Posts From a Long Winded Gamer

Scene #11 (Negative Alteration):
Angry, frustrated, and now without a horse and half of the money I had been paid, I start the long walk back towards Vortessa. In spite of my aching ribs, I hope to make it home by nightfall, or at least to the village of Velmirra
-Immersion-Sound-Tapping-
-No Encounter- Hiking Check-pass by 3-Warm day, clear skies, no rain-

I walk quickly down the trail, the butt of my spear tapping the ground as I walk. The familiar sound a warning to anything near that an armed man is walking this way.

Along the way, I pass by many fields where herdsmen watch their flocks, or farmers are hard at work sowing barley in the fresh plowed earth. By late afternoon, I have reached Velimirra where I refill my waterskin. But the water smells foul for some reason and I end up spitting it out.

Q: Does anyone explain why it stinks? NO

Some nearby women shake their heads at me as I spew out the water and try draining it from the skin. “How can you drink this?” I exclaim. They roll their eyes and walk away.

I walk down to the streambed on the far side of the village, and try the water there. Satisfied, I rinse out and refill me skin, then continue my journey.

Q: Do I make it by nightfall? YES

Arriving at the city gates before they close for the night, I make a beeline straight for my lodging house.

-Merchant quarter encounter, evening, circus-fortune teller! I ask Chat for a description, and a prophecy, and the symbols for the set so I can generate additional oracles along the same vein in Fantasy Grounds-

“Come to me Driftborn,” I hear the old milky eyed woman call as I am passing by her booth. “A decision floats before you, like a bit of ash caught in the breeze, a burning ember that could bring warmth, or light destruction. Sit and listen” she beckons.

I sit down before her, and she begins shuffling stones around on her table. Dozens of flat grey stones, and one pitch black.

Ash-Eye turns three stones, each in turn. “The Broken Wheel, an interrupted journey. A Sleeping Flame, the fire within you is dim, and could be awakened if you depart, or it may be snuffed out altogether where none may see it, and none may free it. And the Hollow Tree, your life has roots but no growth. New branches may grow, but the old leaves will never return.” Her finger hovers over the fourth stone, but she does not turn it. “This one is for you to reveal, or conceal. It is you who must choose it or reject it.” She withdraws her wrinkled hand.

I reach for the stone, and hesitate. “Damned seers,” I curse, and slide three copper coins to her. She smirks as she sweeps the coins from the table and I take my leave. I give the final stone a final glance, then leave and return to my lodging house.

Scene #12:
I return to my boarding house, eat dinner, inspect and clean my gear, then sponge off the grime from the road as I inspect my injuries.

E: Ambiguous Significance: the Pursuit of Balance-New Thread: Several revolutionaries have been arrested, but their fate is yet undetermined
-Immersion-Sidekick Gestures disgust-

As I sit in the common room eating dinner, I hear the other boarders talking about the arrest of half a dozen traitors earlier in the day. Men and women accused of having helped break into the City’s treasury. Then a group of Kovori gathered outside the prison demanding their release. Protesting their innocence. They shake their heads in disgust over the crime and protest, hoping the revolutionaries are quickly sent to the gallows. I bite my tongue, unwilling to engage in political discussions. Several of the boarders look at me warily, knowing my mixed heritage but unsure of my true allegiance.

I excuse myself and retire to my room to sleep.

-Time Passage- One week to rest and recover-7 recovery rolls, 6 successes, I regain all but 1 hit point, spend 49 copper 1/4th of the month’s living expenses-Roll for Cities downtime events-None occur, no viable job found, but I have money for my living expenses-

Greenthaw 12-Pleasant day, no clouds in the sky-
Scene #13:
Having rested and recovered from my injuries, I find myself in desperate need of coin. But as I dress myself, I hear shouting outside.
Immersion-I see something broken and it worries me

Q: Were the captives put to death? YES Q: Did this cause an uprising? EXCEPTIONAL YES

Going downstairs, I hear a crash, and see a man kicking in the door of the boarding house!
I quickly run over and punch the man in the gut before he even realizes I am there.

