-Episode 6–
-Pleasant, cloudy, no rain, gentle breeze-
-See something round and strangely lit-
Ep 6: Scene 32 (GH 13th-Farhold Town)-altered: add character-frightening/influential
Chaos Factor: 4
I join the company in the courtyard, wearing the unfamiliar armor and with a heavy sword dangling from my belt as I load my mule’s saddle with provisions and goods for the coming trek.
Some of the men are having difficulties with their animals as they rear or buck while the men attempt to saddle the mules. I shake my head, and between Daralk, Pasuth and I, we get the animals calm enough to properly saddle and get underway.
I then glance up at the sun, and wonder at the red ring that seems to encircle it. Daralk follows my gaze and scowls, “A strange omen, whether for good or ill, one cannot say.”
Then an old man wearing a grey robe covered in strange markings and with oddly shaped amulets dangling around his neck enters the courtyard. I hear Daralk gasp, as the old man fixes his eyes upon Karalk and say something that cause the warrior’s face to turn pale. The rest of the company also suddenly look fearful as well.
“What’s happening? Who’s that?” I ask Daralk in confusion.
Q: Does Daralk actually know the Grey Seer? Unlikely No
“A witch. A powerful witch,” Daralk mutters.
“Did he curse us?” I ask fearfully.
“No. He warns us of a demon that can walk unseen and that stalks the Lone Fields. He just told Karalk to kill it, if it comes against us, and to bring its teeth back to the Farhold Keep. He offers a bounty,” Daralk shakes his head.
“So…are we to hunt a demon that cannot be seen?” I ask fearfully.
Q: Does Daralk commit to hunting this thing? Nearly Impossible No
“No, Karalk is no fool,” Daralk replies.
Q: Does the Grey Seer say anything to me? Unlikely No
Karalk then bellows out an order, and the company heads out, a few glancing fearfully at the grey robed man, others looking away. I study the man as I pass, and he meets my gaze but says nothing.
-Encounter-Watchmen raiding a village-
We then start heading through town and I notice a group of soldiers ushering everyone out of a house. In the street, the residents are questioned while other men seem to be searching the building. I wonder what it is all about, but then remember the men of this town are seeking some red haired woman, and assume it must be related to that.
We then pass through the town gate with no further incident.
-Morning Encounter-Deer-
As we travel through the countryside, three of the more temperamental mules continue causing trouble, but I happen to hear some bleating of deer from inside a copse of trees at the edge of a field. Daralk’s dog alerts to the sound as well. Pasuth glances back at me. “Leave them. We have a long road ahead.”
I nod and tug my mule to follow, “Come on Farhoof”.
-Immersion-feel something firm-
Ep 6: Scene 33 (GH 13th-Hearthmane)-NPC Action-Karalk Refuse Official
Chaos Factor: 4
Arriving at the village of Hearthmane, I stand proud, my sturdy spear in one hand, Farhoof’s reins in my other, as we pass through the gate. The guards nod as we enter, undoubtedly companys like ours are a familiar site here. We pass into the village square, and I am surprised there is no tavern. Instead, Pasuth walks over to a baker’s shop and begins purchasing fresh bread and meat pies for the company.
I spot Karalk talking to a man who must certainly be the lord of the village. Apparently, they are having some sort of disagreement as Karalk shakes his head no for some reason.
I look around, and notice a corral, and walk over towards it to see what stock they have.
-Animal handling 18- (generate 2d4=3 mules)
“Hey there,” I call to the nervous looking man tending animals in the corral. “What mules do you have?”
Cregor the Muleskinner, “We’ve got three here. Not much given our lord has just purchased the best of our stock to replace some losses.”
I nod and look over the three animals, studying how they handle as I move them around the corral a bit, “This one. Can we make a straight trade for it?” I call to Gunsrung and signal for him to come over.
Q: Does Gunsrung trust my judgement? Likely Yes (Persuasion 10)
Gunsrung brings comes over with his mule, one of the three that has been causing us trouble, and I attempt to broker a trade. The muleskinner shakes his head, “I know what you’re trying to do. Bought a bad animal and want a better one.”
I shrug, “These men are not accustomed to mules. You can break one’s bad habits. They’ll not do so as quickly. This one’s temperament is already fine. I’ll toss in a gold crown to make up for your lost time.”
