Episode 12
-Immersion-Gritty-
Scene #24: E: New NPC: the Care of Trials (Generate—Roderick the bounty hunter)
Eveline and I walk down the dusty streets of Oldenstone. There is a thick layer of gritty dust on everything, just like I remember from my last visit. This is a town that loves a gentle rain at night. We wander through town looking for a used clothes store where I can take the first step in transforming our lives.
But as we are talking, I inadvertently bump into a brick wall of a man. I lower my gaze, and Eveline interjects, “Forgive my sister, we weren’t paying attention.
Q: Is he friendly? EXCEPTIONAL NO
“Then get out of the street lest you get run over by a stone cart,” he snarls, and pushes past.
Eveline’s gaze narrows as the man walks past, but I pull her onward and whisper “Not worth it”.
Q: Do we find a used clothing store quickly? EXCEPTIONAL NO
Since I never sought out these kinds of places during the my brief visit to Oldenstone last year, I am not quite sure where to look. So we wander the town a bit, taking in the sights and deciding where we might like to stay.
-encounter-barbarian scout-(Generate Tarik)
As we are walking, Eveline points out a half naked man wearing a skirt around his loins, but with a great sword slung over his back. He is adorned with tattoos up and down his body. “So, like that? We can scribe a control spell on my skin, like that?”
I nod, “I think so, if I can learn the spell, and we can find an artist.”
-Tarik’s Perception 21-Q: Does he want to talk? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Is Eveline turned on? NO
The barbarian looks, flexes his muscles, gives us a smirk, then continues on his way. Eveline chuckles, rolling her eyes “He thinks he’s hotter than he is.”
Eveline then stops a passerby, “My sister and I just found work and our employer gave us a little money for some clothes. Where could we find a clothing store?”
Q: Do we quickly get help? NO
“Away from me, beggar!” the woman snarls and continues on.
-Intelligence roll 14-
“Friendly town,” Eveline notes. I roll my eyes, and we keep looking. She occasionally asks people, but gets the same response over and again. Fortunately, even a large town is rather small in the grand scheme of things, once you get a feel for the different streets and consider how traffic should flow.
Spotting an appropriate shop, I head inside while Eveline waits with Princeling and Warren in a nearby alley. I carefully pick out two used, but undamaged dress, blows and corset combos, with simple sandals and head low, slide a gold crown across the table for them.
-Stealth rolls 13 each-Q: Anyone spot us changing? Very Unlikely NO
In the alley, we take turns keeping watch while the other changes. We discard the ragged, torn, and patched farm clothes we were wearing an head back into the street looking like laundresses or something.
Q: Have we already spotted a tailor? NO -encounter-Street brawl between some of the Baron’s men and members of a mercenary company
Up ahead on the street, there is a commotion. There is yelling and several women run our way, while a number of boys run forward to see what is going on. “Do you want to see?” asks Eveline. I shake my head no, but then curiosity gets the best of me and we press into the crowd.
-Do I know the Lords of Ash? Int roll 6, nope- Q: Do the Baron’s men have the upper hand? YES
There is yelling and jeering, and we see members of Baron Pond’s Guards exchanging blows with another uniformed troupe whose insignia I don’t recognize. Unsurprisingly, the baron’s men are putting the sellswords to task. Regular training and discipline often outmatches greedy glory hounds.
Q: Do people talk to us now? YES
I pull Eveline away and we continue looking for a tailor shop, but this time, when Eveline asks for directions, we people eagerly share the best places to go and how to get there.
This time, I wait in the alley while Eveline goes and gets us another step up in terms of style and quality. Once again, we change at the far end of a dark alley,
Stealth 16 and 6 Q: Does someone spot us? Unsure YES (random encounter-Guard, extortion scam)
Eveline is already dressed, but as I am pulling my blouse on I hear a member of the town watch call out, “What are you two doing back there?” Pulling the blouse down, I turn to face the man while Eveline quickly stuffs the previous outfit into her satchel.
“What do you mean, sergeant?” I stammer.
He looks us up and down, “Why were you half naked back here?”
-Prestidigitation, soil object, Subtle casting- (Deception with Advantage 15, because…the evidence is plainly visible-
“Ale,” Eveline interrupts and I look down and see that my blouse is stained with ale. “But we had a spare blouse, so my sister changed into it real quick”
The guard chuckles, “Well, perhaps you shouldn’t be drunk so early in the day. Perhaps I should take you in. Or perhaps I didn’t see anything at all?” he holds out his palm.
Eveline places a tenpiece in his palm, “I’m pretty sure you didn’t.”
The guard nods, and turns away, leaving the alleyway. I mutter a cleaning spell and my skirt is once again in good order. Then I look to Eveline, “How do you to that without moving your hands or saying anything?”
Eveline shrugs, “I just do…Talia?” she offers.
I nod approvingly, “and you?”
“Casia Evenbough. Talia and Casia Evenbough, two herbalist sisters from Plowstump,” she nods. I agree and pausing in another alley, quickly cast a spell to slightly adjust my features so my face is fuller, eyes a different color and nose a different shape. Eveline tousles her hair to make it look even more chaotic than normal.
And now, dressed as members of a tradesman’s household, we find another tailor shop the next street over and enter together, “Why did you have to cut my hair?” I demand.
“I told you to keep your eyes to yourself! Warren is mine!” Eveline snaps at me, “And how dare you tear up my favorite dress!”
“You deserved it! And what you did to mine? Everything! Everything I own!” I fume and shake my fist.
-Performances 14 and 19-
“Oh, like you didn’t dump the rest of my trunk in the river! It’s a good thing dad loves you, or I’d be here by myself right now, and you’d be in a rag store you cheat!” Eveline snarls moving dramatically so her hair is sweeping into her eyes.
The tailor and his assistant quickly approach while another customer stares in disbelief.
Q: Do they want to appease us? Very Likely YES
“Ladies, ladies! Please, we’ll take care of you. There is no garment so precious that we can not find a suitable replacement in our shop. Please, come this way…”
“Eveline, and that’s my good for nothing sister, Ilsa!” Eveline pouts, “Daddy gave us some coin. We need new clothes.” She drops a pouch on the table as she dramatically looks towards, then away from the proprietor, hair in her face once and twice again.
“He didn’t say to spend it all!” I snarl.
“But if we going north, we’ll need winter clothing too!” Eveline protests quickly turning to face me, her hair once more flying into her face. And soon, the tailor and his assistant are finding garments that fit us well or can quickly be adjusted. We each end up buying two appropriate daily wear and a travelling outfit, along with new nightgowns/bathers. Additionally, we purchase winter travel clothing as well, just in case. I step out a couple of times, enraged at my sister, to renew my illusion in the nearby alley, then return to finish our fittings.
“Do you know a wigmaker?” I demand, rubbing my hands through my shorn hair.
“Of course, miss,” the proprietor replies and explains how to get there.
I pull the coins we owe from daddy’s purse, then take the remainder with me, leaving my treacherous sister Eveline with them.
-Encounter-none-Performance 17-
I quickly arrive at the wigmaker’s shop, and select a shoulder length black wig that will affix to my hair continuing my story of having been victimized by my jealous sister. Five crowns later, I return to the street, with dark hair down to my shoulders. It is still short for my taste, but it changes my look, and I let the illusion over my face fall away just before I step out the door into the street.
I wait down the street from the tailor shop for Eveline to emerge with our bundle of clothing, then we head towards one of the inns we passed earlier in the day. “Black hair? I like it?” she smiles. I nod agreement.
Q: Have we spotted the herbalist shop yet? NO (Generate innkeeper)
Before we enter the premises, we cut through another alleyway and each magically alter our hair color, eyebrows included, to black. “After you, Talia,” Casia indicates. I smile and we enter the Angry Harpy Inn.
I immediately sit at a table while Casia approaches the innkeeper, “We would like lodging for the night please. And do you know of any boarding houses with a room to let for my sister and I?”
Q: Is there availabilty? NO (Investigation 23)
“Well, we are all booked up tonight. Even the common rooms are full. Lot’s of new folk in town what with Westhold’s problems,” the woman behind the bar says. “But my friend Dorak has a room for let. He’s looking for a good quiet tenant, or two if you don’t mind sharing space.”
“That sounds good, and is there are shoemaker nearby? And we could use a meal and a tankard each as well,” Casia requests.
-Taproom Event-Urchin-
The innkeeper, who tells us her name is Miska, and we reply as Casia and Talia, brings us plates of grilled river fish on a bed of boiled grains and greens. It’s a decent meal, made better by the pint of ale.
While we eat, a boy comes in wearing patched rags, going from one table to another trying to sell people some half dead flowers as a gift for their loved one. I shake my head, but as he approaches, I pull out a silver coin and purchase most of what he has. Miska nods approvingly. Eveline/Casia asks, “A gift for Warren?”
“Of course, sister, who else would the be for?” I reply, then holding up the flowers, I ask Miska, “Where can I find an herbalist?”
She gives me directions, and soon, Eveline and I our on our way to the herbalist shop. Along the way, we each pull up our new cloaks and discreetly renew the black color of our hair before entering his establishment..
-Encounter-Pilgrim-bump- Q: Does he apologize? YES
Along the way, a group of travellers lead by a white robed cleric are walking past, and on of them bumps me! I quickly check my purse and satchel, as he apologizes. I nod appreciation as nothing seems to be amiss.
Q: Is it well stocked? NO (burn spark to reroll Deception, 21)
Entering the shop, with a mortar and pestle sign over the door and “remedies and reliefs” written beneath, I smile on seeing how barren the shelves are. “We are looking for a few things,” Casia explains. “Our mother needs some hair dye…or to relieve her own vanity, I suppose.”
“The vanity of our elders keeps me in business,” the man behind the counter replies.
“A good business, your shelves are nearly empty,” I note.
He nods, “It is hard to keep up my inventory, my assistant is not…particularly sharp eyed,” he scowls.
“Is he here?” Casia asks.
“No. I sent him to make a delivery and…perhaps I should have waited until one of my apprentices was here and send a lad instead.” the master replies.
-Persuasion 13, Deception 11-(His insight 18) Q: Does he ask about our mother? NO Q: will he hire us? NO
“Well, I am Talia Evenbough, and this is my sister Casia. If we were to supply you, would you purchase goods from us?” I offer. “it is only a quirk of recent travels that leaves us without hair dye for our dear mother.”
He raises an eyebrow, then replies, “One crown.” I sign that I want two packages, and slide him two crowns instead. We thank him for the dye and he us for our patronage, then we step back out into the street, and walk to the nearby cobbler.
There we purchase appropriate boots and town shoes for our new garments. Afterwards, we head to the boarding house that Miska told us about.
-Encounter-Evening Table-Generate-Messia the Mercer’s life who wants to insult me-
As we walk down the street, a nicely dressed woman, wearing garments of similar quality to our own, looks at us in disgust. “Where did you get that mangy, flea bitten mutt!” she sneers.
-Intimidate 5-
I look back at Warren, then at her, “Why? Are you in the market for a well behaved dog that can play fetch with your little piglets?” Casia laughs while the woman recoils in shock.
“Do you know who I am?” the woman fumes.
“No, but I am sure you are about to tell me,” I yawn, while Casia tries to stifle further laughter.
“My husband owns Boldest Bolts and he would…”
“Be appalled that you bully dogs in his name?” I interrupt.
