–Episode 13–
-24th Great Harvest-
-cool, clear skies, good wind-
-Immersion-High Five
-Seepage 0 on d8-(got laid last night) (Romance status is Enamored)
Scene 1 (GH 24th):
I wake up next to Eveline, and the two of us roll out of bed and get dressed. “Alright, I’m going to head out to check on Roslan’s father, then gather herbs. I’m going to try and stay out of trouble. You…go have fun!”
Eveline laughs, “I always do, but…keep your eyes out, and take Warren with you. Just in case.”
The two of us then head down to breakfast, where all eyes fall on me.
Q: Is everyone here this morning? (exceptional no)
Downstairs, we find only Mini, and she is setting out some pies to cool. She nods to the food on the table, and the two lunch sacks, “Hurry up and eat, Casia! I need you to help me load up your cart with my pies!” Then she looks at me, “and you, Talia, stay out of trouble today! That was horrifying having guards come and seize you last night.”
I nod, “Where is everyone else?”
“Gavin and Dorak took some bottles to the tasting grounds already. Defris disappeared last night and hasn’t returned. Ivor left early this morning,” she shrugs. “Not always sure about those two. I’d rather not pry.”
I nod as I start to eat. “Any more blackberry pies?” Casia asks eagerly. Mini smiles and points out the blackberry ones. The two talk excitedly about how fun it will be to at the market together, and how men will be, almost literally, eating out of their hands. I roll my eyes.
“Have fun you too,” I suggest with a grin and an eye roll as I grab my lunch bag, satchel and staff, then lead the animals out the door with me.
“You too, sis!” Casia calls out, and the two giggle to each other as I leave.
-Encounter-None- Q: Is Roslan Home: Exceptional No Q: Is someone else nearby? No
With all of the attention focused on the fourth day of the Tournament, the everyman’s day, I encounter hardly anyone on the streets this morning, and am soon beyond the city gates and into the village across the river. “Sit, Warren,” I warn the dog as I knock on Roslan’s door.
There is no answer, and looking around the village, it seems deserted. Even the fields seem empty. Not as though the place was abandoned, but…everyone must be at the tournament! But oddly, not even Roslan’s father yelled when I knocked so…is he with her? I shrug my shoulder and head out to the pasture to start searching for herbs.
-Two forage rolls, then two encounter rolls for morning and afternoon-No encounter, ambient encounter-
I find soap ash, compfreey, lemongrass, numb stool, tea leaves of several varieties, willow bark, sunberry, hareleaf and dreamleaf.
-Princeling Hunting nat 20, Warren hunting- 16- -Yseldra Survival 15-
The animals are not out in pasture, and even game animals don’t really appear, just the wave of grasshoppers that flee on my approach, and a lonely eagle circling overhead, looking for a hare. At one point, it dives down, but then veers off as Warren snatches a rabbit from the nearby brush, having beaten the bird to its quarry. I laugh, and bite my thumb at the bird as I cut the rabbit’s throat, and quickly dress the beast. I then notice that Princeling is on his third mouse of the day. He’d already caught two earlier while I was working. “Wow! Farmers abandon the fields, and suddenly, plenty of rodents about for the two of you to hunt? Brilliant!” I wink at my companions.
I actually do a good job skinning and flaying the rabbit, getting a clean pelt, maybe worth a tenpiece, and half a pound of meat, which I wrap up in my lunch bag after eating what was left of my meal. A bit of variety for dinner?
I then head back into the village as the sun begins to set
Q: Has Roslan returned? Yes Q: Is her father up and about? Yes
Life has returned to the village, so I knock on Roslan’s door and she beams with joy on seeing me. She calls back to her father, “It’s Talia!” and welcomes me in.
Q: Is he grateful? Exceptional Yes Generate day’s activities Q: Did he win at the game? No
The old man is standing nearly full height beside the table and walks over to greet me. “By the goddess! My angel! Freia herself must have sent you to me!” he exclaims with tears in his eyes. “I’ve been trapped in that bed for years and today…today…I went to the temple! I went to a festival! I drank with my neighbors! I threw a hatchet at targets and…well…I may have lost a few pennies, but…but I can walk! ” he is excited once more.
-topic-friends-
I laugh in delight, “I am so glad to hear it!” Then noticing the pot already starting to boil, I ask, “Roslan, is it too late to add to the stew?” And seeing my unwrap the hare, Roslan quickly dices it into small chunks and adds it to the pot. The three of us then sit together while Princeling claims the spot where Oslan had laid his head for the last few years.
Oslan yammers on about having caught up with old friends who had stopped coming to visit, and meeting some of the new tenants in the village he only knew through his daughter’s words. Roslan was smiling the entire time, happy to see her old man with his new lease on life. Eventually, she raises her cup and toasts, “To friends!”
“To friends, old and new!” I echo and the three of us drink, then enjoy our hearty rabbit stew. The old man even lets me scoop out a bit for my dog waiting hungrily on the porch, forgiving the animal its intrusion on this most joyous of days.
Q: Do the guards let me cross? Yes (evening encounter-child-asks to run away with party)
After dinner, I head back to the city, crossing the bridge in the dark, and the guards, recognizing me, let me in, and I head home. On the way, a boy, maybe twelve years old, with a small bundle in his hands comes up to me, “Missus! Missus! I…I…” he starts to cry.
I take a look at the boy, and rub the back of my hand against the side of his face, “What’s wrong?”
He looks up at me, “Can you use a servant? I can mop floors. Clean stables. Carry heavy things. Anything! I just…need some bread…and…” he swallows,”…someplace warm to sleep.” he whimpers.
“Where are your parents?” I ask.
Q: Is he an orphan? Unlikely- Yes Q: Did he get kicked out? 50/50 Yes
“Gone, mum,” he casts his eyes down. “I was staying with my uncle, but I can’t no more.” I ask why, and he tells me his uncle kicked him out for being useless.
I shake my head, “I might know a place for you to stay, but for now, come with me,” I tell the lad, and lead him home where…the boarding house bustles with activity, and I remember that Dorak said he was going to try to cash in while visitors still filled the town.