Q: Does he retreat? YES

He staggers back and runs out into the street where I see a large group of Kovori breaking into buildings, setting things on fire, and robbing stores. I spot Vaylan soldiers and Kovori auxiliaries trying to quell the riot.

Q: Are my fellow boarders cowering? YES

The people I live with are all locking themselves in their room. Some are dumping chamber pots on rioters and being pelted with stones and feces in return.

Q: Do I see anything that will require my intervention? NO

I look out into the street and shake my head. I call to one of the rioters, “What is happening?”

“They hanged them! The bastards hanged all of them.” He yells, face flush with rage. “Come on! We have to make them pay!”

I shake my head and close the door, bracing a table against it for good measure.

Q: Is order soon restored? YES

After a few hours, things settle down outside. Everyone’s rage seems spent, a curfew is enacted, and heavily armed legionnaires patrol the streets.

For good measure, I stay indoors, reluctant to get caught up in whatever new mischief might begin after dark.

Greenthaw 13-Clear Skies-No wind
Scene #14:
The day after the riot, I go out into the streets to find work, and see the damage.
Immersion-Hear Shattering

As I walk towards the market, I hear a large crashing noise as laborers pull down the burnt remains of a building that didn’t survive the previous day’s events. Men with mallets, ropes and axes start breaking up the debris and hauling it away in carts.

-City Encounters-Circus/Gypsies-Ask PC to serve as a guard to the next city-Chat GPT generates the troupe members for me-

Nearer the market of three tongues, I notice a small company of performers loading up their painted wagons with supplies. An Alnari man in a red vest is directing a couple of identical looking Fjarlandr men as they load up supplies. A quiet Alnari girl is tending a trio of mountain goats and checking on the company’s oxen. A beautiful half Kovari woman with braided hair talks with an old man as he loads some boxes of supplies into another wagon.

Noticing me, the red vested man approaches with a smile and a gleam in his eyes “Yesterday was something else wasn’t it friend?”

I nod. “Was your caravan troubled?”

He nods, “A bit, yes. The animals were spooked. Tella was frightened. Brann, Dorek and I each had to take up arms to discourage people from trying to rob us! We are leaving until things settle down between the Vaylan and Kovori.” He looks me up and down, “But which are you?”

I smirk, “Both and neither it would seem.”

“Forgive me for being so forward, but you have the look of one who has travelled the roads before. Do you know the path to Zarathen?

Q: Am I familiar with the path to Zarathen? EXCEPTIONAL YES

“Yes, I have been there many times. Are you looking for a guide?” I raise an eyebrow.

“A guide, a guard, someone to lend a hand if needed. Are you looking for work?” He asks.

I nod. “I have no horse, but yes, I am looking for work.”

Q: Do they have horses? EXCEPTIONAL NO

“I can offer no horse, but I can offer a wage,” he suggests, hopeful.

I nod. “I’ll gather my things and return. My name is Kaelen.” He smiles and shakes my hand, telling me his name is Savin.

-City Encounter-Animal, Gypsy tries to sell me a snake?-

I am interrupted on my way back to the caravan, .

“Come, let me show you!” an Alnari woman coos, with a snake draped around her neck and another around her wrist, “never need worry about mice in your store room with friend like this! Twenty shillings is a fair price, no?” She pleads.

I shake my head and step away from her, unsure why anyone would wear snakes around themselves. It seems she has several small cages of them, and mice as well.

I hurry away to join Savin and his troupe instead only to see, a few minutes later, the two burly Fjarlandr men helping the woman bring her cages of snakes and mice to the caravan and help load them into a wagon. She smiles and gives me a wink.

-After dicing out who was in each wagon, I ended up with a wagon transporting only one of the brothers. It seemed likely another Alnari circus performer should join the troup, so I added the random snake merchant to the company-

Savin tells me, “You can load your pack into the second wagon. Let’s get out of here!” I quickly climb into the back of the second wagon, where I see the snake handler’s cages, along with apparently her personal effects and those of at least one other member of the troupe. I secure my pack on some wall hooks and then move ahead of Savin’s wagon to help guide the oxen through the busy streets towards the northern gate.