Q: Does she storm off in a huff? YES
“Hah!” she gasps, then storms off in a huff. “And don’t think I won’t remember the two of you!” she pauses to point at Casia and I. “Or that mutt!” she points at Warren, who looks at her curiously. Princeling licks himself. “Disgusting!” she fumes and hurries away.
“That was…bizarre,” I note. Casia shrugs, and we soon find the boarding house. I knock on the door and enter.
Q: Is there a ground floor shop? Likely NO Q: Are people at dinner? YES
“How may I help you? A man hobbles to his feet, or rather, foot as one is a wooden replacement, and makes his way towards us.
“We are looking for…Dorak? Miska at the Angry Harpy said he had a room for rent, and…we’d like to see it.” I suggest.
“Well, sure…but after dinner?” he gestures towards the table. Casia and I shrug and join him and his boarders. The food is very well prepared, nice cuts of ham, some white bread, with thick slabs of butter as he generously offers use plates from the central platter.
-Cassia performance 18-
He asks our names and where we are from, and Casia tells him about Plowstump, and how we are wandering herbalists looking for a place to settle down, perhaps over winter but definitely for a month or two.
Q: Does he have a west facing room to rent? EXCEPTIONAL YES E: Action by Family: An Increase of Home (family begins adding a tower to the keep) Q: Does he tell us about himself? NO
We quickly start discussing terms, and he tells us the room lets for fourteen crowns a month, due at the start of the month, with the last full month paid in advance, and that since we are already halfway through this month, he’d like next month’s as well to ensure we won’t immediately leave.
I point out that he’s already covered in that event by charging last months rent. I ask about windows, facing and furnishings.
He says it has a west facing window shudders and eaves, has a large bed, comes with a wardrobe, a trunk which can be locked, an end table, wall pegs and a shelf. I ask to see it.
Q: Is it a good room? YES
After dinner, he hobbles upstairs Casia, Warren, Princeling and I follow him up. He says that with the animals, he wants 15 crowns per month, twenty if they soil anything. I agree to that. We look over the room, test the lock, and the fitting of the shudders, then look to Casia.
Q: Does Casia like it? NO
Casia sighs, “It seems a bit…bleh.”
Dorak bristles, “You won’t find a better room than this! I can tell you are new here, but western windows means the dust won’t blow into your lodging on a windy day.”
-Persuasion 8, vs Persuasion 4-
“We’ll take it,” I reply. “And we’ll move in tonight.” I shrug, “but we are only paying the rest of this month, one crown per day, then fourteen crowns for the last month. And I’ll pay you five crowns lump sum for the animals, and we keep the rent at fourteen. If anything happens, I’ll clean it up. He agrees to these terms. I follow him downstairs while Casia begins to unpack our things, there he produces a sheet of parchment which I sign as his tenant. I then pay him twenty-four crowns and five tenpiece.
I then borrow a washbasin for the night, fill it with water from a bucket in the kitchen, go upstairs, and Eveline and I dye each other’s hair black so we can stop using illusion magic to mask ourselves. Then a few magic words clean the washbasin entirely.
Our day concluded, new names and appearances established, we lay on top of a barren bed. “Sheets…we need sheets.” I note.
“A lamp, a workbench, oil, chamber pot, lot’s of things. Good thing I enjoy shopping, and that we have money,” she shrugs.
“A good thing indeed,” I agree, and we curl up in bed together.
Then she whispers, “I need you.”
“I’m…glad,” I admit, kissing her before she climbs on top of me for more.
18th Great Harvest-
–Pleasant, Clear Skies, steady breeze–
-Immersion-Smell Fungus-
-Peace Time Week 3 still–scandal involving rulership of Enrith Dun (probably tried to conceal the threat of that ancient ruin or something)
-Seepage 0 on d8-(got laid last night) (Romance status is Enamored)
Q: Does my window face the main street? NO Q: A side street? NO Q: Is it a corner house? YES Q: Is there a back garden area? NO Q: Is it another similar boarding house? NO (Faust expanding house, that is now, d6, Verna is pregnant and due date is marked on the calendar) Q: Does he have a chambermaid? YES
Scene #25 (Negative Alteration):
I wake with Casia’s hair in my face, slide her over, she moans slightly as I do, then sit up and sniff the air. “Mushrooms?” I get up and look out the window. Opposite me across the alley is a barren wall, but looking down, I see clusters of tiny mushrooms sporing on the wall just below my window. I shake my head. “Well, that’s annoying.” Not having anyway to easily remove the growth without fire, I back away from the window and begin to dress, donning my wig at the end. Warren eagerly wags his tail at the door, and Princeling takes my place on the bed next to Casia.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” I tease my friend as I lean over to kiss her. “We’ve got a lot to do to make this house a home?”
She rolls over, “Do we have to? Couldn’t we find someplace better? Like a baron’s palace or something?” she teases.
Q: Does she continue the teasing? YES
“Only if you happen to be in tight with one.” I shake my head, “Or marry his son or befriend his daughter.”
Casia sits up with a yawn, “That sounds like more trouble than it would be worth.”
“Undoubtedly,” I grin and toss one of her new blouses to her. “Let’s go. I want to see if breakfast is as good as dinner was.”
–
The two of us head downstairs, Warren eagerly leading the way and Princeling trailing. Dorak grins broadly as we arrive, and he introduces us to his other tenants. “These two young ladies have decided to say, and they are now renting Arfalt’s old room. Talia and Cassia, right?” we nod,”And, their pets.”
“Warren, and Princeling,” I introduce the animals. “We’ll keep them in our room as much as we can, or out and about with us so they don’t get in your way.” I count out the coins for our meals for the rest of the month and hand them over to Dorak.
Q: Does everyone welcome the pets? NO
“Keep them out of the kitchen,” a woman says from the edge of the kitchen door. She’s a few years older than Cassia and I, pretty, and dressed in a way that easily accents her rather large bosom.
-Perception with advantage due to cat proximity, 10 & 11, notice nothing odd-
“That’s Mini, the housekeeper. This gentleman here is Defris,” he indicates a quiet man, about twice our age wearing well maintained clothing, “Ivor,” introducing another man about the same age, but dresses much the way any tradesman would, “and Gavin,” indicating a man with sun baked skin.
“Where are you from, Talia?” Defris asks.
“Plowstump,” I reply, “It’s in Hammerfel, but we came the long way round, through Farhold, and Westhold,” I explain.
“Hard trouble in Westhold lately,” he observes.
-Deception 19 vs Insight 12, pass-
“Yeah, we were trying to set up a shop in Goodwill, but then…well. We lost everything we owned when orcs burned the village. Fortunately, we weren’t in the village at the time and were able to slip away.”
“So now we are here,” Casia interjects, “Larger market, but we’ll be stuck with a market stall for a while as we try to rebuild. Momma would be…so proud.” She laughs, punching me.
“Of you, maybe. She never liked me,” I roll my eyes.
“Only because you’re rotten,” she jokes. “Anyway, it’s good to meet you all,” she adds as Mini brings us plates with a drizzle of honey beside some delicate bread with blackberries beside it, and a couple of boiled eggs sliced in half. We thank her and tuck in with the small cups of ale she brings out besides.
-Topic-Knowledge- (Defris insight is 3, he’s just fishing)
“You are very well spoken, you are well read?” Defris asks.
I shrug, “I can read, but..what do you mean? Aside from the sacred texts one can read at temple, I am fond of keeping a journal, though…I lost mine in the fire, but I happened to have my recipe book with me, so, that’s good.” I pat my satchel with a grin.
“So, you’re a cook?” Mini asks.
-Deception 19 (burned the day’s spark for the reroll)-
“We’re herbalists,” Cassia interjects. “Our mother taught us everything she knew and…we’ve been wandering a bit, but are ready to settle down now. At least for awhile.”
“I mean histories, natural philosophies and lore, that sort of thing, ” Defris shrugs.
“Only incidentally. If I come across a book, I’m not likely to resist it,” I laugh, “but how often does that happen, really?”
-Deception 7, vs his insight 17-
“I suppose that depends on one’s circle of friends,” he muses.
-His deception 3, my insight 13-
“Sounds like you have a great many well educated friends then?” I raise an eyebrow.
-Gavin Animal Handling 19-
“Not here, he don’t!” Gavin laughs. “Anyway, books don’t put bread on the table. I’ve gots to gets to work!” he says as he takes his plate to the kitchen then heads outside, pausing to scratch Warren behind the ears, “Good dog!”
Warren wags his tail excitedly as the man walks away. Princeling stretches out along the window sill enjoying the morning sun.
“So, I need some additional furnishings, a work table, a couple of chairs, and a peddlars cart. Is it safe to store in the alley?” I ask.
“Bring it inside the alley door to the pantry,” Dorak suggests.
“Thank you,” I reply as he suggests places to visit to obtain the things I need.
We finish breakfast, and then head outside and towards the city gate to hire a carter and a general hand.
(generate a carter and a laborer) (Encounter-Barbarian Scout)
With Warren following close behind and Princeling in Cassia’s arms, we soon arrive at the city gate where I notice the tattooed craglander from yesterday. I nudge Cassia. She grins and giggles giving me a wink, “Small town, big muscles.” I roll my eyes at her.
We find a buck toothed man standing by his mule cart, and ask if he is for hire. The man’s name is Buck and we quickly agree to a gold crown for the day of him following us around, and loading the cart with our purchases, then hauling it up to our room. He points out some other laborers standing around, “Get a young’un” he suggests, which seems prudent as Buck looks older than my father.
We find an ordinary looking lad about our age who says his name is Yavin. Together, the four of us, animals in tow, embark on an extensive shopping spree.
Yavin, being somewhat new to the city as well, defers to Buck as far as where to go and in what order.
A lot of coin changes hands as we visit a carpenter and purchase a table, a bookshelf, two chairs, drying racks, poles to affix drying racks across the ceiling of our room. Then a large rug, blankets and two feathered pillows. I order a canopy cover for my future booth, giving instructions on how to embroider our future shop logo. We purchase a lock, two backpacks and bedrolls along with other supplies we’d need next time we go exploring. We swing back by the herbalist’s shop and get some additional tools of our trade. We buy a lamp and a small cask of oil. Some digging tools, a bucket, an iron pot, a tent, a chamber pot and a tea pot. String, clothespins, four dozen small clay jars and an equal number of small bags for our products. Six flower pots for the window sill, candles, cooking gear and a small mirror. A few coils of string to help with the drying racks. We buy a couple of daggers for protection in town, belting them inside our tunics, and a couple of quarter staves for when we are out gathering herbs.
-(Vanessa-Intelligence check 14, doesn’t remember me)
Ultimately, we end up at the bookbinder’s shop where an enthusiastic woman greets us, “Ah, new customers? I don’t believe I’ve seen you before.
“I need some ink, quills, parchment, and a new journal to replace the one I lost,” I confide in her. She eagerly shows me the two blank volumes she possesses, and I choose the one bound in dark leather. “Do you happen to have a book on herbalism?” I ask, biting my bottom lip. She smiles and shows me a very well illustrated text.
“Only forty five crowns to unlock the healing mysteries growing all around you,” she urges.
-Persuasion 11-
I try to talk her down from that, but she does not relent, and ultimately, I agree to the price. Then I notice a nicely carved chess set in the corner of the store, “Is that for sale as well?”