Inside, guests are telling stories, drinking ale and Casia nods for me to go upstairs and get changed while Mini is more vocal, “Talia! We need another set of hands.”
I quickly thrust the boy towards her, “Get this one washing mugs and bowls then,” and I race upstairs to change while Mini asks the boy his name. I hear the name Pelop, which is an odd one, but whatever.
Q: Are all the boarders home? Yes Q: Did Mini win the pie contest? No Q: Did Dorak win the ale contest? Exceptional Yes
Upstairs, a word of magic cleans my lunch sack, and I change clothes, heading downstairs to help with the crowds. Soon, I am bustling between tables and helping pour drinks with quick efficiency while Casia and Mini enjoy the opportunity to slow down and flirt with patrons. But then another wave of patrons enter and we are soon scarcely able to move!
“This is the greatest ale in Oldenstone!” one man declares, patting Dorak on the shoulder.
Dorak lifts up Gavin’s hand, “And this is my partner in crime!”
-Alehouse event-Political debate- Q: Do they prefer the old lord? Yes
As drinks flow, a few of the patrons begin talking politics and how much better things were under old man Pond, how there would be five or six feasts like this every year instead of just three so far since the younger baron took over. “No glory, no pageantry…just a quiet little book keeper counting his coins in the keep. Thanks be to Freia that he married Lady Elspeth! At least she knows how a lord should behave!”
“Yes, the old man was smart to force his little brat to marry a woman with sense! Shame the older brothers died,” Another man agrees.
“Watch your words,” a third man interjects. “I tell you, that little book keeper, he knows things. So watch your tongue.”
“Why? Are you going to complain about us?” the first man scoffs.
Q: Is the boy working hard? Yes
“Drink more, talk less,” I suggest bringing the men another round, “Then drink more again!” I wink before working my way back to the kitchen with empty cups for Pelop to wash. I smile when I see how hard he is working to keep up with the flow of cups, bowls and spoons. “Good lad.” I nod at him, “Pelop, was it? I’m Talia. The curly haired woman is my sister, Casia. The other, that’s Mini.” I nod towards the other alewives. He looks at them, and smiles up at me, then gets back to work. “I’ll see if you can sleep here in the kitchen after we clean up. Then I think I know someone who could use a good set of hands, tomorrow.” He nods gratefully.
Drink continues to flow until the wee hours, but as the crowd starts to thin, one old man recounts a story of the when the first Lord of Oldenstone Lord Pond, killed the dragon of Lake Bosin, a black scaled fiend worshipped by the lizard folk of the swamps and hill country, though he carried the scars the rest of his days.
“Could you imagine our current baron facing such a beast?” the first man laughs.
The second replies, “I can’t imagine him in armor on a horse even!”
“He led the column to Westhold! Against the orcs!” the third man retorts, defending the baron.
“Nah! Someone wearing armor with his family’s livery led the column to Westhold!” the second man replies.
The third man throws up his hands in despair, given up the argument.
I yawn as the evening wears on, and eventually, the room clears out and we get to some serious cleaning. “Mini, Dorak? Do you mind if the lad sleeps here in the kitchen tonight, by the hearth? I’ll bring him down a blanket.”
Q: Do they object? No
Dorak replies, “Fine by me, I suppose. Guess he earned his keep tonight, helping clean up. But he can’t stay longer, unless you want to hire him. I can’t afford more help.”
I nod, then suggest, “Pelop, eat whatever’s left in the pot before you clean it up, fill your belly. You’ve earned it.” He nods appreciatively, and Mini give him a leftover tart, and a wink.
Once we are done, Casia and I retire to our room, and I tell her about me day, and she tells me about hers, how Mini lost the pie baking contest, but Dorak and Gavin one the ale brewer’s, and got a nice purse from it too! Then we snuggle up, and I tend to her.
-25th Great Harvest-Lady Eslpeth Pond’s Birthday-
-Warm, Cloudy, no rain, high winds-
-Immersion-cawing sound-
-No Seepage-
Scene 2 (episode 13)-25th Great Harvest (alterred scene degree 7, increase intensity, add object)
A crow caws loudly outside. Warren and Princeling both quietly stare out the open window and I am sorely tempted to kill the bird so I can get back to sleep. Eveline sits up and rubs her head, “I drank too much!” she laments.
“You were supposed to be selling ale, not drinking it,” I chastise her, but she grins,
“But those lads insisted I sit for a bit and share a tankard, or three!” she giggles.
“It’s a good thing I love you, else I’d be jealous and hate you…and them,” I respond.
She kisses me lightly on the cheek, “All is well,” she winks. Then kisses me properly. Then pulling me back down onto the bed, pinning me down and showing her full appreciation of my trust and devotion.
Sated, we once more attempt to dress, and Casia pulls something from her pouch. “I got this for you,” she holds out a copper falcon pendant. “It was the nicest I could find, there was a peddler who stopped by the stand yesterday.”
I admire the symbol of the goddess, smile, and put it on. Then kiss Casia once more.
“Stop! Or we’ll never get breakfast!” she blushes, and as we head downstairs adds, “The final rounds are today. Alehouse will be packed again tonight. Then…tomorrow the lords head home. After that, you don’t have to stay out of the city!”
I hoist my satchel over my shoulder, “Good! I look forward to market day. But now, I need to find Pelop a home.”
“You don’t have to, you know. You want to. You like to help people. Why is that?”
“People need help, and sometimes, I can” I shrug. “So why shouldn’t I?”
Eveline grins, and seeing nobody else in the hall, quickly kisses me on the cheek, then we head downstairs.
Q: Is everyone at breakfast? Exceptional Yes
Coming downstairs, Defris asks, “This your boy?”
I laugh, “Depends on what he did.”
Q: Is Pelop in trouble? Yes Q: Theft? No
“Caught him listening at doors in the hall this morning,” Defris scowls.