Scene #1:
I start leading the caravan through the busy streets towards the northern gate and the start of our journey west.
-Immersion-Pensive Gesture towards myself-
-Encounter-Protest Group-
Q: Is the road blocked? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Are guards intervening? NO

On the way, we pass a large number of Kovori berating the Vaylan garrison and government for yesterday’s executions and crackdown against the riot. Things are tense, but peaceful and I have not difficulty getting people to clear the way for our wagons.

Q: Is there an inspection? YES (Reaction 12-1=11 Neutral, routine interaction)

Reaching the gate, the watch captain halts us and begins inspecting our wagons and cargo. He speaks with Savin and is soon convinced the circus company is what it claims to be. There being no fee to exit the city, he waves us onward and we soon clear the city’s gates. I lead the way north with my goal being Orvakhan by nightfall, where we can hopefully meet other travelers intending to cross the grasslands.

Scene #2:
We follow the road north toward Orvakhan by way of Velmira. I set a steady pace, but one which the oxen easily follow.
-Immersion-Enemy to Enemy gesture of disgust-
-Encounter-Dressing-lightning rods in field-

As we wind our way down the road, I notice lightning rods staked throughout a field of barley and the farmers hard at work, sowing their barley. Behind me, Savin drives the lead wagon, garishly painted, the younger woman is squeezed onto the bench between him and the elegant woman. The second wagon is driven by one of the Fjallandr twins, with the snake charmer at his side and a trio of goats tethered and following behind. The final wagon is driven by the second twin, accompanied by the old man.

Rolling past the fields, I notice several of the workers looking our way, scowling or shaking their heads at the perceived sloth of my employers, who do not spend their days working the fields under a hot spring sun!

Q: Does anything interesting happen in Velmira? NO Reaction check for Enya-Poor

We pause briefly in Velmira, and I buy a loaf of barley & nut bread, then visit with Enya, the herbalist, but she is busy with other customers.

After watering the animal and the caravaners disembarking to stretch their legs and have a bite to eat, we are back on the road north.

Encounter/Event: Dandelions Q: does anyone have hayfever? NO

Halfway to Orvakhan we are bathed in a dusting of dandelion seeds that coat our hair, clothes and the backs of our animals. Fortunately, they don’t make anyone sneeze, but while Soren seems annoyed by them, the women riding with him both seem amused.

(Generate Orvakhan) Q: Is Orvakhan crowded? YES Reactions-Neutral Q: Can we find corrals? NO Q: Mostly heading out? EXCEPTIONAL YES

By nightfall, we reach the village of Orvakhan, where we will rest.

Arriving in the settlement, there are a number of other caravans present, draft animals and livestock already fill the communal pens, so our animals have to be tethered in our camp in the village square, like many others. There is a lot of activity though, as traders are making plans to cross the grasslands to more civilized territory.

I circulate among the other travelers, listening to the news, and seeking out Tarn of the Braided Road.

Q: Can I find Tarn? YES Q: Is he drunk? NO Reaction-Poor

I find him in the Crossed Fires Inn, not yet drunk, talking with several caravan masters and scouts. I nod as I sit down.

“What do you want?” He scowls at me.

“News of the road, of course.” I shrug. He taps the table, demanding coin for his words. I set down three tappers. He scoffs.

“Orcs are on the warpath it seems.” He leans back in his chair. “I also hear things have gone bad in Vortessa. Some sort of riot prompted a bunch of caravans to come north all at once, and they’re all stuck here while. So while the Broken Fangs are eyeing the trail, shadowing patrols, we’ve got a bunch of anxious merchants trying to decide whether to make a break for it. I wish they would…we are a plump looking piece of fruit with a lot of plunder to be taken for little effort. If the caravans move out, we aren’t such a sweet peach to pluck.”

“So…it’ll be a running fight then. For anyone who wants to make it through?” I ask. He nods. I thank him. He shakes his head as return to Savin.

-No Encounter- Q: Will he chat alone? EXCEPTIONAL YES
I return to our wagons and find Savin and the rest of the troupe gathered around their cooking pot. I nod to the captain, and he steps aside so we can speak quietly behind one of the wagons.