“Five crowns. Do you play?” she asks.
“The herbalist book and chess set at half price if I win, I suggest.
“Double if you don’t,” she retorts.
My breath catches, but I sit down for the game anyway.
-Vanessa rolls 8, I roll 16-
I gleefully pack up the chess set and give her twenty-five crowns instead the fifty she wanted for the lot. “Glad you won there,” Cassia lets out her held breath at the end of the game.
“Me too…it would have been hard to cover otherwise,” I agree, knowing it would dip into what I mean to hold in reserve for the next few month’s expenses.
Our final stop before returning home is purchasing a hand cart. We’d passed through the market square many times, viewed the vendor stalls, talked to the customs officer about rates and when to show up in the morning for a good spot, now we just need a cart and some inventory. So we purchase one, and while Cassia leads Buck back to our home to start unloading, Yavin and I go to the signmaker’s shop where I detail a design and they agree to paint it and deliver the cart to me as soon as it is done in a day or two. Then Yavin and I return home, and he helps unload the heavy stuff, the lighter things already having been moved inside. I pay each man an extra crown over what was owed, then head upstairs to help set up the room.
-Failed check to learn magic missile, burn my second free learn and scribe for level 3-
After the room is reasonably set up, Cassia plants some bugblight blooms in the flower pots to keep mosquitos and flies from entering our room, and I turn my attention to my spellbook, finally having a chance to scribe that spell that Krenax thought so important to have should I fight demons.
“So, that was an expensive chess set,” Cassia observes.
“But it’s nice looking, isn’t it?” I reply absent mindedly as I copy the spell.
“Five days wages nice?” she questions.
“We arrived with nine pounds of gold crowns and now have less than half of that, but we have a furnished home, three and half month’s rent reserved, and some discretionary coin remaining. I thought I deserved something nice,” I reply.
“Do I deserve something nice?” Cassia asks.
I set down my pen and grin at her, “I am something nice, aren’t I?”
Q: Does this amuse her? YES
She laughs, but then presses the issue, “No, really, can I get something nice?”
I pass five gold crowns to her, then I pause, “I wanted to get you some jewelry, but there isn’t a shop here it seems, and nobody in the market. Let me see your purse.”
She shows me, and I balance the weight against mine, then give her fifteen more crowns to balance us out. “Now we are even, and the reserve is locked in the trunk for now.”
“Do you still have the stones you found on the dwarf?” she asks.
I grin, “Yes.” I pull them out, and give them to her. “Nice enough?”
She smiles, laying back on the bed and trying to look through them, “Yes, indeed.”
-Discussion-Last Action-
After I finish with the spell, we head downstairs to join the others for dinner. People ask about our shopping spree and what we think of Oldenstone. We share how easy it was to navigate the city with a guide, discuss a few of our purchases, including that I replaced my lost journal and picked up a second book as well of practical, natural remedies.
After dinner, Cassia and I retire to our room. Cassia summons some ice magic to kill off the mushrooms beneath our window and I scrape it away with the end of the shovel I bought. I break open my spell book, recite some divination wards over the alleyway and window. Then we retire to bed, dimming the lamp and finally settle in to our new home, huddled up together beneath warm blankets and lost in each other’s embrace once more.
-19th, Great Harvest-
-warm, clear skies, insignificant breeze-
-Immersion-Banging Sounds-
-Seepage 0 on d8-(got laid last night) (Romance status is Enamored)
Scene #26:
The banging of hammers in the quarry wakes us and I realize that I’ve overslept. Getting up, I look around and Casia is nowhere to be seen. her travel cloak is gone as well! I dress myself, prepare my wards as usual, then head downstairs to hopefully get some breakfast if anything is left.
Q: Is anything left? NO
Entering the dining hall, and seeing nothing, then proceeding to the kitchen, Mini scoffs, “Early bird gets the worm, but the laggard gets nothing!”
I scowl. “Then fix me a basket for lunch, Casia and I have work to do. Have you seen her?”
Q: Is anything left? NO
Mini shrugs, “Not since she left with Gavin after they ate. Took your dog too!”
I nod, “Figures.” I notice a streak of orange off to my side, and smile as Princeling slowly curls up against my leg. “If you see her, let her know that I’ve gone across the bridge for some gathering.”
Q: Will she carry the message? EXCEPTIONAL YES
“Of course! I’ll be certain to tell her,” she smirks as she hands me a bundle with bread, apples and cheese in it.
-Mini’s insight of 12 catches nothing odd about the gesture-
“Thank you, Mini. I appreciate it,” I bow my head lightly. Then turn to leave.
-Encounter-Local Character-Guildmaster-Generate personality and roll reaction-20! Instant friend!-
Walking towards the gate house, I hear a man struggling to play the flute. Drawing close, I hear people jeering him and teasing his efforts, but he is making a good try of it anyway. I draw out a couple of coins, and forcing my way through the crowd, I look for a cap on the ground, but it is on the very well dressed man’s head. So instead, I clap, “Bravo!”
The man pauses, looks at me with a broad grin, and takes a bow, “Your kindness is far greater than my talents!” he laughs as the crowd begins to disperse. “I don’t believe I know you, and just when I think I know everyone worth knowing in this town…there is yet another surprise.”
-Deception 14, his Insight is 14-
“I am Talia Evenbough, newly arrived from Westhold a few days ago with my sister, and you are?”
“From Westhold? You don’t have the look of a refugee,” he observes.
-Deception 21, his Insight 20-
“From Farhold before, and Hamerfel before that. The misfortune in Westhold forced us this direction, having lost most of our possessions in Goodwill. We had hoped to settle in that barony,” I shrug, “But you still haven’t answered my question, friend.”
“Ah, my manners! Please forgive me, miss Talia. I am Master Jonathon, Codswainer’s Guild, at your service!”
I laugh, and show my new shoes, “Your people do good work, my friend.”
Q: Does he flirt? YES (yes, he’s twice my age, but he’s also unmarried so I had to ask)
“Nicely fit on a fetching foot,” He nods.
“A fetching foot?” I laugh, “That’s an unusual thing to say.”
Jonathon shrugs his shoulders, “Well, I see a great many feet. Some are more fetching than others,” he winks.
I shake my head, “Well, as a guild master, I can see why you hadn’t doffed your hat for a few coins.”
“Well, that and none would pay except to stop me,” he laughs. “I’ll let the professionals earn their wage and not pretend to beg a share.”
“Most generous of you,” I observe.
“I think so as well. So miss Talia, where are you heading on this bright and sunny day?” he presses.
I pat my satchel, “Across the bridge. Gathering herbs for my booth.”
“Oh? You are an herbalist?” he exclaims
“Yes, my sister and I both learned the craft from our mother. And now we are here, at least for a few months. I need to rebuild some lost inventory before winter arrives.”
“Well then, let me delay you no further. I pray we shall…meet again!” He smiles warmly and offers a half bow.
I force myself into a curtsy, a practice I rarely abide outside of court. Bidding one another farewell, we part ways and I continue out the city gate.
—
-Morning Encounter Deer-
Princeling and I cross the bridge and pass through the farming village opposite the city, then through the fields into the wild pasture beyond. I carefully look around for useful plants, while Princeling chases field mice. Eventually, I spot some deer grazing nearby, but they start at my approach, and dash away in an instant. I briefly consider taking one, but I’d rather not explain the burn marks to a butcher. I find some Belly Root, Numb Stool and a variety of medicinal herbs that can be mixed for different ailments, carefully digging, cutting and and loading up my satchel throughout the morning, taking note of where I find each thing in my journal as a reminder for future visits.
-Afternoon Encounter-Farmers at Work-reaction 14-(generate a farmer)
As I wander along the field posts, I am greeted by a group of farmers calling out to me as they take a break from their harvest work, “What are you looking for?” one of the men hollers.
“Mint is always good, but any herbs I can sell in the market would suit me. I’m Talia Evenbough, and you are?” I approach the old farmer.
“Garth,” the old man approaches as he waves the others to get back to work. “These kids, always eager to take a break from the day’s labor.”
“It’s Damesday. It’s always harder to work another person’s lots than your own,” I laugh.
Q: Does he chuckle at this? EXCEPTIONAL YES
He guffaws loudly, “It is rare that a city woman understands! But then, you aren’t fully a city woman are you?” he gestures towards my satchel and the cuttings in my hand.
-Persuasion 18-
“No, I am not precisely a city woman. I am an herbalist, and I hope to open a booth in the market soon. Once I have some stock,” I explain.
“Well, mint you say? Follow me, and I’ll show you where it grows!” he winks and shouldering his scythe, leads me farther away from the field markers to a very nice patch. “Do you like what you see?”
“Very much so! Do you have a meal waiting for you, or do you care to join me?” I suggest.
Q: Does he have someone at home? YES
“A most gracious offer, but my daughter in law is a tremendous cook,” he replies.
“Well, that’s a blessing,” I grin, pulling out an apple, “I thank you for your help. Perhaps I’ll be able to return the favor one day.”
Q: Does he have a need right now? YES (roll an ailment)
“Well, as a matter of fact,” he pulls up his right pantleg and I see a bad scrape, still a bit bloodied. “Dropped some damned firewood this morning and scraped the crap out of myself.”
-Medicine 22-
I nod and kneel down beside a boundary stone, gesturing for him to sit. Then I pull out a press, chewing in briefly, I clean his wound then bandage it up. The relief is immediately visible in his eyes, “Damn it woman! You work wonders!”
I laugh, “Remember that when you are in the market and see my booth!” And with that, I take his hand as he offers to help me back to my feet, and then we part ways, him to his work and my to my gathering.
Of course, I start with the mint. Then discover Garth has pointed me to a pristine area wher I find more numb stool, some smoke reed around a little pond, some bone root, slumberbloom, yarrow, feybloom, and even a patch of a sunberry. My satchel quickly fills.
-Hunting 1-
“Well, Princeling,” I call to my cat, “I hope you have found as much as I have. A good mouse or two?”
The cat seems to sulk, then sits back on its haunches and licks its paw nonchalantly, as though it didn’t even bother trying. I laugh, and tell it to come along.
-Evening-Encounter-bird bones- Q: Am I stopped? NO
I notice the remains of a sparrow, mostly eaten, in the grass. I shake my head and return to the farm village, then through that to the city gate. The baron’s men pay me no mind as I walk back inside and head to the low quarter where the lodging house sits.
-Encounter-wandering damage-pass a DC 15 dex save- Q: Did anyone notice? YES (generate person)
As I walk, I accidentally step into a gap in the cobblestone and nearly go down on one knee! Thankfully, I am able to catch myself and stagger back onto my feet with at least a little of my dignity intact. Looking around I see a woman in ragged clothes with two children squeezing close to her staring at me. She isn’t laughing, she isn’t smiling, she isn’t rushing to help either. “You’ve got to be careful walking around here. The wagons tear up the road with those huge slabs on them,” she notes.
“Yes, I can see that now,” I agree, looking at how there are other little pot holes on the street as well. I approach her, “My name is Talia.” I drop two tenpieces into the bowl in front of her.
Q: Does she give her name? EXCEPTIONAL YES
She glances down at the coin, then up at me, her expression unchanged. “I’m Haggi. These are my daughters, Lisa and Dora.”
“Thank you mam,” Lisa says. She looks to be about eleven. Dora looks to be about three and she just stares up at me, wide eyed. Princeling curls around my leg.
