–Episode 18
-Generate this month’s High Steward Missions in Cragfall-5 missions generated:
Q: Will Team 1 Succeed at the Rescue Mission? Very Likely-Exceptional Yes-Takes place in Week 3 of Threshing
Q: Will Team 2 succeed in persuading the Lizardfolk to move away? Likely Exceptional No (Roll survival for each member of Team 2, all survived)-event takes place in Week 1 of Threshing near Redvat)
Threshing 4th-(Cool Climate)Cool, cloudy, no rain, no wind
Immersion-Sidekick sticks its tongue out
(generate the rest of the tavern staff for good measure)
Ep 18: Scene 35: Threshing 4th
Chaos Factor: 5 -Expected Event
I wake to Warren’s tongue in my face, gasping and turning away in digust, I see sunlight already streaming in through the window and realize that I have slept far longer than I normally would. Which is not surprising given the rough journey and the relatively comfortable bed. “Get off me,” I shake my head, grinning, as I push Warren aside then transfer Princeling from my stomach where he was resting to the bed beside me. Soon, I am on my feet, getting dressed. I once ready, I let out a long yawn, “Time for breakfast, don’t you think?”
-Perception 16-
I head downstairs and see the tavernkeeper frantically writing in his journal, while a wench leans against he bar beside him, telling him stories about either a guest or local she knows. “Not too late for breakfast, is it?” I ask cheerfully.
The woman looks up at me, “Have seat then.” I do so and a few minutes later she brings me a plate with some bread, a soft cheese, and some blackberries to smash up and spread atop, and a tankard of ale. I thank her.
-Investigation 12- Q: Does she tell me about one of the current missions? 50/50 Exceptional No
“So, I’m new around here, and I’ll be staying the night, but is there anything anything I should know about before I move on to Cragsfall tomorrow?” I ask, passing her coins for tonight’s lodging and breakfast.
“Stick to the roads and you’ll be fine, if the goddess blesses you,” the woman shrugs, then turns back to her conversation with the tavernkeep.
Q: Is anyone else here eating this late in the morning? Unlikely No
I sigh and finish my meal, then I collect my staff, sling my packs over my shoulders, and head outside with my companions. “Yeah, with the goddess’ blessing, Abyssia itself is safe to traverse.” I tell them.
-Wisdom (Animal Handling) 18- Q: Does he sell good quality animals? 50/50 Yes (generate the horse trader)
I start walking around the village, trying to get a feel for the place. I spot an herbalist’s shop, a cooper, a horse trader who catches my eye. I wander over to get a better look at his animals and watch him working with the. “Some fine animals you have there,” I note.
-His insight 6-
He looks me up and down, “Is your father in need of a mule? I have one here that might be perfect for him. Are you from Axestead? I heard they lost some animals there recently.”
I laugh, “No master, I am from the south. Does my accent not give me away?”
-Wisdom (Animal Handling 10)-
“A traveler then?” he inquires, reassessing me. “Then a mule indeed.” He brings over an animal that looks fair enough to me.
I shake my head, “Sorry friend, I am not in the market for a mule at the moment, but I’m looking for work, preferably in Cragsfall, and for news. You said Axestead lost some animals?”
Q: Does he know the issue in Cragsfall? Likely No
“Yes, I heard rumor of livestock going missing, and I figured it was only a matter of time before a draft horse or mule is lost. Not sure how people lose their animals, but that’s life on the frontier,” he shrugs.
“Which way is Axestead?” I ask, biting my bottom lip as I wait his directions.
“Take the road west, you’ll be there by midday,” he suggests.
“Thank you friend!” I nod, and then move on to explore the rest of the village.
(Generate a villager)
I soon meet a woman collecting water from the village well, “Good day, friend!” I offer.
-Her perception 6, Reaction 18-
She smiles up at me, “Good day, stranger! Welcome to Mordye, what brings you through our village?”