Q: Does Defris bristle? Exceptional Yes (Insight 19, Persuasion 15)
“Perhaps he’s more your boy than mine then,” I retort, then glare at they boy. “I can’t help you if you embarrass yourself like that.” Defris stiffens and his eyes narrow at me, and I immediately realize I pushed him wrong. “And I should not embarrass myself. We both owe master Defris an apology.” I look at my fellow boarder, meet his gaze and explain, “That was out of line. Our walls are thin, and I know that none of us intend to overhear private conversations. I am sorry.”
Q: Does he forgive? Exceptional Yes
Defris nods, but says nothing, though a smile creeps across his face as he returns to his meal, and goes back to talking to Ivor.
Q: Does Pelop apologize? Exceptional Yes
“I’m sorry I was listening to doors. I was trying to find Miss Talia’s room.” he confesses to everyone. I raise an eyebrow. He looks down, “I…I wanted to…I wanted to make sure you hadn’t left me behind or something.” the boy shrugs.
I smirk, and nod for him to sit back down and finish the meal Mini had made for him. Soon, we have all eaten, and I grab a bundle of food for myself, with extra for Pelop, and we head out towards the town gate. “where are we going?” Pelop asks.
“I know a farmer who owes me a favor, and has no sons. Maybe he’ll adopt you or something. At least use you as a hand and let you live in the barn or something,” I explain.
Q: Does this excite him? very Likely-Yes
Pelop grins excitedly, his pace quickening with each step as the dog and cat follow behind us.
-Encounter-Local Character-Bud-
“Flowers! Fresh flowers mum!” calls out the ragged looking boy from a few days ago in the tavern.
Q: Does he have anything useful? Exceptional No (Persuasion 10)
“What do you have for me today?” I ask walking over to the lad and checking through his goods. I purse my lips in disappointment, then smile at the lad, “A penny for three?” I ask. He eagerly agrees, and I give him two pennies for six, then casually begin weaving them into a bracelet as we continue out the gate. As we cross the bridge, I look back to make sure the lad cannot see, then drop them in the river below to be carried downstream.
-Perception 10-
“Why did you do that?” Pelop asks
“Do what?” I respond.
“Throw away the flowers,” he presses.
Deception 4-
“Oh, dear. I guess I dropped them,” I feign surprise.
“No. You threw them!” Pelop presses.
-persuasion 6-
“I didn’t want them, but I didn’t want the lad to go hungry. Same reason I am taking you to see my friend. Learn not to press when people do you a favor,” I sigh, shaking my head.
-Q: Does he keep pressing? Yes
“But why?” he asks once more.
I sigh, “What is the second virtue? Compassion! Help those who are suffering by whatever means are available to you. What is the first vice? Selfishness! Refusing to make modest sacrifices to aid those in need makes one less than a beast. You have been to temple, yes?”
Q: Has he been to temple? No
“No. Uncle didn’t take us to temple,” he casts his eyes down.
I nod, wrap my arm around his shoulder as we walk, “Then I suppose I should recite the virtues and vices to you,” and I do just that as we alk to the village, where I knock on Roslan’s door.
Q: Is Roslan still home? Yes Persuasion 18
Roslan opens the door, her father behind her. They look like they are getting ready to go to the tournament. I look to Oslan, “Old man, you have no son, and this lad has no family. And you owe me a favor, and your daughter some help. This lad, Pelop, is eager for work. Will you take him from me?”
Q: Is Roslan happy to have the help? Yes Q: Do they take him immediately? Yes Q: Adopt? Yes
Roslan grins excitedly as her old man agrees. But as they are heading out, they invite the boy to come along. “Come along, son,” Oslan says. Pelop beams with excitement as he follows them, glancing back at me with tears of gratitude in his eyes, and I continue towards the pasture.
-Morning Encounter-Hunters/Trappers-(reaction neutral)- Q: Does he wave back at me? No
While I am gathering herbs, I spot a man with a bow some distance away. He has a boar spear slung over his back in a holster. I wave at him. He looks my way, then turns his attention back to whatever it was he is doing. As far as I can tell, he must be hunting, so I continue with my gathering.
-Afternoon Encounter-Ambient insect swarms-
Throughout the day, as I move through the pasture, waves of grasshoppers part on my approach. It makes me grateful for sparrows and crows, except for the one that woke me this morning.
-Herbalism 15, and 20, Princeling Survival 1, Warren Survival 20-Talia’s Survival 14-
Throughout the day, I find ratwort, belly root, hareleaf, dreamleaf, comfrey, pungo, tea leaves, willow bark, nararoot, sunnberies, and bullroot, once more filling my satchel with as much as I can carry. But as we are about to leave, Warren, who has been free to roam and enjoying chasing hares throughout the day, returns with another rabbit in his mouth. “Thank you dear,” I smirk, wringing the struggling rabbit’s neck, then skinning and flaying it as well. I botch taking off the pelt, and end up tossing it aside, but get another half pound of meat.
I pass through village, and hand the meat over to Roslan before continuing home, using a bit of prestidigitation to clean up before I enter the city gates.
Q: Do the guards wave me inside? Nearly Certain-No (generate a sergeant and a trooper) Q: Are these the men that arrested me earlier? No
“Hold up, woman,” the sergeant raises his hand. “What are you doing here at this late hour?”
-deception 18 (rolled with advantage, because I am getting good at my disguise)- Sgt Candril’s Insight 21-
“It’s earlier now than it was last night when I returned. I’m Talia Evenbough. I live at Dorak’s Boarding house. I’m an herbalist, finding stock for my booth for market day,” I explain, opening the contents of my satchel for inspection. “Is there a problem?”
The sergeant’s eyes narrow and he starts fishing around inside my satchel, his hand rests on my spellbook and he pulls it out. “What’s this?”
“My personal journal,” I reply.
-Sgt Candril’s Arcana 7-
He opens to begin looking through it, “I don’t think so…this is. I don’t know what this is. Some sort of code?”
-Persuasion 22-
“Recipes and formulas for medicines, notes explaining theories behind them. May have my book back?” I hold out my hand. His eyes narrow, but he gives it back to me.