Q: Does she take it? NO
I pull the second apple from my pouch and hand it to Dora. She buries her face in her mother’s dress, but Lisa reaches out, tentatively hopeful, and I put the fruit in her hand.
Q: Does she stop me? NO
“It’s nice to meet you,” I nod. Then turn to go.
–(generate Cassia’s day off-
At the boarding house, I arrive in time for dinner. Spotting Casia I suggest, “Tomorrow, please wake me up. Where did you go?”
“I went with Gavin to meet some of his friends in the quarry. Then we played some dice during lunch, and eventually I wandered back home. I had a good time, and Warren got to make some new friends as well,” she grins.
“Sounds fun. I found a good bit for our booth. I’ll start setting things out to dry after dinner,” I inform her.
She nods, “I’ll be glad to help.”
-conversation topic-Family-person-Gavin-Q: Is he engaged? YES
We spend the evening talking about families, and while I let Casia do most of the talking, I do learn that Gavin is engaged to be married in about three months. We all congratulate him on the news.
After dinner, we retire to our rooms, and Casia and I begin stringing up the plants to dry. Then I collapse into bed by her side. “A bath, after militia tomorrow,” she suggest. I agree, but a few words of magic clean me just as well, and soon flesh intertwines.
-20th, Great Harvest-
-Warm, Steady Rainfall starts in the evening, gentle breeze-
-Immersion-NPC Bites Lip at me-
-Seepage 0 on d8-(got laid last night) (Romance status is Enamored)
Scene #26:
Scene #18: E: Ambiguous Significance: Excitement regarding an Ambush (I’ll have to deal with this later in the day)
I wake up to Eveline’s playful giggling as she has another go at me, “for good measure,” she grins, gently biting my lip as she takes her pleasure and I try to wear her out. A futile fight given her boundless energy and eagerness to please me as well.
“Stop!” I laugh as she has pins me down yet again, “We have to get to temple, and then drills.”
“Oh, if you want a drilling, I can fetch one of our neighbors to deflower my virgin sister,” she teases.
“Hush! The walls are thin!” I warn and she laughs as I push her aside and finally start to dress.
She lies in bed, gazing up at me, “You know. If you would…give it up. It might scuttle whole deal anyway. Isn’t that what you told me.”
I nod solemnly as I bind up my corset, “Yes. That is true. Still, it’s not right for me to do.”
“I have. And anytime I feel like it. It’s rather freeing, you know,” Eveline watches me dress.
-Persuasion 13 to get her to answer- (not at a 13, a DC 15 and she’d answer, instead) Q: Does the question anger her? EXCEPTIONAL YES E: Negative for Yseldra Faust: the Carrying of Fame
“Do you feel free when you seek another’s arms, knowing you are nothing but a good time for them? Or do you flee to them out of fear of your magic? Or yearning for something…real. Lasting. Someone who will always cling to you for the rest of your days?” I ask.
“What does it matter?” Eveline snaps. “Nobody wants a cursed, fatherless bastard who’s whored herself out and leapt from one bed to another in a drunken haze until the church snatched her from the streets and taught her to hate herself, princess!”
-Persuasion 12-
I rush to her side and wrap my arms around her, but the pushes me away. “Get dressed,” she snaps.
(Eveline’s insight 5) Q: Did a neighbor hear? YES (1-4 on d6 is Defris, and yep, Defris has a lot of clues now,
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you,” I whisper as slide back off the bread. She glares at me, angrily. The two of us finish dressing in silence.
—
-Defris Deception 5, my Insight 15- (he is excited to ambush us!)
Defris steps into the hall as we do, “Good morning. How are the two lovely…sisters…doing this fine morning. On your way to temple, I suppose?” I smirks.
-Persuasion 18-
“Breakfast first,” I reply, then fix him with a gentle gaze, softly asking, “I trust words that drift between walls are quickly forgotten.”
He snorts, “Sisters…squabble. They giggle, they laugh…and sisters…squabble.” Then he pauses, “And favors…are returned.”
I nod, “Always.” We follow him downstairs where Gavin and Ivor are already sitting with Dorvak and Mini for breakfast.
(I now owe Defris a favor for his silence)
-Topic-Current Scene-
Dorvak grins excitedly, “It is so good to have a full house again! I trust all of you are getting along well? Oh, your cart arrived yesterday while you were out and about,” Dorvak nods to me. I get up to go take a look at it in the pantry. Eveline follows and nods approvingly. Then we return to table. “If you report to muster today, you’d best leave your animals here. I’ll see to it that your dog gets a good walk around.” Dorvak offers.
“Just keep them out of my kitchen,” reminds Mini. Then she looks us up and down, “The women muster along the south of the square. Get there straight away if you don’t have your gear already. Quartermaster doesn’t like wasting time at the start of drills.” We thank her, finish breakfast, and then head up to the market district and towards the temple of light.
Q: Does Eveline apologize? YES
Heading up to temple, Eveline whispers. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
Q: Is the street quiet? YES E: Progress on ‘Make Friends’: the Breaking of Weapons (resolve this later too!)
“It’s alright. I shouldn’t have questioned your motives or how you live your life,” I look around, and seeing few on the street, I push Eveline into a nearby alleyway and wrap her in my arms, “I love you my friend. Regardless of all else. You are my truest friend. Truest I’ve ever had.”
Q: Does she press? EXCEPTIONAL YES
“Is that all I am? Your friend? Your truest friend? We share a bed, we share a name, and I am your truest friend?” Eveline presses.
“You are my first and only lover. No longer because I want to keep you from harm, but because…I…because I love you,” I stammer, shyly.
Q: Does she tease me? NO
She smiles, sadly, cups my cheek in her hand, and kisses me.
Q: Any witnesses? NO
Quickly, I break it off and look around, then I look at her, “We must be careful.”
“Do you think Defris heard?” She asks.
-Persuasion 14-
“I know he heard. He heard everything. But I don’t want to run anymore right now. I want to stay here. Rebuild. Become someone new, so…we stay for now,” I sigh.
Eveline nods, “I suppose we must. There’s little coin left.”
“Coin will come and go. As long as we are together, we can overcome anything,” I smile at her. She chuckles and shakes her head.
—
At the temple, the high priestess is a buck toothed woman who diligently leads the worship services, makes the offerings and recites the tenants of the faith with precision and clarity.
Q: Does she notice us? YES E: Resolution of ‘Make Friends’: the Defeat of Misfortune Q: Does she recognize me? NO
After service, she approaches us, “Children of Freia, I do not believe I recognize you.”
-Deception 9, vs Sister Madeline’s insight 20- (My insight 7 on her reply)
“I am Casia, and this is my sister, Talia,” Eveline smiles broadly, “We are new to Oldenstone, but you can expect us here on most Godsdays. We strive to remember the goddess and adhere to her teachings.”
“Everything the Mother of this temple would wish her wayward children to say,” Sister Madeline replies, “I am Mother Madeline, and you are?”
“Casia and Talia Evenbough,” Eveline replies. “We hope to start an herbal remedy booth int he market next week.”
“Ah! After the celebrations?” Mother Madeline asks.
“What celebrations?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Lady Elspeth’s birthday feast. A grand tournament begins…tomorrow, I believe. Assuming the lords of Oldenstone arrive today as planned.”
We thank her for the information and excuse ourselves. Eveline is giddy with excitement. “A grand tournament! I can’t wait to watch!”
“You just saw one a few weeks ago,” I remind her.
“As a servant, not a spectator,” Eveline shrugs, “I suspect it will be much more fun this away. We’ll watch it together, yes?”
“No. I don’t want to be seen by any of the competitors, much less the hosts. I’ll gather herbs. You…have fun. I’ll be taking Princeling and Warren with me though.” I respond.
“Just as well, lest they get trampled beneath some great steed!” she’s got that look in her eyes and half bites her bottom lip.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Q: Does she respond? (likely) NO (Generate the sergeant)
She did not seem to hear me, and we head to the south side of the market square, passing by the men who are forming up into their training blocks and join the significantly smaller company of unmarried women also forming up.
“You two!” a sergeant barks, “Where are your weapons?”
“Uh,” Eveline starts.
“New residents, sergeant. We arrived this week, and are new to levy service,” I interject.
“Where are you from?” he raises an eyebrow.
-Deception 21-
“Plowstump in Hamerfel, but we followed our mother, learning her trade, never staying in one place for long. Following her death,” I mark myself reverently, “we tried to settle in Westhold, but have found our way here, where we hope to build our lives.”
The sergeant nods, and one of his men thrusts a spear into each of our hands, “Grab a shield,” the sergeant adds, and I pick one up, testing the weight as I strap it to my arm. Eveline does the same. Then we start to move to the back of the formation, but the sergeant directs us to the front, “Youngest soldiers are always in the front.”
Q: Are other refugee women there? EXCEPTIONAL YES (Prima and Sena qualify, but Sena is likely on the road to Stonebridge to see her fiance) Q: Does Prima recognize us? No Way-YES Q: Does she say anything? EXCEPTIONAL NO
I nod, “Yes sergeant,” and take my place. Next to us is Prima, who does a quick doubletake, looking at Eveline and I in surprise, but when my eyes meet hers, she snaps her eyes forward standing at attention.
-My wisdom 6, Eveline’s wisdom 20-
The sergeant begins barking out commands and the rest of the women in our formation, advance, turn left, raise shields, drop to receive a charge, or lock shields to hold a line. Though I have heard all of these commands before, I am tripping over my feet to implement them and am constantly out of step with the others. Eveline moves as though this were an ordinary day for her.
I am pulled out of formation, “What is your name, levy?” she sergeant demands.
(event from earlier: E: Progress on ‘Make Friends’: the Breaking of Weapons)
“Talia Evenbo..” Crack! The sound of his mace splintering my shield interrupts my words. My eyes flash with rage and I drop into a combat stance, shield up, spear held for an overhead thrust. He comes at me again, andgets past my shield, but my spear gets past his as well. Then his third blow also gets past me, but I hit him in return, staying squared off.
He snorts, “Not useless. At least you don’t cower.”
-Intimidate 15- Q: Is he impressed? EXCEPTIONAL YES
My eyes regard him with steely resolve, “Will is nothing without the training. But will, I already have.”
He smirks, “Back in formation, levy.”
-Wisdom 11-
Bruised, I return to my position and the drills continue. I do marginally better, but am still out of step.
After a couple of hours, we are dismissed. Eveline seems full of energy, and eager to continue. I am tired when I hand over my splintered shield to the quartermaster. He tells me to hold on to the spear as it is my responsibility now.
Q: Does Prima come to talk? NO Q: Does she tell them? NO
I notice Prima give us a second glance as she joins her brothers, but the group walks off together without approaching us.
“That was Prima, wasn’t it?” Eveline observes.
I nod, “She recognized us.” I whisper.
Eveline shrugs, “Bound to happen.”
(deal with E: Resolution of ‘Make Friends’: the Defeat of Misfortune) (generate an NPC)
“Well, that was embarrassing,” a big woman says as she turns in her shield, looking at us. “I’m Roslan,” she grins, holding out a beefy hand.
“Talia Evenbough,” I reply, taking her hand, “This is my sister Casia. Pleasure to meet you.”