-Persuasion 22-Q: Does Ethna know anything? 50/50 No
“Ah, looking for news and work,” I reply, taking her second bucket from her to walk alongside, “I hear there’s been some animals gone missing from Axestead to the west. You hear anything about that?”
“No more than you, I’m afraid. Animals go missing all the time though. Could be orcs? Or wolves. Who knows,” she shrugs as we reach her hut and she takes the second bucket from my hand. “Anyway, I’ve got work to do and no coin to pay, so best of luck to you!”
“Thank you!” I smile with an nod, then head over to the village’s north gate to talk to the men on duty. One is a younger man who is missing a few teeth, which is easily seen when he grins as I approach. The man up in the watchtower is more than twice my age. He glances my way, but then turns his attention back towards the horizon.
(Reaction 15)
“Hey there, missus!” the younger man says, “Ain’t seen you around before? You ain’t with a caravan are you?”
-Persuasion 14- Q: Has Korak the Toothless heard anything? 50/50 No Q: Has Valmer the Connected heard anything? Likely No
“No, friend, I’m on my own, but was thinking about travelling west. Thing is, I hear some animals have gone missing. Have you heard anything?” I ask, biting my lip as I wait his reply.
“Nope, not a thing. If anybody knows, it’ll be David and his sister, Krista, at the Split Wagon,” the younger guard replies.
“The tavern keep and the woman working this morning? Ummmm…thanks,” I reply, then head back to the inn.
Q: Are they still at the bar? Likely No -Persuasion 24- Q: Do they know anything? Likely Yes Q: Bounty details? Likely Yes
Returning to the Split Rail, the barkeep is no longer to be seen, but the woman from earlier and a second one are cleaning up the place. “Hey, I heard that some animals have gone missing from Axestead to the west. Any travelers mention anything about that?”
“Yes…stick to the roads, and you should be fine. Wander off in the fields, you’ll be lucky if it’s your animals that vanish into a hole in the ground,” the woman from this morning replies.
“Yeah, I hear Lady Jul has put out a bounty of six hundred crowns to capture the beast that’s been taking sheep. But from what I hear, it’s bigger than an ox cart and digs up from beneath the ground to catch you! No warning, just…boom! Grab! All over but the bleating of sheep. Lucky nobody’s gotten eaten yet,” the second wench adds.
“Six hundred crowns? It’s just one? What’s it look like? A large bug?” I ask.
-Yseldra’s Nature 23-recognizes it as a Bulette-
“Giant beak, I hear,” the second wench, a little chubbier than the first from this morning, replies.
“Oh,” I mutter, “Hmmm…yes, I think I had best stick to the road, and go…south! Thank you!”
The women smirk and continue their work. I then leave the village to go forage for a bit before evening, “I think, Warren, that if we found enough sleeping herbs, we might be able to knock the beast out, but it would be a gamble, and if things go wrong…there’d be no escape for the bait, and maybe not for us!” I shake my head as he and Princeling follow along after me.
-Morning Encounter-Roe Deer-Find Belly Root and Medicinal Herbs
-Afternoon Encounter-Slumberbloom, Numb Stool, Swamproot, Comfrey and Sunberry, meet farmers at work (Reaction 18)
Outside the village, foraging some distance from the cultivated fields and at the edge of the pasture, I find some belly root and a range of herbs I can use to brew treatments of a number of ailments. Then some slumberbloom, numb stool, swamproot, comfrey and sunberry. The slumberbloom I might be able to use to knock out the bulette, but I’d need a lot of them!
In the morning, we blundered into some deer and Warren sought to give chase, but I called him back. The dog readily obeys and I wonder about his prior owner who trained him so well.