The muleskinner nods, and I hand over the coin, then indicate to Gunsrung that we should transfer the pack and saddle to the new animal. Once we do so, we head back to the rest of the company. Gunsrung looks uncertain as the animal rubs against a fence post, but I shrug and try to mime the bucking motion of his prior animal.
-Village-No Encounter- Q: Is Pasuth pleased? Likely No
The rest of the company is already eating or watering animals. Gunsrung and I do the same. Pasuth scowls that it took us so long to get to our meals and his brother soon has the company back on its feet. We continue eating as we start to move out.
-Afternoon event- (a cool one that makes more sense at night, so…I’ll roll again and use it later tonight)-
-Afternoon event reroll-Local patrol-friendly-
As we leave Hearth mane, a group of soldiers returning towards the village stops our company and ask Pasuth and Karalk some questions. Being near the rear of the formation with my mule, I cannot hear what is being said, but after a few minutes, we continue on our way and the soldiers ride past.
-Immersion-smell of sulphur or rotten egg-
Ep 6: Scene 34 (GH 13th) Black Arrow Inn
Chaos Factor: 4
Late afternoon, we arrive at another village where the guards seem to welcome us. We lodge our animals in the stables and carry our gear inside the “Black Arrow” tavern, which has some rooms to rent. There is a foul odor from the kitchen, like spoiled eggs, and I wrinkle my nose at the stench.
Daralk shakes his head in dismay, but others of the company sit down for an evening meal nonetheless while Karalk asks about lodging. I sit with the rest of the company.
Q: Is lodging available? Very Likely Yes (entertainment-woman wrestlers?)
While the serving wench brings us tankards of honeymead and bowls of foul smelling stew, Karalk passes out some keys for rooms. Pasuth nods towards me as he pockets his key and I nod agreement that we’ll share a room again. Then I taste the stew, and lose my appetite, restricting myself to bread and mead instead.
(generate the favorite, and the victor)
While we chat around the table, the farmhands slowly start trickling into the tavern, and among them are two women who apparently have a grudge to settle as the patrons pull several tables aside to make some room in the middle of the tap room. The women begin taunting each other about how one of them, Varta, stole the heart of the other’s, Agnes’, fiancé. He is apparently nowhere to be seen, but the two women are soon wrestling each other, pulling hair and trying to get the upper hand over each other. There are soon wagers being made with Agnes being the apparent favorite of the crowd. It is quickly obvious why. In addition to having been wronged by Varta, she’s also a much better fighter, and Varta is soon face down on the floor pleading for mercy, much to most everyone’s amusement.
I shake my head and head outside for a breath of fresh air. With bow in hand, I head out to the edge of the fields to see if I can catch a deer or rabbit to help provision our travels.
-Survival 19-generate—rabbit–one shot-hits-
I quickly locate a rabbit warren and wait patiently downwind of it until an animal sticks its head out. An arrow takes it clean through the neck, and I carry my prey a short distance away to skin and dress.
-(use first rolled encounter)-Perception 29-
As I do so, I notice a woman watching me from a short distance away. I realize at once, she is not of our world, but is a spirit caught halfway between the ether and the land of the living. My breath catches in the back of my throat as I get up to step away.
-Attitude-Hostile-
She beckons me to come towards her, but her face seems to be contorted with rage, and I stumble backwards instead. In a sudden rush, she springs towards…and passes through me. I feel a chill down deep inside, but seem to remain unharmed. I look around, and the vision is gone. I grab the rabbit, and race back to the village where I finish dressing it just outside the village gate.
Q: Does a guard lecture me? 50/50 Yes
“You can’t do that here,” a guard calls down to me.
“I won’t do it out there! I saw a ghost,” I reply, continuing my task.
Q: Does he explain? Unlikely No Q: Does he continue his objection? Unlikely Yes
“It’s your imagination,” he replies, nervously, “Take your work away from the palisade”. He insists, so I head to the edge of the fields opposite the way I went hunting and finish my work, leaving the discarded entrails there. Then I bring the dressed animal back inside the village for the tavern keep to boil as part of our morning’s breakfast.
Then I wash my hands and sit with the rest of the company until we all retire for bed.