Q: Does Casia want to stay for more? YES (Wisdom 4)
“I can show you a few things, if you’d like,” Roslan suggests. “That way, you don’t get called out next levy.” I thank her and look to Casia, she grins and soon the three of us are grabbing a trio of shields and stepping off to the side of the square while the next group of levies are forming up. Ignoring the larger formation, I listen carefully as Roslan helps Eveline and I with our footwork. I am just not getting it though, and she takes to swatting me across my backside with the side of her spear every time I slip up. “Lucky I don’t have a grapevine!” she laughs.
“My sister occasionally needs a good beating!” Casia notes to my dismay, I scowl at the two of them.
When the second company of levies are done, we hand in our shields as well, then head towards the town baths, “I’ve had enough of marching drills for one day. We need to get cleaned up, then dinner…if you wish to join us?” I offer.
“I’ve no money for such luxuries” the farm girl shrugs.
“Consider payment for today’s lessons?” I suggest.
“And you’ll see how red you’ve tanned her backside if you come along,” Casia laughs, and Roslan agrees to come with us.
-Encounter-Warriors accidentally bump us- Persuasion 19-
Walking down the street, lost in conversation with our new friend, we inadvertently blunder into a group of armed men wearing the livery of a merchant trader. “Excuse me,” I instinctively respond.
“My apologies,” one of the men responds as our two parties pass on the road.
Scene #19: E: Progress on ‘Make Friends’: the Adjournment of a Stalemate Q: Has she always lived in Oldenstone? EXCEPTIONAL YES
The three of us leave our spears, along with our garments and everything else less some towels, at the entrance to the women’s baths. Inside the steamy air is fragrant with perfume, and soon the three of us are sliding into warm water as a servant girl brings us fruit and mead.
(Roll d4-1 for siblings=0)
We begin chatting about the region, and not surprisingly, Roslan has always lived in Oldenstone proper. She works her father’s lots in the village across the bridge just outside of the town proper. Her father had no sons, so as his only child, she fell into that role, and as he took ill, she never married for fear of leaving him alone. I let Casia tell the story of how we grew up in Plowstump, daughters of an herbalist, outcasts, who have wandered in the years since then.
On hearing our trade, her ears perk up immediately, “My father wastes away, slowly. It is such that he can scarcely get out of bed most days now. Do you know of anything that might be able to cure that?”
“I’d have to take a look at him. You’ve spoken with the herbalist here in town, and the temple physicians, yes?” I have to ask.
“Of course, but I cannot buy a miracle from the church, and nothing Master Garwheel has prescribed has healed him for long,” she laments.
“I’ll be gathering herbs tomorrow. I can visit you and your father then and see if there is a way to finally heal him” I offer.
“I would love that!” she confesses, and on telling me where they live, I learn that it is very close to Garth’s home as well.
After the baths, we bring her home with us and Mini feeds her from the food we forgot to come home for during lunch. We chat a bit longer, listening to Mini boasting of the coming baking competition while Dorvak and Gavin talk about bringing Dorvak’s ales to be sampled. Dorvak tries to enlist us to help out as alewives tomorrow, and Eveline eagerly agrees. I demur, with the excuse that I’ll have to see how I feel when I get back from may gathering. After dinner, we bid Roslan farewell and she returns home to her village. Tomorrow will be an unusually busy market day.
-21st, Great Harvest- (Day 1 of the Tournament)
-warm, clear skies, heavy wind-
-Immersion-see something brightly colored in the shadows-
-Seepage 0 on d8-(got laid last night) (Romance status is Enamored)
Scene #20:
Today is market day! As I rouse Eveline from beside me, I tell her, “I want to visit the market before I visit Roslan and start gathering.”
She groans and rolls over, “You don’t want to see the parade this morning?”
“No, but if you make any wagers, match my coins with yours,” I laugh, and lend her a few coins from my purse.
“Oh, I don’t think there will be any fighting today,” Eveline shrugs, adding the coins to her purse.
“Well, that depends on the egos of the competitors,” I laugh.
—
-Persuasion 9-
I quickly grab some breakfast while Mini excitedly talks about the baking competition and begs Eveline and I to help her prepare her pastries, “I’m sure Casia would love to spend the day here in the kitchen with you rather than watching handsome young men parade through the square,” I tease, “But I have my own work today. I’m sure your pastries will taste far better without my clumsy efforts!” I laugh.
Mini scowls at me, “I’ll remember that if you ever need a favor from me!”
-Persuasion 5-
“Don’t be cross,” I plead, “You know I’ve only arrived and am missing…possibly the best market day of the year because of it. Let me go and gather goods for my stall so I have something to sell before everyone leaves!” If looks could kill, I’d be dead.
Q: Does Eveline offer to help? YES
Eveline scoffs, “Talia is far too serious. I would love to help! What are you making? Blackberries? I love blackberries.”
Mini smiles at her, “And when we have some pies, you’ll get a much better look at those handsome young men when they crowd around OUR booth!”
—
Q: Are any Farhold lords present? YES (1d6=5) (This means that lords from Hammerfel, Westhold and Kiddimir are also likely present) Q: Are lords from Truestone present? NO (so I can rule out Faithstone and Oldenfall) Q: Is this ribbon from one of my countrymen? EXCEPTIONAL NO (it actually belongs to one of the local knight’s errant)
Warren and Princeling follow me outside, Warren excited to leave the house, and Princeling, nonchalant as always. That’s when I see a bit of ribbon, a heraldric sash that must have gotten caught in the wind and blown down into the low district. The wind is very strong today, and I quickly wrap my scarf around my head lest my wig blow off and reveal my hair is shorn close. I pick up the colorful sash, and not recognizing it, tie it around my arm. “I suppose I shall cheer for this lord should I watch any of the games.”
-No encounter on the way to the market-
I arrive at the crowded market while competitors are parading past and the crowds are eagerly watching the procession. I occasionally glance at the passing company, but mostly circuit my way through the stalls looking for…nothing I see. A few junk booths, but no jeweler or relic seller. So I give up and watch the parade instead.
Q: Do I spot my countrymen? YES Q: Do any of them see me? (No Way) NO
And as I watch, I see a handful of men from Farhold. Lord Calum, of Spurdon, is at the head of the group. There is little cheering as we are foreign guests to be vanquished by the local champions, but Calum holds his head in dignity. He is a very polite man in court, but Sonder speaks highly of his skills as a captain. It would be interesting to see him commanding a company in the general melee. Then I recognize Sir Constantin the Challenger, who fought the demons at my side. Then there is Ostlan the Braggart, Darrian the Toothless, and Moriphet the Dour. Those are not their titles, of course, but I what I call them behind their backs when I would gossip with my sisters in law about the errants who lived in my father’s court and served as his guards. Thankfully, their eyes pass over me as they scan the crowed. Even had their eyes met mine, there is little chance they would recognize me.
As they pass by, I continue watching, and see a young knight whose colors match the sash I wear. I pull off the sash and wave it in the air as he passes, cheering him on, “Who is he?” I ask the woman nearest me, for he is a handsome youth.
Q: Does she know? Unlikely-YES
“That’s Sir Karig,” she replies excitedly. “A shame he walks with a limp. He’d be very handsome if he were as strong as he is fair.”
“A limp? From birth?” I ask her.
Q: Does she know? EXCEPTIONAL NO
She shrugs, “Suppose so.”
Q: Does he notice? YES E: Resolution of ‘Lay Low’: the Carrying of a Disruption
I continue waving the sash, he guides his horse over to me, and reaching down, I am surprised that instead of grabbing the sash, he grabs my wrist and hoists me up onto his saddle in front of him. I gasp in surprise as he continues along the procession with me in the saddle in front of him.
“And what might your name be, fair maiden?” Karig asks.
“Talia Evenbough,” I stammer, flush with embarrassment as women swoon at my good fortune and there are general hollers and catcalls from the crowd.
“Will you cheer me throughout the games?” he asks.
“Of course…, oh…I mean…I am supposed to be out picking herbs, but I thought I would watch the parade at least…” I reply.
“Watch me tomorrow. I’ll likely not pass the first day given the number of men here, but it would be nice to have a fair and friendly face cheering me on,” he smiles.
“I will do that, my lord,” I reply.
Q: Does he kiss me? YES Q: Full on? YES (Performance 9 each)
He then presses his lips to mine! My eyes widen in surprise, and though it is a clumsy gesture on the back of the horse, it is not entirely unpleasant. Then he lets me slip down free before riding up into the keep with the other competitors to be received by Baron Pond.
I am blushing red as I walk back down towards the city gates, and realize I still have the knight’s sash in my hand. I once more tie it around my arm.
-Encounter, Mother Madeline-
“Talia, was it?” I hear the priestess address me as I walk past the temple towards the gate.
“Yes, mother?” I reply, caught off guard.
“And here, I thought you were the quiet one. Yet somehow, you end up riding a horse in the grand parade,” she muses.
I blush, “I didn’t mean…it just…it just kind of happened,” I stammer.
Q: Is she amused? YES E: Setback to ‘Get Settled into my new life’: an Inquiry about Attention
“Be careful not to get swept away, dear child. A handsome knight might take you as a lover, but not as a wife. I’d hate for you to become enamored of the young man,” she clucks.
“Do you know him well? What sort of man is he?” I ask directly.
-Madeline’s Insight 11- Q: Does she know him? YES
“He is a good one. Proud, but not vain. He takes his oaths and duty seriously. He is worthy of his spurs,” she admits. “And of a worthy bride.”
I nod, “I pray he finds one then.” Then I nod to Mother Madeline before continuing along my way outside of town. Warren and Princeling rejoin me, Warren having tagged along through the parade, and Princeling having vanished off to wherever cats go when they are bored by their human subjects.
—
I soon arrive at the village across the bridge and start looking for Roslan. She isn’t hard to find, as everyone is out mowing wheat still, and she is the only woman doing so. “Hey, Roslan!” I call out as Warren and I approach.
“Good! You made it! I was beginning to worry,” she admits.
-Generate Olan-
“Take me to your father,” I suggest, and she slings her scythe over her shoulder and I follow her back into the village. Heading inside, I quickly glance around the small cottage and my eyes settle on the old man lying in his bed, a nearly empty bowl of porridge and a half tankard of ale at his bedside.
“Get that mutt out of here!” he curses and reaches for something to throw at Warren.
“Quick, put the dog back outside,” Roslan warns and I pull Warren back, and force the door closed with the animal on the other side. Princeling, on the other hand, perches on the kitchen table as though to clarify that he is allowed wherever he chooses to be!
-Persuasion 7-
“I am Talia Evenbough. Your daughter asked me to take a look at you and see if I can figure out a remedy to heal you,” I explain.
“Get out of here! I don’t need any physicians or healers! The goddess will help me,” he scowls.
-Persuasion 8-
“Please father, just let her take a look?” Roslan begs. He snarls at her and sends us both outside.
On the porch, I ask, “Does he smoke pipe leaf? Would he smoke some feykiss? If he is asleep, I can examine him while he is unaware. Then perhaps I can come up with something.”
Q: Is he a smoker? EXCEPTIONAL NO
“No, he hates pipes as much as he hates dogs,” she replies.
I nod, then I sit on the porch, pull some feykiss from my satchel, along with my mortar and begin grinding it even further. When it is but tiny crumbs, “Mix this into his stew tonight, and if he falls asleep, I can examine him. It may not work, but it should. He’ll be asleep for several hours though. It’s stronger this way.”
