-First Aid-Fails-
I bind up my wounds as best I can, then slowly stagger back towards Branstead.
Q: Do people rush to my aid when they see me? NO Q: Is Myrissa there? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Does she fawn over me? YES, First Aid- 2 hit points, and I am back at positive hit points!-
I draw strange looks of curiosity and disgust, but nobody comes to my aid. I step into the Wool and Thorn, and Myrissa immediately drops her tray and comes to help me up to my room. Then she races downstairs, and returns with a sponge and bandages, helping me disrobe and tending my wounds.
No longer bleeding, I fall to sleep in spite of my pain.
A few hours later, Myrissa wakes me and forces me to drink some broth. “Be still, Kaelen. Just rest. I’ll take care of you,” she coos. I smile and lay back, glad for her help and tenderness.
1st through 7th Sunreach, Intermittent rain on the 7th day
Q: Is my recovery relatively uninterrupted? YES
I spend the early days of the following week alone in my room except for Myrissa’s occasional visits to change my bandages, bathe my wounds and ensure that I eat and get some rest. She washes and mends my gambeson, and takes my rent to her master, handling other minor errands for me as well.
-I make three conversation focus rolls, My Character, Last Action, and Community-
She asks a lot of questions about me, where I come from and what it was like growing up on the frontier. I tell her about my childhood among the Kovori, with my mother, learning to ride and tend the herds. Then about my father taking me under his wing as I left childhood behind, living with him in a legion fort, serving the garrison and eventually becoming a scout for the empire. I told her how my father died trying to save my mother and her people at Hold Varek, and how I was banished for my part in that defense, and that’s where the scars on my back came from that horrified her so.
Q: Does she admire my story of growing up? EXCEPTIONAL YES
She then asks about how I came to be wounded, and I told her I had returned to the ancient shrine where I had killed the fiend to see if I could bring an end to my nightmares. She says she thought I was looking for plunder, and I agreed, that was a part of it, but mostly, I was seeking peace and to ensure that the dangerous magic there was no longer a threat.
Q: Does she respect my courage for returning to the shrine? YES
Finally, we talk about Vortessa, and what it was like living in that city, working as a scout and hunter, and how it was to be an outcast, failing to belong to one people or another away from my parents and their kin.
Q: Does she empathize? YES
She takes my hand and smiles gently, and says that she cannot imagine how that must feel. She’s always belonged, even as a slave, she is Vaylan no less, and her place in society is clear, and certain.
I tell her that the eagles in her scarf are a symbol of strength and freedom to my people. That something in her soul yearns for more than servitude
Q: Does she agree? YES
She smiles, blushing gently but casting her eyes downward. “That is not something I should dream of.”
“But you do?” I persist.
She bites her bottom lip and gives a subtle nod. I smile, and stroke her hand. I hope the gods will heed your heart’s prayers.
Q: She upset by the question? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Does she answer? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Does she forgive me? YES
“How did you come to be a slave? Pickpocket or theft?”
Her eyes flash with anger, and she throws the sponge back in the wash basin, “I am not a criminal!” Then she storms away.
When she returns later, I apologize for the intrusion. She smiles, but we do not return to that conversation.
Over the course of the week, other refugees straggle through the village. Their stories similar to the first group.
Q: Are many villages closed? NO Q: Any raiding or carnage reported? YES E: Negative for Kaelen Dravari: the Hard Work of the Inside Q: Goblins too? EXCEPTIONAL NO
I learn that most of the villages west of here, while not helpful, did not close themselves off to travelers. But there have been raids. Strange creatures attacked some of the refugee groups. Creatures that sound very much like what I fought in the shrine. But strangely, no reports of goblins raiding anywhere.
Q: Did Myrissa have any trouble? YES Q: Too much? YES Q: Was she protected? YES
Three companies of soldiers from Zarathen came through the village, on successive days. The tavern was pretty rowdy, though only officers were allowed inside. Several got a bit handsy with Myrissa, but her master and the local guards straightened out the worst offenders. I was upstairs nursing my wounds, not wanting to deal with legionnaires. My presence and defense of her might have made the situation worse.
