-Sound Digging-Q: Ankheg? NO
Scene #4:
Travelling down the road towards Hearthmane, we pass by a group of free farmers cursing and swearing as they try to dig a new well some distance from the road. As I watch, Calbrock chides me, “That’s what labor looks like. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you?”
Q: Are they digging in a good spot? NO Persuasion 5
“The theory of how to dig a well? Why it is stupid for them to try to dig one there? Or actually digging a well myself?” I respond.
Calbrock sneers, “Doing the work. The work that’s required so a girl like you can live in a castle safe from harm while the common folk worry their homes might be burnt by raiders in the night.”
Insight 2
I furrow my brow, and look around, unsure how to really respond to his verbal jab, so I decide to bite my tongue instead.
Q: Does he let it go? YES
“So, why are they digging in the wrong place?” Anlyn asks.
“There is a low spot over there,” I point, “Looks like it would save them about ten feet to start the well there instead.”
Q: Does Anlyn laugh at this? YES
His sudden burst of laughter makes me smile. Bareln shakes his head in amusement as well.
-Afternoon Encounter-Mishap-Fleas-
As we approach the village of Hearthmane, Bareln speaks up, “Your mule keeps rubbing up against you. You should train it better than that.”
-Perception 17-
Annoyed, I lecture Dunn, “Stop rubbing up against me!” Then I spot the reason, a flea crawling down his mane. I pluck it off and squish it between my finger and thumb in disgust. Then I stop walking and carefully start inspecting the animal. “What did you get into, silly beast?”
Q: Does everyone wait? YES
It takes a few minutes but eventually, Dunn seems a little less annoyed and I start leading him back down the road.
“Fleas?” Bareln asks, “I didn’t think mules got fleas.”
“Apparently, they do,” I reply with a shrug, then I glare at Dunn, “Don’t do that again!”
Calbrock fixes me with his gaze, “If those farmers are digging their well in the wrong place, why didn’t you tell them?” Anlyn and Bareln watch for my answer.
“I’m just a young woman on the road, why would they listen to me?” I shrug.
Anlyn interjects, “But you aren’t. You’re the baron’s daughter. You can order them to dig in the right spot.”
-Persuasion 20-
“That’s even worse. I would be using authority I haven’t personally earned, and they would be even less likely to believe what I tell them. They wouldn’t know they hit groundwater faster, they’d just think a know nothing girl who grew up in a keep saw fit to throw her weight around, and if the well ever runs dry, they would blame it on me instead of on themselves,” I explain.
My companions exchange glances, then Bareln starts to chuckle as the three of us head into Hearthmane, “I hope there is a nice little tavern here, I could use a beer and warm bread!” Anlyn grins.
The village of Hearthmane is one of the older villages in my father’s realm. It actually has stone walls, having been built on the ruins of an older settlement, and it is ruled by Lord Warral, the son of Lord Cavanaugh who governs Milford. They breed horses here. I remember past visits as I dash Anlyn’s hopes, “No tavern here. And none in Lost Shoe either, lest you wish for a warm bed with a drunken tavern wench tonight. That’s why we have tents and bedrolls, yes?”
The half-elf groans in dismay, “No! I do not like sleeping on the ground,” he laments with a grin.
“You’ll get over it lad. Did you think making your fortune on the frontier would be easy?” Bareln chides him.
Q: Is there fresh bread? EXCEPTIONAL YES Q: Do they recognize me? Unlikely YES
I do stop our company in front of the village bakery where the smell of bread fresh from the oven wafts out through the open window. “Excuse me,” I call to the baker, “Five loaves please. The freshest from the oven.”
I pass a tenpiece to the baker whose eyes flash with recognition, “Yes, my lady,” he bows his head taking the coin and passing the loaves to my companions and I.
Q: Do I know him? EXCEPTIONAL NO
I thank him with a smile, and ask his name and how long he has lived in the village. He tells me he hails from Kardashev and arrived two years ago. I commend him on his mastery of Norgard and wish him well before we leave the village once more.
Q: Are we stopped? YES E: Negative for Yseldra Faust: a Refusal of Suffering
As we are about to head back out of the gate, Dunn suddenly refuses to budge, instead rubbing up against the wall of a cottage. Suddenly, I hear my name called, “You thought you could inspect my hold without stopping for a meal?” I turn to see Lord Warral approaching. I make a light bow towards him and he returns the gesture.