“Search her for contraband,” the sergeant commands, and one of the guards standing nearby steps forward, unloading his crossbow then firing the trigger before slinging it over his shoulder and approaching me. He begins to search me, hands touching where I have never been touched by a man before. I close my eyes, gritting my teeth as rage burns inside me.
The soldier pulls out my dagger, and my wand. “What’s this for?” he holds up the wand.
-Deception 20, vs Insight 6-
“Stirring,” I reply relieved he has stepped away and is no longer touching me. The guard hands it back to me, and the dagger as well.
“What were you really doing out there?” the sergeant presses.
“Gathering herbs,” I answer truthfully. The crossbowman shrugs.
Q: Does he let me go? Unlikely-Yes
The sergeant, eyes narrow with suspicion, but no grounds to hold me, finally relents, “You may enter.”
“Have a nice evening,” I reply, sourly, as I go inside, my animals following close behind.
-Evening-No encounter-Q: Is Haggi out? Exceptional Yes
I return home, and notice Haggi and her daughters sitting near where I saw them the other night. I approach them, “Good evening Haggi,” I drop two tenpiece in her bowl, “Lisa, Dora.” I nod to each of the girls. Lisa smiles while Dora clings closer to her mother. I look back towards the gate, then to Haggi, “the sergeant on duty. Is he always an asshole?”
Q: Does she know sergeant Candril? Yes. Random Event, Lord’s Council, NPC Action (Sir Dorstan, knight errant, Separate Mundane)
“Not always,” she replies, “but Sir Dorstan came by earlier today while I was at the gate. Told the sergeant that the Baroness wanted him to keep the riffraff out of the city. There had been complaints about,” she looks down at herself and her kids. “Beggars and refugees.” That’s why I’m back down here already instead of at the market right now, sitting outside of alehouses where coin might flow a bit more freely during the festivities.”
As we talk, I can hear the raucous celebrations taking place in the market district, and I do see people heading towards the ale houses even here in the quarry district. “Ah, well…that’s unfortunate. Are they driving people out of the city?”
Q: Are they driving people out of the city? Very Unlikely-No
“No,” Haggi shakes her head, “the Baroness is not that cold.”
I nod, “Glad to hear that. Have a good evening, and…thank you,” I smile. She nods as I walk away.
—
I arrive at the alehouse, which is already crowded, head upstairs, drop my satchel on the bed, change clothes and then join Eveline and Mini downstairs. “So who won?” I ask downstairs.
“Some knight from the order,” scowls a patron.
Another chimes in, “Lord Pond didn’t even fight him! Beat his own foe, then had the man he beat face the order. Coward.”
Q: Does anyone defend Lord Pond?” Unlikely-Yes Ale Event-Mini flirts with Casia’s table-
“He had to bow out!” the third man from last night chimes in, “How would it look if a baron wins his own tournament? Keeps his own prize? What host does that?”
The first man from last night retorts, “He’s not the host. It’s the baroness! Maybe she’d actually respect him if he were a man!”
“Bite your tongue!” retorts the third man and I quickly regret having asked such an innocuous question. I turn away with a sigh, then spot Mini flirting with one of the men at a table that Casia is currently serving. The pair of them seem to be vying for an unusually handsome man’s attention. While they are distracted, I end up working three times as hard to keep up with their slack.
–Intimidation 11-
After a few minutes, I walk up behind them, grab each by the ear, and pull them back to the kitchen with me over their protests. “Alright! Enough of this! Get back to work!”
“Chill out! We’re just having fun,” Cassia protests.
Mini responds, “How dare you pull me away from the customers! And into my own kitchen?”
Q: Do they prank me? Unlikely-Yes Insight 19-
Suddenly, they exchange a glance, and I realize I am in trouble, they both reach for me as I dodge out the kitchen with the two women pursue me upstairs with mischief in their eyes. There is a whoop and holler from the men downstairs, I slip past Casia, but Mini grabs hold of me, and the two then carry me back downstairs, lay me down on one of the tables, and grabbing tankards of ale, pour them all over me to the amusement of the men who had jumped aside. The they then empty their tankards onto me as well!
I gasp in shock, covering myself, I slap at Casia an Mini, as all three of us laugh. Then I head back upstairs to clean up while they still giggle in amusement, and I suppose, get back to work. I change clothes, prestidigitate my clothes, then shaking my head, start hanging up herbs to dry.
Q: Does someone come to check on me? No Q: Does she apologize? Yes Q: Is Mini with her? No
After a bit, I sit down, and begin writing in Talia’s journal. Eventually, the ale house winds down, and Casia comes upstairs.
“Hey,” Casia says as she enters our room, “I’m sorry about that. Mini and I got a little, excited.”
I glare at her, then slowly grin and chuckle, shaking my head, “That was, actually, kind of funny. But please, don’t do that again.” I ask.
We then fill each other in on the day’s events, and she tells me that Sir Karig was eliminated in the second round at the lists today. I shrug my shoulders. “They will have feasted and danced all night, and hopefully, my father’s men will head home tomorrow. I think I’ll stay home tomorrow. Work on our stocks.” Eveline nods agreement, and offers to help out with that as well. Then we turn in for bed, enjoying each other’s embrace.
-26th Great Harvest-
-Warm, cloudy, no rain-
-Immersion-feel myself, warmth-
-No seepage-
Ep13: Scene 3: Great Harvest 26th
Chaos Factor: 4
I wake up feeling flush, and carefully slip from under Eveline and our blankets. Warren immediately perks up, and I scratch the dog behind the ears. “Lot’s to do around here today. Maybe Gavin will let you go to the quarry with him or something?” I suggest as the dog eagerly wags his tail.
Eveline leans back in bed, “I guess we are working in today after all?”
I nod, “Best thing for me to do. If you want to go out, Warren could use a walk.”
She nods, “Later. I promised to help.”
I smile at her as I pull on my clothes, “Then lets go downstairs and eat first.”