“Orcs are restless, looking for easy pickings. We either need to go fast, or we can join up with a larger company and hope we have the manpower to fight off any attack.” I offer.

Q: Go fast? YES

He considers this briefly, then says, “We go fast. Head off before dawn, so there are more tempting targets behind us.”

I nod, then look back at the rest of the troupe, “Don’t get captured”

“Don’t let us get captured,” he counters.

We then join the others for dinner, and he tells them we leave at the crack of dawn. We’ll need to travel fast.

Q: Are they worried? NO

It is hard to understand whether they are unconcerned out of faith in their leader or ignorance of the danger. Eitehr way, I sit down and get to know my travelling companions.

The older beauty is Savin’s wife, Leisa, and the younger woman, who doesn’t seem to speak at all, is their daughter, Tella. She uses Tradefist to speak but with some extra miming to say more than a merchant would. The twin acrobats are Brann and Dorek. Vira is the snake charmer and the old man is Ulin, and alchemist.

(random topic, speaker)
While we eat, Ulin asks me about the orcs. I mention that they are fast, ruthless, and restless. That they have a taste for human flesh. He asks if I’ve ever fought them before. I nod and suggest that we’re better off if we don’t.

(reaction, poor)

My words cast a poor shadow over the evening, and soon conversation falters and everyone turns in to bed. Some in their wagons, some on bedrolls near the fire. I am one of the latter.

Greenthaw 12, Thornsday
Immersion: Joy,

Scene #3:
It is a cool spring day in Orvakhan as we get the wagons and animals ready for travel before the other caravans even wake. Everyone seems to be in a good mood as we get ready.

Soon, Savin and the others are mounted up and I am leading the company out the village gates.

Q: Are we halted as we leave? NO

We set off at a quick pace. It is cool out, so the quick pace doesn’t really bring a sweat. The oxen and goats are steady after us.

-Minor Annoyance encounter-

Traveling down the road, I notice a patch of poison ivy by the side of the road. I head back to the wagons to warn them, “Don’t let the oxen graze around here. It’ll make them sick.” I then notice goats, who face no such danger from the plant.

-Dressing Encounter-
Later in the afternoon, I notice a broken wagon wheel by the side of the trail. It has been there for years, and lies half buried with weeds growing up through it. The rims are rusted, but perhaps useful, but several spokes are shattered and the wood is old.

-Dressing Encounter- (generate river details)
As evening draws near, we reach the Veshkarn river and the Brankvek Ford. In the waning light, I hear Leisa call out, “What’s that shining on the ground ahead?”

I strain my eyes, and realize it is simply scores of greenbugs, whose shells are reflecting the waning sun. “Just a bunch of insects,” I reply, to her disappointment.

-Immersion-sound-scraping/scratching-

We approach the river’s edge, and I notice the current is flowing much faster than most times of the years when I’ve crossed. “Wagons in a half circle with the river on the open end, livestock in the center.” I suggest, but Savin is already organizing things in that way. These are no strangers to the road. Watches are quickly assigned.

Q: Are other caravans approaching? NO Q: Any fires in the distance? EXCEPTIONAL NO

I climb on top of one of the wagons and scan the horizon. There is no sign of anyone else following behind. No signs of distant campfires. Just the vast expanse of prairie dotted with the occasional cluster of trees, boulders or distant ruins from a bygone age.

Savin looks to the river, “Kaelen? Can we cross here?”

I shrug, “It’s the best place, but most crossings are summer, autumn or winter. Nobody normally crosses in the spring when the current is fast.”

“Is that why everyone was waiting?” He asks.

I shake my head, “No. It can be done. It just takes care. We’ll have to be careful though, in the morning.”

-Reaction-Bad-

“Damn it all! I thought you knew how to get us safely to Zarathan!” Savin curses me.

I glare at him, “This is the best overland route. Two days along a frequently patrolled road rather than five days along broken dirt trails. If Tarn is right, we don’t want to be out here any longer than we must.”

“Who is Tarn?” Savin demands. I explain the man is the most knowledgeable scout in the region.