Q: Will she take it? EXCEPTIONAL YES
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” she weeps wrapping me in her arms, then taking the medicine.
“I’ll be back in time for dinner, but now, I have work to do,” I bid her farewell, and head out beyond the fields and into the wilder pasture beyond.
-Afternoon Encounter-wild boar-Generate herb lists
-Evening Encounter-bird bones -generate herb list
As my companions and I are harvesting, I suddenly notice Warren pointing at game, “A hunting dog?” I muse, then look to see. Sure enough, a group of wild boar forage nearby. Not wanting trouble, I call the dog to me and we head to another area.
Throughout the afternoon, I collect some rashbane, which requires I don my gloves to harvest lest I burn my hands. Then I cut some pungo, whose fragrant stench can wake the dead. Then I dig up a bit of nararoot, bone root, and bullroot, and then…then collecting hunter’s moss, I notice an ancient elven tree. “Another one? Where weren’t they back in the days?”
I carefully tap the tree for sap, and fill four small vials, hoping that this time, I waste none of it. As I harvest the sap, I notice the bones of small birds litter the ground beneath the tree. I look up, worried I might see something vile watching me. But it’s just spiderwebs. Unusually thick, but high up. No great creature ready to drop down on me.
I head back to the village with my prize.
—
Q: Is the old man asleep? EXCEPTIONAL YES
He is already snoring soundly when I tap on the door and Roslan let’s me inside, “I worried you had forgotten me!”
I shake my head, “Delayed. Sorry, but I found some interesting things. Now, let me take a look at him.” I smile and by lamplight, we pull aside his blanket and I begin examining his skin, pulling aside clothes as we need, even opening his eyes briefly, for he is utterly senseless from the Fey’s Kiss.
-Medicine 24-
“I…have an idea. His lethargy is a combination of bone rot and muscle atrophy, but I think I can restore the strength to his body. I just need time to brew up an infusion. I hope to return tomorrow,” I assure her, then I head out and return to the city.
Q: Does the gate guard let me in? YES -City encounter-night-scream from an alley-
Returning home, the guard at the gate scowls, but lets me inside once I explain who I am and where I am staying, showing my satchel of herbs and explaining I was delayed in the village across the bridge.
-Animal Handling 15-
Heading home, I hear a scream from a nearby alleyway, and fight my instinct to rush down and see what is happening. While Warren stands alert by my side, I push Princeling towards the alley, and blending my mind into his, and will the cat to go and take a look. I feel his rebellion, but he relents and looks down the alley.
Through is eyes, I see an open door, and beyond it, a man lays on top of a table while another man with a red hot iron is closing cauterizing a bloodied wound on the man’s leg. There are two armed men, not soldiers, but thuggish looking, watching over the surgery. I shudder, and break contact with the cat. Princeling soon races back to me and we continue on our way home.
Q: Is Eveline still awake? NO
The ale house is already quiet, and I slip into the kitchen, taking a piece of bread and some cheese, noting whatever Mini had fixed for dinner is already gone, but there are a number of pastries sitting on the counter for tomorrow. I yield not unto temptation, but take the bread upstairs and slip into my room. “Eveline,” I whisper, lighting the lamp. “I need your help with some medicine.”
“I was worried you weren’t coming back tonight!” she complains as she slowly climbs out of bed, “I saw you with that knight.”
“Yes, I promised to cheer him on tomorrow,” I reply as I gather what we need and Eveline follows me down to Mini’s kitchen.
“He kissed you,” she says.
Q: Is she jealous? NO
“Yes. He’s not the best kisser I know,” I reply with a wink. She grins. “We need to make a cure for Roslan’s father. And, I found this!” I show the blue leaf sap. “If it can raise the dead, it can strengthen any other medicine too!”
Q: Does Mini wake up? NO
(two herbalists, rolling with advantage, DC 23 for the first dose, and DC 25 for a second dose)
We soon begin brewing up a concoction of elderberry, echinacea, ginger, bullroot and boneroot, then add a dose of the blueleaf sap as well. At the end, we have an unusually potent. We then make a second dose for good measure.
Afterwards, we attempt to brew two doses of Blue Leaf Anti Coagulant, but scorch both doses. I sigh, “Well, I hope this was worth it.”
Eveline shrugs, “The important thing is that you help Roslan’s father tomorrow, not…work a miracle for someone else some time in the future.”
-Generate Eveline’s activity (her wisdom save far exceeds my performance)
We then begin cleaning up the kitchen, before returning to bed. “Tell me what you did today, while I attempt to distract you,” I urge as I do everything in my power to break her focus.
She leans back, and tells me about watching the circus performers, pausing occasionally to guide my ministrations to better effect, but easily able to carry on a conversation, only occasionally pausing to catch her breath.
(25% chance)
“Were they the same troupe we saw last month?” I ask, looking up at her.
“No. These people are actually good what they do. You could learn a thing or two,” she teases as she guides me once more. I give her thigh a quick nip in retaliation, she yelps, but then relaxes once more as I pleasure her.
-22nd, Great Harvest- (Day 2 of the Tournament)
-warm. clear skies, good wind-
-Immersion-sidekick gives an expression of contempt-
-Weekly peacetime event-bumper crop in Faithstone-
-Seepage 0 on d8-(got laid last night) (Romance status is Enamored)
Scene #21:
I wake to a cat’s butt in my face. “Ugh!” I cry out, shoving Princeling off my chest. The cat turns and hisses, then tosses its head and leaps back up onto the bed, perching on top of my feet. Warren raises his head and pants, looking stupidly friendly and wondering what was happening. Eveline smiles and brushes her hair from her face before giving me a morning kiss. “Thank you for your help last night,” she grins. “I knew if I waited, you’d come through.”
I laugh and shake my head, blushing, “For you? Any time.”
-Conversation focus-Antagonist-
At breakfast, I learn that Ivor and Defris both plan to watch the tourney along with Eveline and I. Gavin has work to do in the quarry, while Dorak is still tinkering with the ale he wishes to showcase in two days with the trades competitions take place. Likewise, Mini is making more pastries as well, perfecting her recipe and forcing us to take the imperfect pieces from yesterday with us for good measure. While we are eating, Princeling leaps up onto the table, and knocks my cup on the floor. “What was that for?” I demand
The cat arrogantly lifts his head, and nudges my bowl towards the table’s edge as well, forcing me to quickly grab it.
Ivor laughs, Debris looks mildly amused. Mini reiterates, “No cats in the kitchen!”
“What did you do to annoy that cat?” Dorvak asks, fighting back tears.
“Threw him off the bed,” Eveline replies, “Talia is mean that way sometimes.”
“I didn’t throw him! Not hard anyway. His ass was in my face when I woke up!” I protest to everyone’s amusement.
After getting a good laugh in, we all collect our things, and Eveline, Ivor, Defris and I, followed by Warren head towards the games. Princeling wanders off to do whatever his highness feels like doing.
-Encounter-Militia insults character-
Walking towards up through the market, a crooked nosed woman from the muster two days ago jeers at me, “There’s the girl that trips over her own feet! Can’t hold a shield, can’t follow orders! Useless little tramp.”
-Intimidation 17-
I pause, look her up and down, snort contemptuously, then continue on my way. She just stands there, unsure what to do.
“Interesting way you have of handling insults,” Defris observes.
“I’d have punched someone talking to me like that!” Ivor declares.
“You should have straightened her nose out with a blow from the other side,” Eveline agrees.
“She’s not worth the effort. All talk, no guts. Nobody respects here for who she is, so she tries to make others seem less. Worthless,” I explain.
-Defris Insight 21-
Defris nods, but says nothing further on the matter.
—
We climb up past the market district and into the terraced gardens. At the upper terrace, baron’s court sits observing the lists, that are on the lowest terrace. The second terrace is where competitors prepare, their small tents are pitched, horses and squires wait. The keep’s armorers and smiths tend minor repairs. The third terrace is where the common folk like us assemble, then below us are the list, where a great many more spectators huddle around the fence, eager to view things close up as the rival champions come down and take up lance and shield to test one another. There is another section of the gardens that is actually a garden, but this area, is where great festivals are held. I remember from Pond’s wedding last years. We follow Ivor and Defris onto the third terrace, and from there, watch the first few rounds assembling below while a Herald calls out the order of battle for the day. Vendors circulate selling bread, pastries, fresh cooked meats and sweets. As the herald drones on, I groan to hear that Sir Karig is among the last of the competitors to fight today.
-Stealth 16, I can move without drawing undo attention from anyone who might have possibly recognized me, no need to check for spotting or recognition-
“I’m going to see Roslan. I’ll be back, hopefully in time,” I say as my companions protest while Warren and I leave the assembled crowd.
-Encounter-Desperate Merchant-(randomly, mead?)
“Missus, missus!” a man calls to me, his push cart in the street instead of in the market, “They won’t let me in the square today because I overslept, but I need some coin for lodging tonight! Let me make you a deal, ten bottles for two crowns!”
“What do I need with ten bottles of mead? And how do I know yours is any good anyway?” I demand.
“Here, try a sip?” he starts to open a bottle, cup in hand.
“No, that bottle!” I select a different one. This catches him off guard, but he opens the bottle I chose and pours from it instead. I try the mead, and smile, “Very good good. All from the same barrel?”
Q: Are they all from the same barrel? YES
“Yes, maam, they are,” he grins.
I smile, “I’ll take this bottle myself, take the other nine bottles to Dorak’s Boarding House. It’s in the low quarter,” I pull out two crowns and give him directions, “Tell him these are for the Evenbough sisters. He’ll see to it they are placed in my room.”
“Thank you ma’am,” he grins, taking the gold coins, and pushing his cart in the direction I indicated.
I soon arrive at the village where I easily find Roslan hard at work once more. “Good morning! I have something for your father, if he will try it.”
Roslan excitedly leads me back home asking all sorts of questions as I explain the recipe I tried. Most of it sounds like things she’s tried before, until I get to the blue leaf.
“Blue leaf? What’s that?” she asks.
I explain, “The Blue Leaf are ancient trees planted by elves in ages past. The sap from the trunk can sometimes be brewed into an ointment that can mend mortal wounds and even revive the newly dead. It’s a tricky formula, but I found such a tree near here, so…we’ll see if this works.”
Q: Does she trust me? EXCEPTIONAL YES
Her eyes widen, and she grins excitedly, “A new life is what he needs! If this works!” she barely contains her excitement. “I can’t wait to see him up and about again!” I can’t help but share her enthusiasm. Arriving at her home, I command Warren to wait outside as I follow her indoors.
Q: Is he still surly? YES
Entering her home, Olan is still in bed, “What’s that woman doing back here! I told you I don’t want her here!”
-Persuasion 13-
“Father, please, she’s here to help. She believes she has a cure for you!”, Roslan pleads.
“She just wants your coin! You’ve sold enough, and for nothing! Just…just let me die woman!” he rants at his daughter.
-Intimidate 22-
“Shut up, old man! Your daughter asked for help, and I’m not taking any money. You owe it to her to let me treat you so your daughter isn’t spending her life taking care of an ungrateful father,” I snap at him.