-Persuasion 23- (Generate a rumor, an NPC, and a topic-rewards)
In the afternoon, on our way back to the village, we spotted some farmers winnowing their harvest, and gathering the seed. I asked about recent events, and a tall young man, with arms as thick as tree trunks, says, “I hear there’s a haunted belltower south of Split Rail. There was these wolves stealing sheep, and the villagers started chasing ’em, and tracked ’em into the woods, and was pushing ’em close to the tower. And I hear the wolves could have gotten away fore the circle closed in on ’em, but they wouldn’t run past the tower. Nor would the dogs get close to it either…kept lookin’ funny at it instead while the huntsmen took the pelts. And ever now and then, they say they can hear the bell ring out from it. Not like the others, not like the ones from our village, or Split Log, Redvat or Axestead, but…different. Sounds hollow, if you can imagine that.” I thank the man, who tells me his name is Ervig. We chat a bit longer, I tell him my name is Delia, and he asks if I am the sort who likes to explore old places like that, noticing my pack and such. I tell him I might, and he suggests, “You go exploring, and find something…remember who told you, eh?”
I laugh, “I always remember my friends.”
After that, my companions and I return to the village of Mordeye for dinner and some relaxation, and I ask about the village of Splitlog and learn there’s no inn there, but of course, there is a tavern.
(Taproom events) Q: Does anyone approach me? 50/50 Exceptional Yes (Generate two people)
A man twice my age, and another man, who might be his father, come over and sit at my table. The younger nods to my pack, sitting beside me, “Traveller, eh? Where you heading?”
“Cragfall, ultimately,” I reply.
“Stay to he roads,” warns the older man. “Lot’s of danger in the swamps,” he warns as I think him and continue eating.
-Deception 12 vs Insight 11-, Persuasion 10- (My insight 3)
“Delia Thorn, what are your names?” I ask and they introduce themselves as Barkely and Tongin, the latter being the father of the younger. I soon find out the older man works in the dye shop on the edge of the village, while the younger is a tenant farmer. When they ask, I am evasive about my own trade, but I ask what rumors they’ve heard. Unfortunately, they have nothing new to say.
Suddenly, our conversation is interrupted by a sudden gasp from a nearby table. I look over and hear, “He’s dead! Dead?” As people pull back a fairly young man who apparently just collapsed face first into his food. I get up and walk over to check on the man while someone goes out to fetch the village priest.
Q: Do they let me? 50/50 No
“Let me take a look,” I suggest, but the crowd around him won’t let me get close, so I return to my seat, push the bowl away, and shrug to my table mates who are already wondering what happened to Calfien, who I suppose is the dead man. “I’ve lost my appetite, but if you want this, you’re welcome to it!” Then as a priest of Freia and a member of the town watch enter the dining hall, I listen in on what they say.
-Priest’s Medicine check 20-Q: Simple heart attack? Likely Yes (Generate the priest)
“Poor sinner! Let this be a warning, that if you do not hold fast to the teachings of the goddess, and remain temperate of mind and flesh, your body might just fail you, and then…the souls of the unworthy are oft lost to the abyss,” the priest lectures as the village lord enters.
“Well said, Brother Herard,” the lord announces. He is a serious looking man and all eyes turn to him in an instant. He is my father’s age, wearing clothing suitable to his station, but devoid of frivolous ornamentation, unlike the younger noble who follows behind. This younger lord is impeccably groomed and dresses as one seeking to impress. “How did he die?”
“Drank himself to death, ate too much, and his heart couldn’t take it any more. The price of gluttony and sloth,” the priest announces, eyes drilling into the younger lord.
“Well, at least he didn’t starve to death,” the younger noble complains with a yawn, “and we’ll just find someone else to farm his plot anyway.”
“He was a dyer, not a farmer,” the older lord scowls. “You’ll see to his burial tomorrow, and you..my son! Come with me to inform the man’s wife.” The younger lord rolls his eyes as he follows his father out of the tavern while the watchman helps the priest and a couple of farmers carry the dead man outside.
“Does this happen often?” I ask my tablemates
“Never seen anything like it before,” the younger replies.
-Topic-Weapons- (Insight 16-vs their Deception 17)
The men ask about my life on the road, and about how I protect myself. I admit to having received militia training in Oldenstone, and that between my quarterstaff and my dog, I hope to deal with any trouble I cannot outrun.