Myrissa told me the soldiers mentioned reports of heavy fighting on the Kovori marches, and that a full regiment from Zarathen had been sent east to help deal with the orcs.
Q: Does the innkeeper harass Myrissa for talking to me so much? NO
Thankfully, most days are relatively quiet, and Bran Orlov, the “friendly to everyone but me” tavern keep does not cause me any trouble, nor does he prevent Myrissa from keeping me company when her other work is done. He seems to treat her well.
8th Sunreach Sunday, Cool, Clear skies, gentle rain
-Immersion-Sound of Vendors-
Scene #20:
Having recovered from my injuries, I resolve to return to the ancient shrine and at least recover my spear. Walking into the street, I hear the sound of a wandering peddlar selling his wares. Such sights are common in ordinary times, but things have not been ordinary since the sign int he heavens.
E: Action by Hordlings: the Praise of the Environment
“What do you have?” I call to the man as I approach and scan the goods he has laid out beside his cart.
-I roll on my list of 100 random items for a starting character, and pick something interesting near what I rolled-
A cloth matt with some marked stones catches my eye. “What game is this?”
“Hnefetatl”, the merchant grins. “The Fjarlandr play it. Want me to show you?” I agree, smiling as I sit down and he explains the rules.
-He passes by 3 vs his presumed skill of 12, I fail by five vs my presumed default of 8 or so-
Q: Is he good natured? NO
“Pah!” he scoffs, “One would think a man such as yourself might have a better grasp of strategy! This game could teach you much.”
I scowl at him, “There is more to strategy than moving bits of rocks around on cloth. A stone never refuses to go where its player’s hand moves it! Not so with men and horses.”
“Excuses! You were outplayed!” He scoffs. Sour, but unwilling to lose next time I play, and intrigued by the game, I buy it from him. Perhaps not a wise thing, but as I fold everything into the pouch he gives me for it, I look forward to teaching the game to Myrissa when I return from the shrine.
-Encounter, yes-ambush site-Observation, Pass 7, vs Camoflage fail 1-Q: Are goblins present? YES- 1 Goblin-stealth pass 2-Q: A warrior? NO Q: Female? NO
Moving through the woods, back towards the shrine, I notice a poorly hidden snare along the game trail I am following. Scanning my environment, I spot a single goblin, lying in wait, bow in hand, watching me. My bow in hand, I nod towards the goblin, letting it know that I see it.
-Reaction-Poor-
Turn 1
Kaelen-Seeing the goblin shift to draw back his arrow, I fastdraw and nock an arrow
Goblin-Ready 2 on Arrow
Turn 2
Kaelen-At 10 yards, I have a -4 to hit, I pass my normal target by 2, missing by 2.
Goblin-Fires, with a -4 to hit, +1 All out attack (knowing I just spent my arrow), hits but it is a weak bow, and the shot does not penetrate my gambeson
Turn 3
Kaelen- I fast draw and nock an arrow
Goblin-Q: Does the goblin run? YES-The goblin legs it!
Turn 4-I fire, all out attack -4 to hit total, I hit, it failes to dodge, I roll 7, for 10 points of impaling damage against the unarmored goblin, dropping it to 0 hit points. It fails its health check and faints from pain
The goblin quickly raises its bow, drawing back. I am quicker and draw and loose an arrow before he is fully on target. But my snap shot goes wide. The goblin though, strikes me in the side as I try to duck away, but his bow is too weak. Like my old one that did nothing against those orcs!
I draw another arrow as the goblin turns to run, and shoot it in the back as it flees. It collapses to the ground.
Q: Same tribe as the altar goblin? YES
I run after it, check to see that it is still alive, and it is. I notice is bears similar tribal markings to the dead goblin I found on the altar.
Q: Goblin Hair? NO, Q: Human Hair? YES
In a small pouch, I find 2 crowns, a goblin steelface, 3 shilling, 2 goblin marks and 12 tappers, and a small pouch containing braided hair. It is fine, and gold in color. Not course like a goblin’s. Human.