-Great Harvest 14th-
-Clear skies, inconsequential wind-
-Immersion-Cassandra threatens a sidekick-
Ep 6: Scene 35 (GH 14th)-Leaving Broken Post
Chaos Factor: 4
After breakfast, our company saddles up once more and Karalk starts barking out orders and as men’s names are called, they start passing the reins of their mules to other people. Gunsrung starts towards me, but Argak nudges him aside and hands the reins of his foul tempered beast over to me. He seems to be laughing, taunting me.
I lean up against he animal’s muzzle and warn it, “Do not buck! Or rear! I will give you a sharp lash with a switch each time until you learn. Understand?”
The mule stares at me in blank eyed defiance. I shake my head, and tug its reins to follow along after, tethering it to my mule’s reins in such a way that it won’t accidentally kick Farhoof when it acts up.
Outside the village, I load my spear into my mule’s pack, quickly cut and skin a switch to keep it in my hand because I know I will need it throughout this trek until I break the animal’s habit.
-Morning Encounter-Lonefields-painted stones-
We walk throughout the morning, and I speak soothing words to the two mules under my care. Both are well behaved for me and every time we pause a moment, I stroke each one behind the ears and tell them how good they are being. A few miles out, we come to a set of standing stones on which are painted a number of hand prints and figures of people, cattle and beasts.
Pasuth nods on seeing this landmark, and he and Karalk point the way ahead. After a few moment’s discussion, we continue onward. I ask the man near me about the stones, but he looks at me in confusion. Instead, I start asking what plants are called as we pass by them. Generally, he just looks at me in confusion, but occasionally, he’ll have a name for one of them. His name is Belsh. I is possibly the biggest man in the company and wears nearly as much jewelry as Pusath. He’s also one of the oldest of the young warriors.
-Afternoon Encounter-Boar Trail-Perception 12-
Walking throughout the day, spot a few boar prints, and ask Belsh what that animal is called, but he’s not sure. I don’t know if he can’t see the tracks or if he doesn’t know they belong to boar, so we continue walking. The animals continue to behave to I continue speaking soothing words to each of them.
-Evening Encounter-The White Eagle drops a golden object- Q: Did Daralk see it? Likely Exceptional Yes
As the sun begins to dip low onto the horizon, a white eagle lights onto a tree not to far from the path we follow. As I watch, it drops something it was holding in its mouth. I look to Daralk, but he and Thorek are already walking towards the eagle, who suddenly takes flight once more, soaring off in to the sky. I hand the reins of my animals to Belsh and race after the two men while the rest of the company waits.
Daralk stands, staring at a gold medallion in his hand, saying something I do not understand, nor can I make out Thorek’s reply. “What is it?” I ask.
Q: Does Daralk explain? Likely Yes (Event-move away from “Obtain Proper Clothing”, I really need to curate my threads more often) Q: Does he put it around my neck? Likely No
Daralk looks at me and shows me the medal, “A falcon symbol.”
I feel suddenly uneasy as he puts it around his neck. “Did the goddess send it for me?” I stammer, hesitantly.
“If she did, is it a burden you wish to accept?” he asks. But i don’t have an answer for that question. Daralk then calls back to the camp, “Karalk! We set camp here tonight!”
-Topic-Fame-
The warchief nods, and he signals for the company to begin pitching tents. I start gathering wood for a fire, wishing I had done so before we entered the Lonefields. When I return, I see that Pusath already has a pot of water ready fetched from a nearby stream. We get the fire going and he slowly starts the water boiling.
While two stand watch, most of the men gather around the fire after the tents are set up and the mules tended, not for warmth, but for company. Members of the company seem to be boasting about their exploits in battle. They take turns standing and spinning some tale. Some of the stories get nods of approval. Others teasing and jokes, counter points. I cannot follow most of it, but I am starting to pick up a few words here at there.
Q: Does Gunsrung brag on me? 50/50 Yes -Argak’s performance 1-
Suddenly, Gunsrung pulls me up to my feet, and begins talking and miming my tale, seemingly boasting on my behalf. The first story seems to be about me sneaking past some orcs, naked, then coming back and fighting them, naked. Then about me helping in the later fight against even more orcs. Then about me dragging the wounded man back to camp. The general company seems to be unimpressed with his tale, and the two of us sit down. He blushes and I feel a little humiliated as well.