A bit later, I retire to bed for the night.
-Threshing 5th-
-Pleasant, clear skies, heavy wind-
-Immersion-smell of urine-
Ep 18: Scene 36: Threshing 5th
Chaos Factor: 5-Interrupt: Support Safety Q: Is it a member of the watch? 50/50 Exceptional No Q: Tavern wench? 50/50 No (determined female, roll randomly- a farmer’s wife)
“Seriously?” I groan hearing Warren scratching at the door to get out of our room, but as I sit up, I realize it is too late as he lifts his leg and pees on the floor. “No! No! No! Bad dog!” I chastise him as I climb out of bed. Kneeling in front of him, I firmly say, “No! Bad dog!” Then looking the mess, with a wave of a finger and the word, “Porus,” the foul puddle of piss vanishes forever. “Let’s get dressed before you cause anymore trouble!” I scowl.
Suddenly, there is a banging on my door. I open it, still in my sleeping tunic. “Yes?”
“Good! You’re still here!,” the villager from the well yesterday slips inside my room, “I overheard Barkely and Tongin talking to one of their friends out back this morning when I was bringing some eggs here to David I heard them tell the man you had a full purse and that you might be on the road today. Be careful!”
“Oh. Wow. Ummmm, thank you! Barkely and Tongin, ones twice my age, the other old enough to be his father?” I ask.
“Yes, Tongin’s the old man, but his son is the worst of the pair. They’re actually harmless, but…people get robbed on these roads all the time, especially lone travelers like you” She warns.
“Thank you! I’m Delia Thorn, and I appreciate your warning,” I smile at her.
“Ethna, but…don’t tell anyone I warned you. I don’t need trouble,” She pleads.
“I understand. Thank you again,” I nod as she takes a peek out into the hallway, then leaves my room.
I look down at Warren, “Well, no need for us to hurry outside on your sake,” I shake my head, dress, load up my gear, and then head downstairs for breakfast.
Q: Had a caravan arrived since last night? Unlikely No Q: Anyone talk to me at breakfast? 50/50
Another young woman is in the dining hall delivering eggs to the innkeeper. She looks over at me, “Blessings of Freia upon you. Were you here last night when Calfien dropped dead?”
“If that was the man’s name, yes. Strangest thing I’ve ever seen at dinner,” I admit, then…suddenly have the urge to push my plate away. “Doesn’t particularly speak well of the cooking here though, does it?”
Q: Does she laugh? Very Unlikely No
“This is no laughing matter. That was a reminder that we must all adhere to the sacred teachings of the church! Not give into drunkenness, gluttony, or infidelity!” she lectures me.
“Was he a drunken, glutton cheating on his wife? He looked like an ordinary fellow to me,” I shrug.
Q: Was he a paragon of vice? 50/50 Yes
“Yes! And everyone knew it. He got what he deserved, and anyone who follows that path will as well. May the goddess preserve his soul lest it be lost to Abyssia! And yours as well,” she scowls at me.
“Well…I think I’m done here. Nice meeting you,” I muster a weak smile as I stand and shoulder my bags.
“You should go to the shrine and pray for your soul!”, she warns me.
“I’ll be sure and to so at…the next village over,” I pass a tenpiece to the wench for my meal, and then head outside, my animals close behind while the fanatic continues to warn me about the state of my soul.
Leaving by the north gate, I mutter a second warding spell, “Fauvida” and my skin becomes a touch more pale than normal with a faintly greyish hue.
-Morning Random Encounter (and a fixed one)-Caravan heading south (generate caravanner)- (dice says fixed encounter is first)-(lone traveler, a girl and her dog…a full ambush team isn’t necessary, for bandit scouts, I rolled 3 bandits, no thug)
-Sense of Horror-
Ep 18: Scene 27: On the road south (5th)
Chaos Factor: 5 -Alter travel physical
A few miles out of town, there is a loud blast of an orc’s warhorn that catches me off guard. I step back, terror stricken, quarterstaff at the guard position as Warren growls and Princeling scampers up a nearby tree.