“I did not wish to trouble you, good sir,” I smile.
Q: Contempt? Unlikley YES
He looks at Dunn and observes, “Your mule is giving you trouble?” Then he looks at my companions with obvious distaste, “Some of your father’s friends, no doubt?”
“As is your father,” I remind him with a gentle smile. “And yes, since you have so kindly offered, my companions and I would enjoy having lunch in your home, while one of your grooms brushes down my mule. He seems to have picked up some fleas!”
Sir Warran sighs as he realizes that he must now host not only me, but my dubious retinue, and walks with us back to his home. Inside, I freshen up with a wash basin while the servants finish preparing lunch, then I join the others at table where Anlyn is already entertaining our host and his servants with his lute.
Q: Do I learn any rumors here? YES (Go to Donjon’s rumor generator, roll and adapt one to fit)
On learning that we are bound for Lost Shoe, Sir Warran says, “I know you are investigating the orc raid three days ago, but were you aware that two days before the raid, a herdsman named…Rollo, I think, disappeared while grazing his animals. The cattle were still in the field, but he just…vanished.”
“How do you come to know this?” I raise an eyebrow.
“One of my tenants went to the tannery there. You know, cheaper than the one in Farhold proper, and after the orc raid, word spread. Fearful whispers always do,” Sir Warran explains.
Calbrock looks between us, “Do you think he was taken to learn more about the village’s defenses?”
Bareln agrees, “Certainly something I wouldn’t put past orcs, but that means he’s probably been tortured to death by now.”
Anlyn looks up from his meal, face suddenly pale and worried, “Tortured?”
“Aye,” Bareln confirms, “But they probably didn’t flay him alive, so no need to worry about that.”
Anlyn’s face takes on a greenish hue as he pushes his plate away. “Don’t like hare?” Sir Warran smirks at the half elf.
“Suddenly, no,” Anlyn admits.
Calbrock grabs the half elf’s plate and adds it to his own, enjoying the finely cooked game.
Q: Does he ask a favor? YES
After lunch, I thank Sir Warran for his hospitality and beg our leave. “Lady Yseldra,” Sir Warran asks, “I trust you will grant me your favor at the tournament in honor of your father’s birthday next month. I intend to unhorse your brother on the first pass.”
I laugh, “Where is the challenge in unhorsing Bertran? He doesn’t even ride.”
Sir Warran grimaces, then clarifies, “I mean Lord Severon, of course.”
I let the smile fall from my face and nod, “Yes. If you unhorse my eldest brother on the first pass, you will not only have my favor but I will sit by your side at the banquet that night and grant you first and last dance.”
Sir Warran smiles at this, “You are most gracious, my lady.” He bows and kisses my hand. And then, we depart.
—
-Immersion-Sense of Claustrophobia-
-Evening Encounter-Herders with animals-
Scene #5 (Negative Alteration):
I attempt to steady my breathing as we get back on the road. I resent these rituals of courtship I am expected to endure, but it is the game I must play, and I am but one pawn on my father’s board. At least until I cross the field and am crowned in my own right. Suddenly, my reverie is interrupted to cries of “Clear the road!”
-Dex Saves! Yseldra, Anlyn and Dunn pass
I look up to see a large number of cattle running towards us, the herdsmen desperately chasing from behind while dogs try to bring them up short. I try to run clear, but Dunn refuses to run. The rest of my party scatters as well. Anlyn and I easily leap out of the way, and Dunn trots along with the flow long enough to get clear and wander back towards us. Bareln and Calbrock both get tossed aside by passing cattle. Battered and bruised, the get back to their feet as the herdsmen continue chasing their wayward stock. Bareln fumes, “Can’t even control their own animals. Simpletons!”
Calbrock shoots him an angry look, “Have you ever driven a herd? Something spooked them.”
Q: Does he concede the point? YES
Bareln regards the Craglander, then concedes, “If you say so.”
I check on my companions, “Doesn’t look too bad,” I tell Calbrock, then to Bareln, “You’re limping a bit.”