–
Q: Are our fellow boarders there? Yes (generate actor, and conversation topic)
We join everyone else for breakfast, and Ivor glances up at us, “Good morning, Casia! Lovely as ever!” Then looking at me, he smirks, “Nice of you to join us princess. For a second there last night, I though Casi and Mini finally unplugged the stick up your butt, but then you ran away.”
-Intimidation 15-
I glare at him as I sit down, and he suddenly seems a bit reticent
Q: Do other boarders pile on against Ivor? Exceptional No
“Yeah, that was funny!” Gavin interrupts, supporting Ivor.
Ivor grins at the unexpected reinforcement, and Dorak suggests, “It certainly helped sell a lot more ale. Loosen up a bit and it lightens the mood!”
Q: Does Casia even add to it? Yes
Casia grins broadly, her back on my shoulders, “Live a little, sis! Life is much more fun if you don’t always take it so seriously!”
Mini nods in agreement, “Can you imagine, what the three of us could do together? We’d have every man in the quarry district wrapped around our fingers.”
“Now you’re talking!” Casia agrees, and Ivor, Gavin and Dorak all nod as well.
I shake my head and roll my eyes as I start eating breakfast and the conversation moves on.
We finish our meals and the other boarders head out to work while Dorak goes to the cellar to start working on next week’s brewing. Mini is about to start doing the dishes when she asks, “Do you need me to launder your clothes from last night?”
I shake my head, “No. I’ll take care of it. Thank you.”
—
Upstairs, I begin chopping up dried herbs and dosing them into pouches and jars. Casia soon joins me. I ask, “Do you really think I have a stick up my butt?”
Q: Does Casia agree with Ivor’s assessment? No
“No, not really. I do wish you’d relax more, be more playful, not take yourself quite so seriously all the time, but…you do have a really good sense of humor. And you do let your hair down, try new things. You’re not…like…trapped or frigid. You’re just…I guess a product of how you were raised. Very dignified. Always trying to do the right thing when you could be doing the fun thing,” Eveline tries to explain.
-Persuasion 24-
I continue working as I listen, considering her words. Then I stand up and face her, “But I like doing the right thing. I like helping people. And I don’t like losing control of myself, or my life. I need you to be okay with that.”
“I actually adore that!” Eveline smiles, embracing and kissing me deeply. Then pulling back, “Are you okay with me living my life for fun?”
I smile, “I actually adore that, too!” and pull her back in for another kiss.
We lose about an hour of work, but then return to our task invigorated and in a much better mood.
I work on dry product upstairs in solitude while Casia takes tincture and ointment ingredients downstairs to cook up in Mini’s kitchen. I join her once I am able and we have several pots going at once, processing, and dosing out ingredients to stock our booth.
Q: Does anything interrupt our day? Yes (generate prompt-Punish Idea)
“What are you doing in my kitchen?” Mini demands on seeing everything spread out all around. “What a mess!”
“Dorak said it was okay, if I remember correctly.
“You don’t!” Casia objects. “You rented the room, not the kitchen. Dorak!” she calls down stairs a and he hobbles up from the cellar to see what’s going on.
-Persuasion 14-
“We can use the kitchen to brew our tinctures, yes? We did tell you we are herbalists when you rented to us and I don’t think you want us building a fire in our room,” I argue.
-Mini Persuasion 5 (nat 1 will do that)-
Mini protests, “The Kitchen is my domain! And if they are doing…whatever this is, I can’t start lunch! Or…dinner, rather,” throwing up her hands as she packs lunch for everyone in the morning and doesn’t need to cook mid-day.
“You’ll clean up after yourselves and give Mini enough time to cook dinner?” Dorak confirms. I nod, and he rules, “Mini! They can use the kitchen.”
She gives an exasperated sigh, and rolls her throws up her hands in frustration, “Fine! Be that way!” Then she grabs a ladel from a pot and waves it at me, “I’ll remember this!”
I blow Mini a kiss with a smirk, and Casia giggles, “Oh, it’s on between you two now!”
-Persuasion 6-
I shrug as I make up a jar of rosepaste lotion and a little pouch of sweet breath, then head back to Mini’s room, knocking on the door. “Mini, it’s Talia. With a peace offering.”
Mini comes to the door fuming, “I don’t want your damned peace offering! I want my damned kitchen back!”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Look…take this, and I’ll find another way,” I sigh deflated as I press the gifts into her hands.
Q: Does she accept the gifts? Yes
“What are these?” she asks flatly as she lets me put them in her hands.
-Persuasion 21-
“Rosepaste lotion. Put it on your skin in the morning, it helps even out your complexion and heal minor blemishes. And this there is sweet breath. Take a pinch and chew it for a bit, and your breath will smell fresh even if you just ate a raw onion. I mean, you’re already the second prettiest woman here, this might even make you the prettiest” I tweak her ego.
“Second prettiest?” she scoffs. “I’m better looking than you!” she straightens up, arching her back to accent her point.
“Not prettier than my sister!” I retort with a wink.
She is still speechless when I return to the kitchen to finish our work.
–
Working hard, we get everything ready for market day, and with nobody else in the kitchen, a bit of magic makes cleaning a breeze. Soon, it is time for dinner. Dorak asks if we got everything done we needed to today and I tell him it all worked out well. Then he asks Mini, and she admits the kitchen was clean when we were done. Then I ask Dorak, “Do you know of anyone else in need of boarders? Where we can have kitchen access written into the agreement, so as not to interfere with other resident’s needs?”
Q: Does Dorak know of another option for us? No
“Um, uh, what?” his eyes flit between Mini and I, “I though you set it all worked out?”
-Persuasion 14-
“Mini’s right that she can’t use her kitchen while we are. She can’t bake pies for sell, and since her room is accessed through the kitchen, we are pretty much in the way on days when we need it. So, do you know any options? We can’t afford to rent a full shop right now, much less buy one, so…other boarding houses?” I explain, not bothering to look at Mini.
Q: Does Mini back down? Unlikely No Q: Does Dorak lay down the law? Yes
After realizing the issue, Dorak’s brow furrows and he looks at Mini, “That’s not your kitchen. That’s my kitchen. You work for me, and you help serve my boarders. If my tenants need the kitchen, they can use the kitchen. If you don’t like it, you can pack your things and find another job.”