A man with a spear springs out of nearby shrubs and shoves me off the road, while a second man with a spear and a third with a horn laugh.
“You should see the look on your face! Good thing we aren’t orcs, eh? All we want is that fat purse of yours, and whatever’s in those bags you carry. Drop the staff or we’ll kill your dog before we take what we want,” one of the men warns.
-Deception 3, vs insight 3-
“Heel!” I warn Warren who is about to lunge at the men. “Take what you want, bastards,” I toss my quarterstaff to the ground, then drop my pack and satchel a little apart from each other as I step back from the men.
The men look at each other, suddenly uneasy, “That’s…how’d you cross the Lonefields if you give up that easy?”
“Like this,” I step to the side and, invoke “Manigna!” Stretching out my hands and bathing all three men in flames. They crumple to the ground screaming in agony as I pick up my pack and shoulder my satchel once more. I summon my staff back to my hand as Warren growls as the men, no longer writhing, but lying still in the grass beside the road. I examine the three men, all three…dead. Then I search their purse, for they’ve no need of whatever ill gotten gains they’d stolen from others.
In addition to some local copper and silver coins, one wears a silver necklace which I put around my neck, and the other has a small copper pendant in his pouch with a two pieces of quarz with star shapes within them, one about half the size of the other. I fix the pendant to the chain, then get on my way.
-Deception 16, vs Insight 19-
A short time later, I cross path with a group of large wagons, “Hail there!” I greet them, “Beware of bandits up ahead. There were some men who tried to rob me. I was barely able to outrun them. They might try and rob you as well.”
The caravan captain looks me up and down, “You outran some bandits with that pack on your shoulders? What’s really going on here lass?”
I shake my head, “Take my warning or not. No matter to me.” Then I continue along my way.
Q: Does the caravan simply continue on its way? Likely No
“Hey, friend! I want to know what’s on the road ahead! Don’t you just walk away,” the caravan master demands as two of his guards leap from wagons to stop me from passing.
-Intimidate 15-
I look back at the caravan master, “Three men attacked me and I left them dead on the trail. Good enough?”
The guards each take a step back, and even the caravan master reassesses me, “Yes…um…good enough.”
“Watch out for two men named Tongin and Barkely in Mordye. A little bird told me they had asked their friends to watch for me on the road. I’m sure they’d happily do the same for you as well, but I’m not going to repay their favor myself just yet. My business is farther north,” I offer, then continue my journey. This time, the guards step aside.
Q: Are the Errand boys in town when I arrive in Redvat? Unlikely Yes
-Immersion-touch-grainy-
Ep 18: Scene 38: Redvat (5th)
Chaos Factor: 4 (expected scene)
The strong wind makes me grateful for having shaved my hair, though is miss the beauty of it. It was, by far, my best feature.
Walking towards the next village, my grip on my quarterstaff tightens such that I can feel the grain of the wood against the palm of my hand. I take a deep breath, and approach. The gate guards and a well dressed nobleman are talking to a burly looking man who has a half elf companion staning by his side. The half elf is a handsome fellow wearing half plate armor. A craglander wearing hides and carrying an ornate quarterstaff, and a half orc woman wearing studded leather armor and carrying a longbow stand nearby along with two youths wearing leather armor and carrying spears, listening to the discussion.
“My lord! We’ll go talk to them, and they’ll move along. No need for violence. Lady Jul sent us to get them sorted out,” the burly man explains to the nobleman.
The nobleman, twice my age, scoffs, “My father had to drive off lizardfolk a number of times, as have I. The only thing their kind understand is cold steel. Walking out there trying to parley is a fool’s errand. My lady should have sent the wild ones, not her errand boys.”
I stop nearby to listen.
Q: Does anyone notice me listening? Likely No (My Religion roll is 4)
“Steel should be the last resort,” the burly man replies. “These lizard folk aren’t so different as you think. They want food, they want wine, and they want to be left alone, much like anyone else. We’ll talk them into moving their village. It will be nothing,” he assures the noble who shakes his head as the small company of “errand boys” head out from the village to the east.
