rest of the company waits patiently…watching.
-Stealth rolls 16 not to spook it-
The animal watches us approaching. It kind of stamps around a bit whickering, but doesn’t retreat or seem particularly alarmed. Drawing close, Terra starts to spin her rope, but I simply step forward, holding out some dried fruit in my hand, “Come here lad…come to me. Nice sweets for you,” I purr.
-Animal Handling 5-
The horse bolts away, but Terra’s lasso lands cleanly around its neck and she holds on tight, “Garrick!” she shouts as the animal pulls hard against her.
I am at her side in an instant, helping her fight the beast’s brute strength.
-Strength 16 vs 7 after aid-
The horse rips the rope from our hands and takes off across the landscape. I sigh, “Damn it all. I liked that rope.”
“What?” Terra stares at me.
I laugh, “Well, I didn’t know the horse, but the rope was at least ours.” The woman shakes her head and we return to the group and resume our trek.
-Evening-wolf and a kill-
As we finally spot cultivated fields, and the plumes of smoke drifting away from warm fireplaces, I spot a wolf some distance from the road stripping meat from the carcass of some animal. It is hard to tell what exactly from this distance, but it is no matter. We have nearly reached civilization once more!
Q: Does he speak Kardashev? NO Q: Does the stablehand? NO
As we make our way through the freshly cut fields and to outer palisade a guard calls out something to us in an unfamiliar tongue. I make the tradesigns for rest and inn, and he waves us forward. The guard looks us over as we enter, and points farther into the village. It does not take long to find a two story wooden structure with five large wagons and a nearly full stable outside, and a sign that depicts a lute and a bottle of wine.
(Generate Innkeeper and entertainment)
The stablehand takes our mules their stalls while Ronan, Sylvia, Tor and Terra gather our kit from them. Lisith and I enter the inn. A red haired man behind the bar greets me while another man stands on a stage opposite the great hearth and seems to be telling jokes, and possibly impersonating someone to the amusement of his audience.
Not understanding his words, I make the sign for lodging for six people, two mounts, and meals. The red haired man switches tongues, and then once more to mine. “From Firth?” he asks.
“Kardashev originally. We’ve been in Firth…but a hobgoblin warlord took the city a week ago. We fled north.” I explain.
“Damn it all. I wondered why nobody has come from Feldholm in the last week. That explains it,” the man shudders, “You had best go tell our lord.”
I nod, “After a hot meal, and a bath, I hope.” the innkeep, who says his name is Arguld Redbrand, agrees with that, and soon, food and lodging are arranged for my company.
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