I then kneel down beside the goblin, pull out my arrow and lift off his woolen tunic, tearing it into strips and using it to bandage his wounds.
-Trait-Charitable, I don’t attempt to resist-First Aid-Pass 3, goblin regains 2 hit points, he’ll wake within an hour-
I then take the goblin’s knife and hunting spear, then break his bow in half before leaving him behind.
-Stealth-Fail by 3-Q: Do i encounter hordlings before the shrine? YES -Their Perception-pass by 7-
Knowing that goblins are on the prowl again, I move more cautiously though the woods towards the shrine, but on coming to wear I had found the corpses arranged in a sun like sacrifice, I hear the whooping of fiends like the ones that chased me out of the shrine. And I see them, as they look towards me, falling silent only for a moment.
I run back towards the village
Q: Do they pursue? YES -Survival Pass 5- vs Strength-Fail 1- -Stealth pass 4- Perception pass 4- A tie, so defender (the one avoiding being spotted) wins!-
I quickly seem to lose them in the woods, and on hiding, watch as they race past me, having lost my trail.
Q: Refugees? YES
Then I head back towards the shrine once more, noticing that the sun offering has been rebuilt, and enhanced with the addition of more bodies.
-Tracking pass 0-Q: Any signs of activity at the shrine? YES Q: hordlings? YES Q: goblins? EXCEPTIONAL NO -Perception Critical Success-Q: Does it sound like any are inside? NO-
Though it is clear that the creatures had been here, the shrine is quiet. I draw my hatchet and slip inside.
Q: Is the skeleton there? EXCEPTIONAL NO (I meant near the entrance. An exceptional no, he must be gone for good! Fortunately, GURPS does not award xp for combat)
-Immersion-I wave- I know what’s happened!
Scene #21:
Entering the ancient shrine once more, I find myself having to clear away spider webs that have been strung near the entrance as the tiny little bugs scamper away from their homes. A lot has happened in a week, but it reassures me that the fiends I saw outside are unlikely to be using this place as a lair, though they clearly left from here judging from the tracks. There was no sign of regular returns.
Q: Is a giant spider here? EXCEPTIONAL YES -Perception-Fail by 4- Strength to escape web-I pass by 1, Web passes by 1-
Continuing into the green crystal room, I find myself blundering into thicker webs, and then realize, I am stuck! As I try to pull free, a large spider drops down from above!
Round 1
Spider-Bites, I fail to parry and suffer 1 damage plus 3 toxin (passed health save!)
Kaelen-All out attack, hit! Spider dodges
Round 2
Spider-Bites, I fail to parry and suffer 4 damage plus 10 toxin (failed health save!) (Pass consciousness save)
Kaelen-All out attack, hit! Spider fails to dodge, I hit for 9 points of damage (and pass out, failing consciousness save as the spider retreats, grievously wounded)
The spider bites me, and I feel my arm growing numb as I try to drive it away. Then it bites me again, tearing deeply into my flesh as I feel more of its poison sicken me. I hit it hard as it retreats away, then black out.
Q: Does it save me for later? YES
I wake up barely able to breath. Suffocating inside the creature’s webbing.
Q: Am I rescued? Very Unlikely-YES Q: By the goblin? YES (I ask ChatGPT why a Northern Goblin might save me, and get some interesting reasons)
-Immersion-Threat-
Scene #22 (Negative Alteration) I don’t like there being more than one goblin!
I feel something tugging at the webbing around me, and realize that these may be my last moments. I quietly mutter a prayer to Saranai, but am surprised when I feel hands on my neck, peeling away the webbing. More so, when in the eerie glow of the green crystal, I see a goblin face staring wide eyed at me in confusion and anger. Other goblins stand behind him. The dead spider lies nearby
The goblin pulls me free and the wounded goblin who I had bandaged earlier and his companions are screaming, yelling at me in confusion and at each other. I don’t understand what they are saying.
Q: Do they decide to kill me? YES
Then one of the other goblins brushes the wounded one aside, lifts his spear and…
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