-Since the potion has an element that can actually craft a Revivy (level 3rd spell) potion, I’ll assume a DC 10 target with advantage for remove disease (2nd level Lesser Restoration spell effect), he passes-
The old man blinks in shock, then cows as I approach, and command him to open his mouth. Obediently, he does so, “Drink this,” I command, as I pour the infusion down his throat. “Now, lay down, and rest.”
-Medicine 22-
As he drifts off to sleep, I examine him again, and smile. “I think he’ll be alright,” I whisper to Roslan.
“Wha…how…I can’t believe he listened to you,” she stammers.
I shrug my shoulder, “Eh, I probably just caught him off guard. He didn’t think I’d snap at him.” I pour us each a cup of mead from my bottle, using the two cups on the table. “To your father’s good health!” And we drink.
“This is…I don’t get mead that often,” she stammers. “But at the baths, and now?”
“Alright, the baths, Casia and I were celebrating, and this, there was a desperate merchant at the market who gave me a great deal on this bottle. So…here, have the rest of it,” I cap the bottle and set it on her table. “I’ve got to get back to the lists. I promised a friend I’d watch him compete.”
“You have a friend in the lists?” she asks incredulously.
“Well, friend is a strong term. A handsome knight pulled me out of the crowd and kissed me, so…I’m going to go cheer him on,” I explain and we both burst into laughter. I hug her farewell, and then Warren and I return to the city, while she remains inside her house.
-Encounter-Warriors/Caravan Guards being robbed-
Returning to the city, start making my way back up to the market, when I hear a disturbance in an alley as I pass by, “Hand it over now if you know what’s good for your friend.”
I move quickly pass along the street, as there is nothing I can do to stop a robbery without revealing who I am or my arcane talent.
Q: Were any Fausts in the fifth matchup? NO (which series is active now? d4+1= 4th battle) -Perception 18-Stealth 18 (don’t need to check and see if anyone who knows Yseldra spots me, just a commoner in the crowd-
I head to the lowest level of the gardens, so I can get as close to the fence as possible, knowing that the men from my homeland all competed in earlier matches. I ask another spectator, which battle was fighting now, and learn that they are in the fourth series. I am relieved that I made it back in time. I look for Eveline in the crowd above, and spying her, wave her down to join me.
Eveline leaves our fellow lodgers behind, and reaching me, offers some sausage and a pretzel she bought, “I wondered if you would make it back in time. How did it go?”
“I think he’ll be fine,” I reply, accepting the food. We then buy some ale and make our way closer to the fence, but with our back to the rest of the spectators, only knights and their squires getting ready opposite us can see. I have my eyes sharp for any familiar livery.
“Sir Dallian advances. He’s the one missing his two front teeth, right?” Evelin asks, ” I nod. “Oh, they introduced Sir Constantin as a demon slayer. I’ve never seen a demon slayer before,” she laughs.
“You’re terrible,” I reply while stitching together a wreath of lavender from my satchel. She agrees.
—
-Karig’s perception 16-
We watch several bouts, and then I see Sir Karig of Oldenstone mount up. He must be one of Pond’s personal bodyguards, otherwise his home village would be named. I pull Eveline alongside me and we press up against the rail, yelling to catch his favor. His eyes scanning the rails, he smiles on seeing me waving his sash and rides towards me. “Good miss! I am grateful to see that you honored my request.”
I climb up the rail and gesture for him to bow, “I always keep my word.” I say as I place the wreath upon the crest of his helm.
He lowers his visor and adjusts the token slightly before riding back to the list as his opponent is announced, a Lord Tendroff of Taprun. I drop back down from the rail and Eveline and I watch eagerly as the two nobles great each other. “Today we test each other on the field of battle,” Lord Tendroff calls out, “But wars are won long before.”
“Tis in battle where valor is tested, and the foe is vanquished,” Karig replies.
I shrug to Eveline, “Both right, both wrong.”
Eveline rolls her eyes, “I like the other guy’s armor.”
I turn to look, and nod my approval, “Too fancy. Good quality horse though! Check out how it moves.”
-both hit with equal scores,11-
Then the trumpet blares and the men race towards each other, both lances shatter on shield, but both riders stay abreast, and turn around, receiving fresh weapons as they form up for the second pass.
Tendroff calls out, “Well, you ride but you’ve already lost, my steed is better and such is your cost”
Karig retorts, “The lance is will answer for me.”
-16 v 4-
In the second pass, Karig strikes Tendroff squarely while Tendroff’s lance slides from his foe’s shield. Falling to the earth and rolling back on the ground, Tendroff is plainly dazed from the blow. Karig turns his mount and rides over to his vanquished adversary, sliding down from his horse, he offers the fallen noble his hand. Tendroff grips it, and the victor helps the vanquished back to his feet.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Tendroff lifts Karig’s arm high as the herald announces the winner of the match. Eveline and I join the crowd in a tremendous cheer!
Q: Does he come to see me after the list? YES
Eveline and I fall into conversation, when she nudges me, “Here he comes.”
I look around and see the knight approaching. I smile, “Well struck, milord, and most gracious in victory as well.”
(My performance of 10, to pretend not to be accustomed to a curtsy)
He laughs, “I am glad you approve, Talia…Evenbough,” he bows lightly as though to a woman of equal status to how own. I curtsy, but deliberately mess it up slightly. He laughs, “Thank you for cheering me on, and for keeping your word. You brought me good fortune.”
“Nonsense. Years of training and a fine horse brought you victory, I merely shouted and waved,” I reply.
He takes off the laurel I gave him, “Or perhaps you wove me good luck?”
“Oh! That!” Eveline interjects, “Tell everyone you know that the Evenbough sisters can weave good luck charms from flowers and our booth will always sell out.”
“Your sister?” he asks me.
“Yes, this is my sister Casia, she’s the older, prettier, more outspoken of we two, and we have a booth together, or…will have a booth together shortly, as soon as I am done gathering herbs for it. But I promised to cheer you on, so I came here today to watch you. When is the second round?”
“The lists, the day after tomorrow. But the general melee is tomorrow.
-Persuasion 9-
“You’ll fight in that as well, on foot?” I ask, cringing inside as soon as the words fall from my lips.
Q: Does he take offense? NO
He glances down at his leg, then laughs as he faces me, “I may not be fast on my feet, but once I plant them, none will stand against.”
I grin, “Well stated, good sir.” I look to Eveline, then shake my head, then turning back to him, “Alright, I will cheer for you tomorrow as well.” Then I look to Eveline, “And you will go and gather herbs!”
“Wait! You didn’t even want to watch the tournament!” she protests.
“It’s your fault for talking me into it!” I reply and the two of us playfully shove at each other much to his amusement.
“Come on, Talia!” Eveline urges, dragging me away as the young knight watches us fade away in the crowd.
–Encounter-Vengeful Barbarian- Q: Is it someone I know? EXCEPTIONAL NO
Walking through the city streets, a craglander warrior stops us, “Women! I am looking for Corgus Blacktongue. He is a murderous bastard, about six feet tall, fat as a melon, carries a sword with a black opal on it. He often fights in tournaments, like the one here. Have you seen him?”
“Hmmm…no. I haven’t seen anyone with a black opal on their blade,” I reply. Eveline agrees. Then we leave the wanderer to his quest, and return home.
—
Q: Did the bottles arrive? YES
Arriving at the boarding house, I find the bottles of mead waiting for me. “A man came by with a bunch of mead for you. Are you planning on hosting a party?” Dorvak asks.
-Persuasion 11-
“No, but you run an alehouse don’t you? It’s quality mead, I’ll sell it to you at twenty two pennies apiece, that’s nine extra bottles of solid drink for Lord’s Day and Heyday before the crowds leave.” I suggest.
He grins, “Done!” and he fetches the coins from his purse.
Grinning, I add them to my purse and Eveline and I join the others at table. Warren sits at my feet, and Princeling lounges on a nearby chair while the rest of us tuck in for our meals.
“So how was the tourney?” Mini asks.
“Our man won!” Eveline boasts.
“Your man?” Mini asks, and I show off the sash around my arm.
“Talia found his sash yesterday and tried to give it to him, but he asked her to cheer him on, and…he won!” Evelin explains.
“Now he expects me to watch the melee tomorrow!” I add. “Which means you need to go and gather herbs!” I jab Eveline in the ribs.
“Fine!” she pouts, “Who wants to watch a big, manly, bare chested melee anyway.”
“I think they’ll all wear armor,” I roll my eyes.
-tourney memory-
Eveline then turns to Mini, “When are you selling those tarts you are making? There were meat pies today. Spectacular! But the crust was nothing like yours this morning.”
Mini beams, “Soon enough, just a few more to bake. Though,” she looks at me, “Since you will be at the melee, you should sell the ones I’ve already baked.”
“Alright,” I sigh, “We’ll load up the cart in the morning.” I agree.
After dinner, we retire to bed, and after laying out my wards on the ally approach, I cuddle up against Eveline and tend to her needs.
-23rd, Great Harvest- (Day 3 of the Tournament)
–warm, cloudy, no rain, good wind–
-Immersion-see something decorated through a gap-
-Weekly peacetime event-bumper crop in Faithstone-
-Seepage 0 on d8-(got laid last night) (Romance status is Enamored)
Scene #22 (Negative Alteration):
After breakfast, having hung all of the herbs gathered so far to dry, Eveline takes Warren with her out to the farm country to gather herbs, complaining that she should simply disguise herself as me. Princeling follows me and Mini’s cart load of fruit pies up to the terraces where I can hawk our wares.
While walking up the slope, a fast moving cart knocks mine aside, spilling some of my precious cargo! i holler at the driver, “Watch where you are going you fool!”
Q: Does he apologize and offer to repay? Unlikely-YES Q: Noble? NO (generate merchant) (2d6 pies lost, 7 pies at 1 sp apiece)
The driver brakes his cart and leaps down. He is a few years older than me, but well dressed for a man driving a cart full of hay, “Forgive me miss. I thought I could get past.” He bends over and helps me pick up the pies, “A shame, they look like they were very good.”
“They were. Mini is an excellent baker,” I place the pies in my shawl, “Now these hog feed…happy hogs.”
Q: a full crown? NO
“Here, let me make it up for you,” he counts out seven tenpiece from his purse, and then hops back on his cart, and drives away.
Q: Are there witnesses? NO (1d7 to see how many I could salvage, 5!)
I look around, and with none paying attention, a few words of magic clean the pastries that hit the ground, but did not break. There are two that I will be unable to sell, so I pocket the extra five tenpiece, as Mini need not know I sold five pieces twice. I add the other two tenpiece to her earnings, and tuck the two damaged pies into my satchel to enjoy at my leisure.
-Children playing in the street-(7 kids)
As I continue towards the garden terrace, I spy a group of children playing at swords, pretending to be knights at the tourney. The sight brings a smile to my face.
Q: Does anyone stop me at the terrace? Very Unlikely-NO (Persuasion 12) (roll how busy, twice to take the best, but get completely packed +25% revenue twice!)
I pull the card up to the entrance of the second level terrace, and begin calling out, “Fruit pies! Mini’s fruit pies! Sweetest apples and blackberries you’ve ever had! Flakiest crust!”
I quickly sell all forty-six remaining pies I brought even as the melee teams are still forming up! I laugh to myself and hope that my own merchandise sells so well on a market day. I then sit down on my cart to watch the melee below.