“Third watch,” Karalk suddenly tells me. He then says the same to Gunslung and Thorek, but in their tongue. I know enough to tell that much.
As soon as the company quiets down, I douse the fire in sand, and then retire to my tent, having already unloaded, grazed and secured the two mules under my care.
-nighttime encounter-equipment breakage-
Waking for my shift, I attempt to don my armor but one of the straps breaks, so I cannot properly strap it on. In the dark, there is nothing I can do with it. Cursing, I put the armor and the broken strap in my pack. We’ll just have to get it fixed later, I guess. Nonetheless, I stand watch alongside Thorek and Gunslung, peering into the darkness, alert for sight or sound of anything that might approach our sleeping camp.
–Great Harvest 15th-
–Cool, cloudy, no rain, good wind–
–I make a sad face at a sidekick–
Ep 6: Scene 36 (GH 15th)-Lonefields-Altered, increase scope
Chaos Factor: 4
As we break camp, I show Pusalth the broken strap on my armor, and he shakes his head, “We’ll see if we can’t fix this in camp tonight.” I nod, and sigh, sadly.
I return the armor to my pack and then start leading Argak’s and my mule along, once again, falling in line behind the rest of the company, speaking soothing words to both animals as I encourage them onward.
Suddenly, the pale warrior, Brugan, hands the reins of his mule over to me, leaving me with three and him just one…keeping the better behaved animal and leaving me the one that has been giving him trouble!
I sigh, and tether it third in my line.
-Brugan’s mule will buck, Animal Handling roll of 23-
-Morning encounter-Orc herdsmen-neutral- (Daralk Persuasion 22)
We travel throughout the morning. At one point, Brugans mule suddenly bucks. I immediately strike it across the right flank with my switch, causing the animal to look at him in surprise. Then I nuzzle the animal and caress the wound with my hand, whispering for him to calm down. I inspect to see if he has any burrs or if the saddle is too tight, and then encourage the animal to continue on.
A short time later, there are some cattle up ahead. Pusath signals the company to stop and Karalk relays the sign to the rest of us. Then Daralk heads up alone. I can see a couple of orcs, their legs painted white, watching over the herd. Just two of them, and it is a small number of cattle. Daralk talks with them for a bit, and the herdsmen fall in with us as we continue following the river west.
-afternoon encounter-quail-
-Immersion-Feel something furry- (generate the band)
Ep 6: Scene 37 (GH 15th) White Shanks Camp
Chaos Factor: 4
We follow the orcs and their small herd along the river for a couple of hours longer, scattering some quail along the way that Pasuth might have shot one of, had he not slung his bow across his shoulder upon our meeting the orcs.
Eventually, we reach a large camp adjacent to the river. A large number of cattle graze nearby under the careful watch of orc warriors. Children run around between the tents, many playing at war or some sort of hide and seek game. Others hard at work by their mother’s side.
Several warriors converge upon us as we approach. They exchange words with the two herdsmen, then with Daralk, who signals the rest of us to come on and join him.
I carefully stroke Farhoof’s mane as we enter the orc camp where we are met by a tattooed warrior with a large sword slung over his back, and a fine dagger with a black gem in the pommel tucked into his belt. Daralk starts translating between the orc leader and Karalk, helping the two leaders communicate.
-Persuasion 10-Q: Are we allowed to camp with them? Unlikely Yes Q: Do they have any captive humans right now? Unlikely No
Suddenly, Karalk laughs, and the orc chief grins. Karalk calls back to the camp, and I can tell he has decided we will camp among these orcs. Pusath starts directing us to set up our tents along one edge of the orc camp. Nervously, I set up my tent, unpack the mules and then start watering the animals.
Pusath then walks over, grabs my ass, and whispers “I sleep in your tent tonight. It must be obvious that you are my mate.” I nod and unpack his mule’s gear into my tent as well.
Q: Does a woman approach? Likely No
After the mules are watered, I start gathering firewood. Several of the orc women, engaged in similar duties, study me, whispering, but keeping their distance.
Eventually, I have enough for a good fire and I bring it back to camp where I notice no water is in the cooking pot. I look at Pusath in confusion, and he nods for me to take care of it. So I start the fire, then put water in the pot, and start it boiling. Once it is ready, I begin adding carrots, beans, onions and dried meat to our meal.