He glares at me, “Yes. I know. I’ll feel better in a bit. Just need to walk it off.”
I nod my head, “Lost Shoe isn’t far now.”
A couple of hours later, we arrive at the village of Lost Shoe as the sun is beginning to set.
Q: Do the guards recognize me? NO Q: Do they welcome us? YES
The guards regard us warily as we enter the village gate, “Please send word to your master that Lady Yselda Faust and her companions require lodging for the night.”
The guards eyes widen, and one of them races away to the manor house while I guide Dunn towards the stables. Anlyn grins excitedly, “Is that all it takes? Woohoo! I’m here! Give me a warm soft bed and a hot meal!”
Calbrock scowls in disgust. Bareln says nothing, but I explain, “Lord Varnath is my father’s vassal. He owes us hospitality and any other service he requires, as we owe him protection and allow him lordship of this land.”
“Pah!” scoffs Calbrock, “A slave over slaves, none are free under your rule.”
I raise an eyebrow, “All are free who do not bind themselves to their word.”
“So he could leave?” Calbrock presses.
“An oathbreaker has no home, for none will ever trust him. Do not Craglanders believe the same?” I raise an eyebrow.
“We pay our debts, and demand the same. But we are not slaves, not even to our own words,” Calbrock insists.
I nod, “Thank you. I understand you better now.”
-Calbrock’s Insight 13-
Calbrock blinks, suddenly realizing that I am taking his measure as he has been taking mine.
Q: Any visible damage? EXCEPTIONAL YES (4d6-there were 16 raiders) (1d10-8 cottages burnt) Q: Is he glad to see me? NO Q: Does he recognize Bareln? NO
I notice the skeletal remains of several cottages within the village walls, and then I spot the unmistakable Lord Varnath the White approaching, eyes narrow, “What are you doing here? When I sent word to your father about the attack, and a captive as well, I was hoping we would send a squadron of soldiers assist. Or at least a few wagonloads of lumber.” Then he looks at my companions, “What is this? A savage? An elf?” He says nothing about Bareln, quickly taking his measure and then turning back towards me.
-Intimidation 16-
“Your gracious hospitality is well received, good sir,” I demur.
Q: Does he apologize? YES
He suddenly stammers, a blush spreads quickly across his unnaturally pale flesh, “Forgive me, my lady. This way please,” he gestures for use to accompany him.
“What can you tell me about the raid? Their strength? Did they take anything?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Lives. They took lives. One of my men, and five of my tenants,” he scowls. Then answering my other question, “There were at least a dozen and half. Six of them fell to our steel, then there was the prisoner I sent to your father.”
“Yes. Thank you for doing that. He broke on the rack, and told us they were seeking a key of some sort. Do you have any idea what he might have meant?” I ask the lord as we enter his hall and I hand my travelling cloak to one of his servants.
Q: Does he know the key? YES
Lord Varnath furrows his brow, then leads me back outside and points up over the lintel of his manor house door, “One of them looked at that thing, up there. His eyes grew wide, he pointed, and then he an his companions came running for it.”
-Persuasion 20-
I study the oddly shaped stone block secured over the lintel, “I would like to borrow that for a time. It is the to a place called Guldall in the Whispering Hills. I intend to see why the orcs value that place, and if perhaps, we can persuade them that harming us will only rob them of what they desire.”
He glances up at it, then towards me, “If that’s what they want, they can have it. And you can give it to them. I’m told it was a trophy taken in battle by my predecessor. It means nothing to me.”
“Thank you, Lord Varnath, your generosity will be remembered,” I reply.
He nods, “I expect nothing less.”
-Performance 25-
We then return inside while servants pull down the key and add it to my mule’s pack. Anlyn entertains our host with his lute as servants bring us plates of tender roast beef with carrots, onions, potatoes, fresh baked bread and a warm apple pudding sweetened with honey, and tankards of mead to drink. The food is delicious after a long day on the road, but Anlyn’s music and voice are enchanting. He sings a tragic song of love won and lost that brings tears to my eyes and those of our host.
Afterwards, I retire to one of the many vacant bedrooms in our host’s manor, for he is unmarried yet, and childless. A warm bath awaits and I let the servant assist me with that. Soon I am fast asleep.
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