In addition to the lords in attendance, there area a nearly equal number of common men at arms, sell swords and caravan guards forming up to join the competition, though I notice the number of nobles joining the melee is significantly smaller than were announced for the lists. It is, after all, much harder to earn glory in a group battle.
Q: Do any Faustians notice me? Very Unlikely (as they aren’t looking for fans that look like me) NO, Karig Perception 5
Spotting Sir Karig, I stand up on my cart and wave towards him, hoping he can spot me from up high. But as I wave towards him, I realize to my dismay, that he is scanning the rail instead of the second level.
Q: Do I see anyone I know? Unlikely NO
I look around for a friend to watch my cart. With a sigh, I give up, and rush the cart back down and to the lower level, where I push it against the edge of the terrace, command Princeling, “Wait here! Watch my cart! And scratch the crap out of anyone who tries to take it!” Then I rush to the fenceline, pushing my way through once more.
—
Eveline’s day-spots deer and a hare, Warren fails to catch a rabbit for dinner for us. She finds swamproot, dogleaf, comfree, pipeleaf, pungo, a lot of sageleaf, dreamleaf, nararoot, and even some edible herbs that are good simply for seasoning.
-Charisma base 20-
At the fence rail, I wave once more and call to my champion. He turns to face me, wearing a red sash for the company he fights alongside in the grand melee. He grins broadly and raises his wooden blade in salute as it is about time for the grand melee to begin, as four companies attempt to storm a makeshift keep in the center of the field and claim control of the keep, and its banner.
(roll d4, team 4 comes in first, team 1 (his team) comes in second)
With a great shout, all four companies of men race to the center, he falls only a little behind his fellows, but the fighting is fierce. Blue company, led by Sir Oslan the Braggart, one of my father’s men, quickly finds itself outmaneuvered, or outfought, pinchered by its foes. Gold, led by Sir Dallian the Toothless, another of my father’s men, briefly seizes the tower, but is forced off by Red at heavy cost to both teams. Silver falls back to allow those two to battle it out, then rushes in to seize victory. It’s captain, Sir Parsol, one of Baron Pond’s men, sneers at the vanquished scornfully, “Spent yourselves fighting the wrong foes! Fools!”
Another competitor calls back, “Wait until everyone else is done before you engage? The coward’s way!”
Q: Does a second melee erupt? NO
The men from white company bristle at that, and while it seems at first another melee might erupt, the companies all separate and small group, and foot matches are scheduled. These take place in paired fights, several at once with men drawing lots for their foes and fighting one by one from the outside edge along lines painted on the grass towards the central tower.
Q: Does he come back to see me? EXCEPTIONAL NO Q: Is it still there? YES
As the lots are being drawn, Karig is called over by one of his fellows, so I go back to check on my cart for a moment. Once I am convinced it is secure still, I remind Princeling of his duty, and return to the rail.
-Soldiers showing off- Q: Do their eyes linger on me? EXCEPTIONAL Very unlikely YES (Which one, Sir Dallian the Toothless) (my deception 11 vs his insight, 14)
Returning to the rail, I am blocked by a few of the baron’s men who are not competing, showing off their fancy bladework with an impromptu sparring match for the benefit of audience members waiting for the face off to commence. I give the group a wide berth and get back to the rail, eyes alert for my countrymen, hoping to not be noticed by them. But sadly, I see Sir Dallian staring right at me as I get back to the rail. I ignore him and search for Karig instead, not allowing my gaze to settle on my hunter.
(casting by stealth, advantage because nobody near enough to hear me would know, Stealth 16)
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Dallian walking straight towards me bringing Lord Calum along for good measure, I look away as though talking to a neighbor in the crowd, and with a discrete motion of my hand and a few arcane words, alter the shape of my nose, lips, and jawline ever so slightly, before looking back their towards the competition field pretending not to notice the approaching knights.
On drawing close, Dalian pauses, but Calum, who does not live in the keep where I grew up addresses me, “Who are you, woman?”
I pretend not to hear realize he is addressing me.
Frustrated, he reaches for my arm, “You!”
I look at him in surprise, “Forgive me lord?”
“Who are you?” he demands.
-His investigation 20, my deception 13, Dallian’s investigation 11-
“Talia Evenbough,” I reply.
“I don’t think so,” he insist, pulling me over the rail.
“That’s not her!” Dallian objects. “Don’t make a fool of us!”
“Clever girl’s a witch, she can look however she wants!” Calum declares.
Q: Do people interfere NO -Intimidate 18-
People nearby look on in shock, but nobody does anything to interfere, “Let go of me!” I yell at the man. “Who do you think you are!”
-Calum’s persuasion 6-
He is about to strike me when he realizes how many people are watching. I get back up to my feet as the master of ceremonies approaches, “What’s going on here.” Lord Calum quietly speaks to Baron Pond’s man while Dallian keeps a close eye on me.
The master of ceremonies walks over to me, “You are?”
-Deception 20, vis herald’s insight 10-
“Talia Evenbough,” I reply. “An herbalist. My sister and I just moved here. That’s my cart over there.” I point. “I was just watching the melee, cheering for Sir Karig when these two men came at me. I don’t know what they want.”
“You’re free to go,” the herald replies before turning back to lecture my father’s men.
I shake my head, and head back to my cart, letting the spell drop lest anyone who knows me as Talia realize I look different. I then push the cart back down the hill to Dorvak’s boarding house.
–
“Back so soon?” Mini asks, surprised.
“Yes! Here’s your coin,” I reply, handing her the 48 tenpiece. She gives me five for having helped her out selling them on her behalf.
I then retire to my room and begin working on herbal remedies for the rest of the day.
—
That evening, Eveline returns home and I quietly tell her what happened. “Do you think we should leave?” she asks.
Q: Does Eveline agree? YES Q: Did Defris catch wind of the incident? NO Q: Did Pond? YES
I shake my head, “No. I think we might be safe for now. But if we disappear, they’ll know they were right. I’ll gather tomorrow though. I don’t want to be anywhere near the market or the terraces until the tourney is done and they have returned home.” Eveline agrees with my plan.
—
That evening during dinner, there is a knock on the door. When Dorak opens it, two soldiers stand waiting, “Talia Evenbough, please.” the men demand. I take a deep breath, and walk to the door. “Please, come with us.” I nod, and follow the men into the night.
—
I am escorted through the town, up into the lord’s keep, but instead of the great hall, where guests and the days champions are feasting as Lady Elspeth’s guests, I am taken to Pond’s study. Baron Pond waits quietly, and on my arrival, he nods to his men, “Leave us please. I need speak with this…herbalist…about delicate matters of indigestion.”
-Pond investigation 10 with advantage, 13/11, His perception 16, His insight 20. My deception 16-
Pond studies me for a few minutes as I stand before him. “Are you familiar with the name…Yseldra Faust?”
“I know the name Faust. Casia and I have been through Farhold. Is she part of that lord’s family?” I ask.
A smirk spreads across his face, “How long do you plan to reside in Oldenstone?”
-My insight 9 vs his deception 9- Q: Will he allow it? YES
“As long as my lord permits,” I reply, meeting his gaze, for I know that he knows. “Will I be allowed to remain?”
“Why did you run away from home, my friend?” Pond asks.
“Marriage. You know me, and I know you. As splendid as Elspeth is, you did not choose her. My father…promised I could choose whether and who to marry. And then…he changed his mind, as suddenly as the wind might shift. And he struck me. And told me I would marry Lord Sigric of North Hold. For my own safety.”
“Well, I know you to be a pious woman, so Sigric is not necessarily a poor match for you, though he shares much of his father’s devotion…perhaps more vocally in fact. Wouldn’t you enjoy being a missionary lord’s bride?” he chuckles.
“You know more of him than I do, as I suspected you would,” I chuckle, finally beginning to relax. Then nodding towards his chess board, “Fancy a game?”
“A wager?” he suggests.
“I’d rather not wager the one thing that remains, my freedom,” I demur.
“I’ll not ask that. How about…favors returned? I heard the story of the demons of Brokenpost, and of…the ruins of Guldall? And how, Baron Faust’s clever girl secured both victories. Perhaps, you could aid me similarly?” he suggests.
I nod, sitting down at the board, taking black, “Those victories were not achieved on my own.”
-I score 9, he scores 6-
“Rarely does victory belong to a single warrior, nor the game to a single piece,” he sits opposite me, and makes his move.
We play, and we talk while so doing, until I put him in mate, “Why did you let me win?”
He purses his lips, then replies, “I don’t want you bound to me, for I know your word, once given, is never broken. I want you to serve me when you wish, how you wish. So I…well…I considered letting you win, but you simply outplayed me tonight.” We both laugh at the irony of the situation.
“Talia Evenbough, welcome to Oldenstone,” he smiles, standing and taking my hand.
“My lord,” I curtsy, and then kiss his ring. “I shall endeavor to remain a welcomed guest.” He then escorts me out of his study and we walk through the halls, chatting as old friends.
“Have you enjoyed the tournament thus far?” he asks.
“Well, aside from the unpleasantness today. I am most impressed by your men Sir Karig and Lord Tendroff. Both fight with great honor,” I explain.
Then he brushes Karig’s sash, which is still tied around my arm, “I see which one you favor more. He’s a good warrior. Steady, honest. Too much so for the world in which wars are waged,” he smiles sadly.
“But honest men…wars are won for them, and battles by them, when clever men guide them well,” I reply.
“Or clever women. Your father cost himself the best of his heirs,” he admits.
I close my eyes, “I believe in my father. He is a good man. But I cannot go back. Not now. Not until…”
“Shall I reach out to him on your behalf?” he offers.
“No. Just let me…be who I must become,” I ask.
Lord Pond nods, “I will send word when I need you.”
Q: Does Karig happen by? NO
“I will provide whatever aid I can, my lord,” I curtsy once more, and with that, we arrive near the guards who escorted me to the keep, and Lord Pond instructs them to escort me back home.
—
Back home, Eveline, Gavin, Dorak and Mini are all still sitting up in the dining room awaiting my hoped for return. On seeing me, Eveline hurls herself at me, wrapping me in her arms, “Talia! I was so worried!”
“It’s alright. We can stay here,” I explain with relief.
“Why? What’s going on?” Dorak asks.
-Deception 10- (everyone’s insight rolls better than that!)
“There was a problem at the tournament. Some men confused me for some…fugitive. They demanded Lord Pond surrender me to them, and he’s decided that I can…stay here,” I throw up my hands in surprise.
“So…why are the two of you on the run?” Mini asks.
-Deception 17 after Spark reroll (beats all three’s insight rolls)
“Because we aren’t really sisters,” Eveline explains. “Talia broke off an engagement. Her fiancé got mad, and she and I ran off together, to start a new life, together. I’m sorry we lied.”
“So, your names?” Dorak asks.
-Persuasion 19-
“Just Talia and Casia, please. We are establishing our business. We don’t want to go back to something else. Just…forward. If you will have us?” I ask.
“If Baron Pond says you can stay, I’d be a fool to kick out two rent paying tenants,” he laughs. “Welcome home!” He smiles and Gavin and Mini echo the sentiment.
Q: Is she excited? YES
Eveline and I retire to our room and I explain in more detail what Pond and I discussed, and that we will occasionally be asked to do some work for him, but we are welcome to stay as the Evenbough sisters for as long as we wish. She is overjoyed at the news, and even more so when I share with her the two broken pies I saved from earlier in the day.
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