Savin spits on the ground, “Keep a sharp watch, Kaelen!”

Then he retires to his wagon with his wife.

I climb down from the wagon and begin patrolling our perimeter.

Q: Does anyone join me? EXCEPTIONAL NO Encounter-No

After a few hours, Brann relieves me, and I lay down in my bedroll by the campfire, bow and spear in easy reach.

Fireday, 13th Greenthaw, Full moon-Pleasant weather, clear skies, no rain
Scene #4:
Camped by the river, the night passed uneventfully. This leaves us with the challenge of crossing a fast current in the morning mist.
-Immersion-Cold to Touch-
-Morning event-Torches on the horizon-

Waking up to the smell of the morning gruel, Savin and Dorek call me outside the perimeter of the wagons and points off in the distance to the east. “What do you make of it?”

Straining my eyes, I guess, “Campfires. Lots of them.” Savin asks if they might be other caravans, and I shake my head, “Not that spread out. They’d all be along the road. Those are warbands. We left just in time.” Savin nods his head solemnly.

We eat quickly, and I am grateful that the mist that lingers around the river in the morning conceals our cooking fire, even if the position of our wagons did not. I walk down to the river banks with my companions, and strategize how best to cross. “We’ll tether the wagons together, and cross in a line. Best drivers in the front. We’ll bring the goats across afterward.”

Savin agrees with the plan, and soon we are making our attempt.

(All three drivers pass their Animal handling/bovine checks)

The passage is tricky given the strength of the current, but Brann, Dorek and Tella handle the animals with ease, and the wagons cross with no tipping or loss of cargo. The goats are a simple matter afterwards.

In less than an hour, we are on the road again. The campfires in the distance are no longer visible, whether they have been doused or the morning mist conceals them, I cannot say.

Morning Encounter-Stranded Traveler-Visible Details from ChatGPT- Reaction-Bad (but he desperately needs help)

As we moved down the road, I notice a mid-sized wagon on the road up ahead. It is upright, no smoke comes from it, but it is clearly leaning to one side and not moving. I signal for everyone to wait while I check things out. I notice the twins each disembark from their wagons and ready their bows, following my example.

As I draw close, I spot a man who steps out from the front of the wagon, holding up his hands. I see the ox team is grazing nearby.

“Friend! My friend! Please, say you are a friend?” The heavy set Alnari entreats. I notice silver beads braided into his beard and he wears fine clothing.

-Perception check-
“I am no enemy. What are you doing here, alone?” I eye the wagon warily, then notice the rear axle has cracked.

“I…need some help. My axle is broken, can you help me?” He pleads, nervously, fearful.

“How are you here alone? Where is the rest of your caravan?” I demand.

He shuffles nervously, “They left me. Had no spare parts to share”

I notice the crates of merchandise, and shake my head. “Not for me to say. But if you offer enough in trade, our captain might be willing to help. I’d rather we keep moving.” The man begins to whimper in obvious fear for his life. “But you could undoubtedly travel with us, and bring out others to recover your goods, whatever isn’t plundered before then.”

Savin joins us, “What have we here?” The merchant pleads his case, one Alnari to another, in their own language.

Q: Does Savin agree to help? NO

I am not sure exactly what was said, but Savin scowls and shakes his head, and the other man falls to his knees crying and grabbing at the leader of our troupe, pleading for help. Savin signals the others to keep moving.

Q: Will the merchant abandon his goods? EXCEPTIONAL NO

“You should come with us” I urge the man. But he protests that everything he owns is on the wagon, and he would be ruined by its loss. When I warn him of the orcs, he openly cries, but still will not follow us.

“Savin? Settle up with me, two days wages. Follow the road to East Watch. You should be there by nightfall. I can’t leave this man here alone.”

Q: Does Savin settle up? YES E: Negative for Kaelen Dravari: the Judgment of the intellectual

Savin counts out two day’s wages, “You’re damned fool” I nod. Then as the last wagon passes me, Ulin calls me a fool as well, warning that one doesn’t live to an old age by sticking their necks out for idiots, that’s how heads roll!

I ignore them and start looking for tools.