Q: Does Mini quit? Very Unlikely Exceptional No
“I’m sorry, Master Dorak,” Mini stammers, all of her willful defiance evaporating at once. “I’ll mind my place,” she stammers, then immediately races from the dining room.
Q: Is Eveline mad at me? Likely No
“A bit of overkill don’t you think?” Eveline whispers.
Q: Do other tenants take sides? Unsure No
“Nothing like a bit of drama for dinner,” Defris observes before he and the other men return to their meals and talking about events at the quarry today.
-Persuasion 19-
I get up and go to Mini’s room, knocking gently on the door. “Mini, may I come in?”
Q: Is she apologetic? Unsure Exceptional Yes
I hear the door unlatch and a red faced Mini opens the door to let me in, tears staining her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she stammers, “I was out of line. I forgot my place. Please don’t leave. Please don’t make me leave,” she sobs.
I wrap my arms around Mini, “I don’t want to leave. I don’t want you to leave. Can we just…work together. One day each week is all I need. Give me each Damesday, and we’re good, alright?”
Mini nods, sniffling, “Okay. Yeah…yeah, that’s good.”
-Persuasion 24-
I smile at her, pulling the hair from her tear stained face, “Hey gorgeous. You could spend the day at the market, or the gardens. Just relaxing and running errands or something. If there isn’t other cleaning to do. We’ll take care of the kitchen.”
Q: Does she confess the real issue? Exceptional Yes
She blushes and giggles, “Alright, alright…you’ve convinced me. I’m sorry. I just…I’m not used to having other women here, and…I’ve been jealous. So when you took over my space…”
I smile, “Hey! You are still the queen here. We are just passing through. In a few years, we’ll be gone. And everyone in the quarry district will still be coming to worship at your feet. Here, sit down, let me show you how to apply the rosepaste.” I suggest and soon, we are seated on her bed as I teach her how to use the lotion to wash away the years.
Q: Besties? Exceptional No (Insight 21)
We spend a bit of time together, and she thanks me, and while we’ve made some progress, I can tell she still resents Casia and I being here. There’s nothing much to do about that.
—
“How did it go?” Casia asks when I return to our room.
I sigh, “As well as I could hope, I guess. I wouldn’t say we are friends, but I don’t think we are enemies either.”
“Well, that’s something. I don’t have to worry about her sweeping you away from me then,” she laughs.
I laugh and shake my head, “Nope. Oh, no. You’re still stuck with me.” I drop down on the bed beside her, kiss..and soon we dim the lamps for the night.
-Great Harvest 27th-
-Warm, clear skies, gentle breeze-
-Immersion-smell of cooking food-
-No seepage-
Ep 13: Scene 4: Great Harvest 27th-Altered Deny Peace
Chaos Factor: 4
I sit up in bed, “Is that baked apple I smell? “
Eveline bolts upright as well, taking a deep breath, “It is!” she grins, eyes wide. With eager grins whe quickly dress and race downstairs.
“Mini, my queen! You are outdoing yourself today!” I exclaim excitedly as my “sister” and I take our seats.
Mini scoffs, “Not! For! You!” and I see her bring Eveline and I plates with bread, cheese and two boiled eggs each.
“Seriously?” Eveline nearly whimpers.
Mini smirks, placing a handful of small tarts into three parcels “For the quarry boys.”
Gavin, finishing his breakfast, thanks her and takes one of the parcels. Ivor another, then Defris takes the third. “He doesn’t work in the quarry,” I protest. He shrugs and gives me a wink, leaving with his prize.
“Wow!” Eveline exclaims, then looks at me accusingly, “This is why you don’t anger the cook!”
Mini laughs and returns to her kitchen. While Eveline and I eat.
After breakfast, we grab our usual lunch bags, bread, cheese, a couple of raw apples, and then head up to the temple for worship.
-Encounter-Children playing in the street-
Along the way, we find our path briefly blocked by a group of kids playing hoops. “Dog!” one of them yells out and starts to chase after Warren.
“Warren, stay!” I command, racing to the dog and kneeling beside him.
-Eveline intimidation 14-
“Leave the dog alone and go back to your game,” Eveline shoos the kids away. They quickly retreat and we continue on our way to the temple.
–
At the temple, we take our places on the outer ring, kneeling on the stones as Mother Madeline extols the sixth virtue, explaining the importance of perseverance in the face of hardship and trials, and warning against the second and third vices, sloth and cowardice, refusing hard work or personal challenges.
Q: Does Mother Madeline approach Talia after the service? Yes
After service, Mother Madeline approaches us, “You have returned! Very good,” she nods approvingly, “and what did you learn from today’s service?”
“Wear high leather boots so when I kneel on the rocks it doesn’t hurt my knees?” Eveline responds
Q: Is Madeline amused? No Persuasion 7
Madeline glares at Eveline, while I respond, “Perseverance is the foundation of all success. In life, one is always confronted by unexpected hardships. Foul weather flattening crops, drought starving them, locusts or fire denuding pasture, or fishing nets coming up empty, or suffering a falling out with one’s friends over a simple misunderstanding. But hardship can be endured, and troubles can be overcome, damage often repaired, or new paths forward discovered. As long as one perseveres. This is why we kneel on stones at temple, to remind us that hardship can be endured, though…high leather boots are certainly a prudent response.”
Q: Does she decide to lecture us? Exceptional No
She takes a deep sigh and shakes her head, then walks away. Eveline turns to me and giggles, “By the goddess! I can’t believe you said that! High leather boots?”
I shrug, “You’re right. High leather boots would make worship easier, and if a tool is available to make it easier to persevere, why would Freia begrudge it?”
-Encounter-Barbarian being mocked- Generate barbarian, Female? Q: Was Hori banished? No
There is a commotion up ahead as we head down into the market square. We spot a half naked woman adorned in tattoos with a long bow and quiver slung over her back. A group of men surround her, one mocking her, “Can’t you talk woman? Cat got your tongue! You don’t belong here!”