In the meantime, several orc warriors have gathered around a larger bonfire along with most of our men. As best I can see, they seem to be having wrestling matches. One of our men against one of theirs, testing each other’s skills and prowess. Daralk seems to be refereeing the event alongside a slender orc with a number of amulets dangling from his garments. I also notice that, while several orc youths observe the event, the women, girls and younger orc children are gathered around smaller cooking fires away from the festivities, and of course, some pickets stand watch over the herds.
Drash, who has stayed near our tents and animals with me, walks over, “Is it ready?” he asks, a phrase I have learned. I smile and pour his bowl. He sits stops me before I pour one for myself. “Men first,” he nods towards the orc women, and I see that while they are all preparing meals, none are eating. A few are carrying bowls or skewers of meat to the men around the bonfire. I nod in understanding, and start gathering bowls from my men’s tents and filling two at a time. Then Drash stops me once more, “Sword” he says, and gestures that I should remove it. So I do. Then I start carrying two bowls at a time to our men, who often pass the bowls to their correct owner, but are otherwise appreciative. I thin pay better attention to whose tent I took each bowl from.
Q: Is my intrusion offensive? Very Unlikely Yes -Intimidate 19- Q: Does an orc take the challenge? Likely Yes
The third time I come over, one of the orcs points at me and voices some objection to my presence. Daralk counters with a word in orcish, then, he follows up with something else that provokes general laughter among the orcs. Daralk then makes a face, swaggering around.
Q: Is Gurag a sporting man? Likely Exceptional No
A rather large orc gets up, looking angry, and the chief scoffs when Daralk rolls his eyes and seemingly mocks them. The chief then gestures and pulling off a necklace and tossing it on the ground, Daralk does the same in kind. Then he turns to me, “You fight him! Hand to hand. Come out on top!”
I stare at Daralk in shock. The orcs laugh at my expression. Then begins the chanting and the beating of a drum. The Black Wolfs answer back in kind. I sigh, and step forward.
An orc draws a circle in the ground and I square off against a muscle bound orc a good head taller than myself. He sneers at me, then suddenly lunges forward! He catches me with a solid blow across my nose, and blood immediately starts to gush! Then a second blow blurs my vision, but I then I punch back two, three, four times, and I hear orcs and men yelling. I am faster, but not quite fast enough. I do hit him hard in the jaw, sure I may have cracked tooth, but then his counter blow knocks the wind out of me and another leaves me blacked out.
I wake up beside our campfire with Thorek dabbing a wet cloth against my bruised face. I can scarcely see out of one eye, can’t breathe through my nose, and I can taste blood in the back of my throat. I try to sit up, but Thorek pushes me back down. “Comfrey,” I insist. He lifts off the compress that already rests against my flesh, but I was too numb to feel it.
I can still hear the cheers and jeers of different matches near the bonfire. Eventually, Thorek lets me sit up and eat, and a short time later…the orcs near the bonfire start heading back to their tents and our men return to ours.
Daralk kneels down beside me, “You cost me a gold necklace!” He shakes his head.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“That’s alright. I demanded a fair fight, against a youth as you are no warrior, but Gurug said that if you carry a weapon like a man, you should fight like a man against any warrior he picks. It was also supposed to be a wrestling match, not punches and kicks. You did better than I expected,” he grins. “That looks painful,” he adds trying to open my eye for me.
Q: Does he heal me? Likely Yes
Then he begins muttering some words I do not understand, but I recognize Krenax’s name and then…there is a blue glow from his hand and I feel the pain fade away. My eyes flutter open. The taste of blood in my throat fades away and I can once again breath properly. He grins, “Blessings of the First Father upon you. Sometimes, if injuries are light, they can be mended with a prayer. These wounds, they would have healed in a few days, but this way, I don’t have to be reminded of my wager every time I look at your battered face.”
Dumbstruck, I stammer, “Thank you!”
Daralk then adds, “Get some rest.”
I nod, then climb into my tent where Pusath is already waiting. I lay down beside him, and he traces his hand across my features. “One of the First Father’s miracles. A shame he is not always so generous.”
“I am grateful he was tonight,” I reply. Then I try to close my eyes, nervous the be in the midst of an orcish camp, relying up on them for our safety after what their cousins have done.
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