Q: Does he have the tools? NO

“Where is your hammer and saw?” I ask the man. He stammers that he doesn’t have any of that. “So no tools to craft a fresh axle, and no spare?” He looks away in shame.

I shake my head and scan the horizon.

Q: Are there any ruins in sight? NO Q: Does he object? NO

I start going through his cargo to see what he does have. Lots of grain, salted fish, honey bricks, some crates of potter, bolts of wool, hides, some copper ingots, lamp oil. Nothing particularly useful at the moment.

I turn to the man, “There is no way for us to fix this wagon with anything you have here.” He starts crying again.

-Intimidation, pass by 3- – Hiking-Critical Success- Q: Does Savin let me rejoin? YES

“Get moving! We have to catch up to the others, now!” I yell at him. He stammers in shock, then grabs something from the lock box beneath the seat of the wagon, I round up the oxen as we start following the others. I press him hard to help us catch up, and soon we have them in sight! As we catch up, Savin waves me ahead to resume my place as fore guard while the merchant is allowed to sit on the bench of the second wagon.

-Afternoon Encounter-Mountain Hares-Q: Close enough to shoot? NO

As we march onward, a group of hares are suddenly startled out of hiding. I quickly raise my bow, but they are too far away for a clean shot. Instead, I head off the trail to see if I can spot what might have spooked them.

Tracking-Pass- Q: Do I spot what spooked them? Likely-NO

Eyes sharp, I head over to where the hares had been and look around. I see nothing of concern, and spot no tracks other than those of the hares. Whatever they saw or heard is beyond my senses, possible gone, or maybe even us. I quickly rejoin my companions, catching back up and moving on.

-Evening event-The charnel pit-
Q: Caravan? NO Q: Patrol? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Is East Watch intact? YES

As the sun begins to wane and we draw closer to East Watch, I see buzzards in the air. Then the stench starts to hit me…death! I signal for the wagons to stop while I move ahead to investigate.

-Health-pass by 6-
I soon reach the source of the smell, a pile of corpses by the side of the road! I feel the bile rising in my throat, but choke it down and steel my nerves. The dismembered carcasses of men, women and children have been piled here to rot…food for buzzards and crows, now maggot infested nesting places for thousands of flies! I can see where they have been butchered for meat, legs and arms taken, other parts carved off, and less desirable sections of the corpse simply discarded and left to rot…or ripen for the orcish palette.

Q: Are there totems here? NO Animal Handling checks-1 fail, 2 successes-

I look around and spot no tribal totems or markings. Whoever did this likely has no plans to return…they’ve staked no claim to their larder. I quickly return to the wagons. “Cover your mouths and noses. Don’t look at what we will be passing by, just keep to the road,” I warn.

As we start to pass by, the lead team balks and we have to settle the animals to pull them past the scene. Then I hurry the troupe onward towards the supposed safety of East Watch.

Scene #5:
We arrive at the fortified village of East Watch, unnerved by the charnel pit we just passed.
-Immersion-Goosebumps-Q: Are there signs of an attack? YES

As we approach, I see the walls are scorched by a recent fire. The guards are on edge, and a scores of orc corpses rot on crucifixes surrounding the fort, hanging like scarecrows over the freshly sown fields. I shudder feeling a chill and goosebumps rising on my arm.

-Reaction-Poor-

“Who goes there?” Barks the sergeant on watch as we approach.

“Travelling entertainers from Vortessa!” I call back. The gate opens and a squad of soldiers rush out, all business. Spears and crossbows leveled at us as they unceremoniously command members of the troupe to disembark and begin searching the wagons. Savin is outraged, but his wife holds him back as the guards continue their work.

“How did you get through?” demands the sergeant.

“Get through? We saw no orcs, but passed signs of their work. This morning, we saw the fires of a large army east of Bravek Ford. I think they missed us” I reply. The sergeant scowls at me.

Savin then speaks up, “We are on our way to Zarathen. We need to rest. Please let us in.”

Having no reason to turn us away, the sergeant waves us in to shelter. The merchant we picked up then vanishes into the settlement, undoubtedly to try and persuade someone to help him recover his goods.