A woman in the crowd jeers, “Put some clothes on you foreign whore!”
Q: Does she seem frightened? Yes Intimidation 17
I push my way through the crowd while the woman’s eyes dart normally between the people crowding around her. Eveline tries to hold me back, but I break through and yell, “Leave her alone!”
Everyone’s eyes snap to me at that moment, and I feel Eveline stand tall behind me as I meet each person’s gaze, one at a time as the crowd begins to disperse. The craglander watches as her accusers slowly disperse.
Q: Is she grateful? No
She takes a single sigh, then continues on her way to wherever she was heading before the crowd gathered around.
“Your welcome!” calls out Eveline as the craglander woman walks away. She doesn’t respond, and Eveline turns to me, “See? That could have gone very badly, and she didn’t even say thank you.”
I meet Eveline’s gaze, “I didn’t do it for thanks. I intervened because it was the right thing to do.”
Eveline shakes her head, “Try not to get us killed.”
I grin, “Agreed, big sis.”
–
Q: Did the sergeant see that? Yes Q: Did others in the levy see it? Yes Q: Does anyone say anything directly? No -Wisdom 20-
All eyes are on me in the market square, and several women from our levy company are whispering amongst themselves, as we form up, sheathed spears brought from home and borrowed shields. The sergeant then begins barking out orders. This time, my movements are precise and well matched to the rest of the formation. That extra work with Roslan paid off, and I am not called out for breaking ranks during basic steps.
Q: Do I know my foe? No (Generate my opponent)
Halfway through the drill, we begin actual combat training, matched off in opposed pairs. I find myself opposite a skinny looking farm girl several years older than me. She looks me up and down, “Bring it, bitch”
Caught off guard, I respond, “My name’s Talia. Remember it,” then the whistle blows and we each drop into our guard positions. We each take a few tentative jabs at each other, then she steps up and her spear is in my neck!
“That’s what they’ll put on your grave marker!” my foe spits as we reset.
Our second match, I tap her first, but then she gets me closer to a vital part, my counter blow grazes her leg, then she gets a second good hit on me. We reset.
Third match, I block her attacks and get my spear past twice, second time up against her neck, “But your grave marker’s barren?”
She spits on the ground and we reset. I get past her defenses twice with glancing hits before she hits me once, but leaves herself open at that moment, and my spear is at her neck again.
Fifth match, she knocks my spear from my hand but I block her blow and step inside, slipping the dagger out from beneath my tunic. I draw the flat of the blade across her arm as her eyes flash with rage. She hits me a couple of times as I continue to press in, hitting her several more as well. The sergeant intervenes just as the flat of my dagger is up against her neck.
Q: Does she take defeat gracefully? Exceptional NO
“She’s dead! I disarmed her and hit her twice more!” my foe protests, as i casually slip my blade back inside my tunic and kick my spear back up into my had as I’ve done with quarter-staves many times before.
“The dagger, now!” the sergeant barks, and I hand it to him. “Where did you get this?”
“Mercer’s shop. Always smart to have a dagger on you. In case you’re disarmed,” I nod towards my opponent. “She’s good.”
-Sgt Nestor’s insight 20-
The sergeant looks between us, then tosses the dagger back to me, “Show me!” he draws his. We go back and forth for nearly a minute, each seeking an opening. He can’t get at me, but I can’t get at any part of him unprotected by mail. But ultimately, he slips past my guard and gets his blade up against my gut. Then he pushes me away. “Where’d you learn to use a blade but not a spear?”
-Deception 16- Nestor’s insight 20-
“My mother taught us both,” I nod towards Casia. “A walking stick in hand, a short dagger under your tunic. Best way to stay safe on the road. i told you, we never stayed long enough in one place to join the levy. That doesn’t mean we never met trouble on the road.”
“No…you aren’t self taught. Not by an herbalist. You’ve been trained,” Nestor observes, eyes narrowing.
“Lover number two? Three? Four or five? So many men came through our mother’s life I can’t remember which one taught us knife work. Anlyn, perhaps? Or was it…,” I turn to Eveline, “Casi, which of our mom’s friends taught us dagger work?”
“Harald!” Casia replies, everyone having stopped drills to watch the sergeant confronting me once more.
-Our average deception is 9, his insight is 6-
“It was Harald,” I sigh with a shrug.
“Harald. And who told you to stand up to a crowd on the street?” Nestor queries.
-Intimidate 7, Deception 20, his insight 12-
“You learn to do that when your mother is what ours was,” I respond, coolly.
Q: Does he get back to drills? Yes Q: Does the rest of the drill go as normal? Yes
He chuckles, “I suppose that must be the case. Form up!” he calls, and we are soon back in formation drilling once more as a group without further interruption.
–
Q: Does anyone approach me after drills? Likely No Q: Will she talk to me? Very Unlikely No
After drills, Eveline and I turn in our shields and I seek out the woman I fought against. “Hey,” I say softly as I approach her. She glares at me, and she and her friends walk away.
Eveline pulls me back, “Leave it. You’ve done enough damage to her ego today already.”
“I didn’t mean to,” I reply.
Eveline shrugs, “Doesn’t matter. Come on. Let’s hit the baths. I like the baths!”
I nod, and we eat from our lunch satchels as we walk the sort distance to the edge of the white district, where for a few coins, we are allowed to enter and enjoy a nice, hot bath with some cheap wine and sliced fruit. “I never get tired of apples,” Eveline notes.
“I do like them better baked though,” I lament.
“Shouldn’t have made Mini mad at you,” Eveline teases.
Q: Does anyone approach us at the baths? No Q: Do we see anyone we know at the baths? Very Unlikely-No (The cast of women they know in town who are wealthy enough to afford the baths, but low enough in rank to use a public one is basically…two people) Q: Are her professional contacts with her? No
Eveline nods toward a woman heading towards a nearby basin, “That’s the bookseller, yes?” I nod, and gesture towards her. “What are you doing?” Eveline whispers, then adds, “She looks pretty good for someone who spends all day in a book store.” I give her a quick smirk.
Q: Does Vanessa approach us? Very Unlikely-Yes
“Oh, hey,” the bookseller exclaims with delight, changing course, “May I join you?”
“Please do,” I smile, making room.
“You’re the chess set, aren’t you? Are you enjoying it?” She asks.
“Truthfully, I’ve only played once since I won it from you. My sister doesn’t play well, and we’ve been kind of busy getting set up for our market stall,” I admit, “Oh, forgive me. I’m Talia Evenbough, this is my sister Casia.”
“Vanessa Fairhaven,” the woman replies with a warm smile and eyes that one can lose themselves in. “So where did you learn to play, if your sister does not?”
-Deception 10 vs Insight 9
“The court of Lord Kirn, baron of Oldenfall,” I reply, “I was helping him with….well…my sister spent her days in the wilds gathering herbs while I remained with his lordship. In my leisure, I learned to play chess from some of his attendants.”
“So, you’ve seen his library? I hear it is the second largest on the continent!” Vanesa exclaims.
“Oh, there are so many books on so many different things!” I gush with her. “I mean, I didn’t understand half of it, but I did find several books on botany in the brief time I was allowed to wander freely within it.”
“Freely? Oh my! I don’t think they could have pried me back out the door with a team of oxen had I been allowed free use of such a treasure!” Vanessa exclaims. “Did you get to curl up with a book at night? What was your favorite title?”
Eveline, bored with the book talk, calls a serving girl over for more wine, while I continue spinning my half true tale, “There was this one book…well…it was a story of star crossed lovers cursed by the Dark Brother to always be kept apart by misfortune, false loves, foul beasts and deceptions…it was….The Trials and Torments of Carnala and Carvare.”
Q: Has she heard of it? 50/50 Exceptional Yes
“I’ve read that!” Vanessa exclaims. “I have a copy on my shelves!” And we continue talking about the book, and all of the exciting twists and turns, getting lost as the afternoon rolls by.
“Talia? I’m going to get going. Nice meeting you, Vanessa,” Eveline says, excusing herself to head home.
“Oh, okay. Thanks Casie! I’ll catch up later. Save some dinner for me if I take too long,” I plead, then explain, “We are living at Dorak’s boarding house near the docks in the quarry district.”
“Never been there. I have an apartment above my shop, as you might have guessed,” she laughs.
“Well, naturally. If I ever round up enough coin to own my own shop, I’d certainly live above it!” I grin.
Q: Does she want to go to a tavern afterwards? Unlikely No Q: Is her familiar nearby? Exceptional No
We talk for awhile longer, but eventually, she excuses herself, and we both exit the baths, parting company with a hug. “Come by the shop again soon, and we can play. I have another chess set you know?” Vanessa suggests.
“I’d love to,” I grin. Then looking around, I realize that Princeling and Warren must have gone home with Eveline as neither animal is outside the baths waiting.
-No Encounter on the way home- Q: Is Haggi out? Yes
I walk home in the waning light, and spot Haggi and her children near their usual spot, “Good evening, Haggi,” I smile as I approach, tossing a tenpiece in her cup.
“Good evening, miss Talia.” Haggi replies.
“Talia is better,” I shrug. “Pleasant night,” I offer, looking around.
Q: Does she reconsider her answer? Exceptional Yes
“One night’s much like any other it seems,” Haggi replies. Then, after a moment, adds, “But the kids are happier when it’s gently warm like this, rather than hot or cold. And rainless, without a strong wind whipping up dust from the quarry. It is a pleasant night.” she agrees.
I smile, “Goodnight, Haggi. Dora, Lisa,” I nod to the girls, then head back home.
Q: Is everyone there for dinner? No (roll a d6, 2 people home, Dorak and Gavin)
“Try this one!” Gavin says pushing a cup towards Dorak. The table has been cleared except for three open bottles, half a dozen cups, and an untouched plate of food where I usually sit.
Dorak takes a drink and smiles, “Not bad! I like the first one better.”
“Where is everyone?” I ask, leaning my levy spear against the wall for a minute while I sit down to eat.
“Princely Prankster. Left right after dinner ya wanna catch em?” Gavin suggests as he pours from the third bottle.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Tavern. Mini likes to go there. Dance around, there’s usually some music, lots of drink. lots of eyes on her. Your sister liked the sounds of it. Ivor goes there a lot too. I think Delfis was just tagging along. But I’m sure he’ll be out all night, just…probably not with them. Odd bird that one,” Dorak notes.
My pork pie is still a bit warm, thankfully, so I eat it with gusto, “Are those your ale’s your trying tonight?”
“Nah!” Gavin replies, “Bought these at the festival. Didn’t get a chance to sample everything yet, want some?”
“Sure!” I reply, and he goes to fetch three more cups and pours me a flight.
“That’s ones the best,” Dorak points out.
Q: Do they finish the bottles? Yes (Conversation topic, current scene)
The three of us sit and chat as we finish the bottles together. I am feeling pretty buzzed by the time we do.
“You know!,” Gavin says, “I never really…thought I’d be drinking…with you! Your sister, sure. That Casia, she knows how to have a good time, but…well…it’s nice to see you relax.”
“She’s a good egg,” Dorak affirms. “But not a stick in the mud. Ivor’s wrong about that.”
“It wasn’t in the mud where he said the stick was,” I correct him.
Gavin begins to giggle, “No…it wasn’t…”
“Your engaged, remember?” Dorak reprimands the mason.
“I wasn’t saying anything!” Gavin protests.
“Tell me about her? She pretty?” I slur my words a bit.
“Ah, Melfody! She is a beauty,” he admits, “Long flowing blonde hair, and…”
“Don’t say it!” Dorak interjects. Then looking to me, “Built like Mini.”
“Oh!” I blink, then grin, “I get it,” and Gavin blushes. We continue talking a bit longer before I retire to my room, and collapse into bed.
I am tempted to wait up, but remember, I already took care of Eveline this morning. She should be fine…
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