“They going into the swamp?” I ask one of the guards as I approach. The nobleman is already heading back into the village.
Q: Does he think it’s a good idea? Unlikely No Q: Any dead yet? 50/50 No
“Fools! Yes, they think they can talk a tribe of lizardmen into moving off. They’ve been causing trouble for our hunters and it’s only a matter of time before blood is spilt. Hope it’s not that lot,” the crooked nosed guard shakes his head.
“Half a dozen men. Looks like they can handle themselves,” I offer.
“Against a hunting party? Sure. Against a village after they walk into the center of it? Doubt it,” he shakes his head, “Lunatics.”
The other guard on duty is stroking the back of Warren’s neck, but interrupts us, “Ardus! It’s not our place to second guess Lady Jul’s decision to send Erik and his men to solve this problem. The alternative was to muster the levy and march into the swamp ourselves. I say, let Erik give it a try. What’s the worse that could happen?”
“They get captured and flayed alive,” Ardus the crooked nosed guard retorts.
“But then we know, it’s blood. Without spilling any of our own,” the wise guard replies.
I continue past them into the village as they seem intent on their own conversation now.
-Encounter-Local industry- (Generate Valudus the dye gatherer)
A young man is lounging about with others. Some have gathering satchels. Others hunting bows. The young man looks up at me, “Where you from?”
“Far south,” I reply, “So, lizardfolk in the swamp?”
“Aye! They chased us off the other day when we were out gathering plants for dyes. I don’t want to tangle with the scalies,” the man laughs, “I’d just assume sit around here all day.”
“Hardly a way to make a living,” I smirk.
-Topic contacts-
“Better than dying,” he shrugs. “But what’s a southern girl doing up here in the north? Got friends you’ve come to see?”
“A bit of wanderlust is all. Thought I might try to see the elven lands if I can,” I shrug.
Q: Does this shock him? Very Likely Yes
He blinks, “What? Cross the wilds to the far north? To…get turned away by elves for your trouble? Why?”
I look up to the sky for a moment, then back down at him, “When else will I have the chance? Not after I marry and grow fat with children,” I laugh.
“True enough,” the lad replies. “So, you’re kind of fearless then?”
I shrug, “Nah. I’m not the sort to tangle with scalies either. Not without good cause and numbers behind me,” I laugh. “Fear keeps you alive.”
“To a long life!” the lad nods, pretending to raise a cup. I mimic his gesture in agreement, then continue my walk, stopping at the local inn, which has three nails painted on to its sign.
-Immersion-Mossy Smell-
Ep 18: Scene 39: Three Nails Inn (5th)-Add character-quiet, vocal (Generate something about, Halder, the moss smelling man)
Chaos Factor: 4
I step inside the dining room of the Three Nails Inn and take a seat amongst a midst of travellers and locals. The man at the table next to me smells of moss and swampwater, and the soup placed before me is a thin one, with bits of fish floating amongst the peas and chopped carrot. “Maybe it’s better to fall down dead in the soup,” I mutter to myself.
“Now, don’t be saying such things, Miss Tabitha won’t like to hear that,” the moss smelling man whispers with a wink.
I chuckle at his admonishment, “Duly noted. I’m guessing you’re in the village today for fear of the lizard folk?”
“Bah! I’m not afraid of ’em, I just don’t see any profit in getting killed by ’em,” he grins. “Let’s see if the lord can nudge’em away before we go back out, eh?”
“Are their kind often a problem?” I ask.
Q: Are lizardfolk commonly warlike? 50/50 Exceptional No
“Nah, usually not. Never known ’em to kill a man. Take their kills, scare ’em off, but not kill anyone. Course, things can change, and that’s the fear, I suppose,” he shrugs.
“Out in the swamp, ever seen any old ruins? Places long forgotten? Might be worth exploring if one were looking for treasures from the past?” I ask, fishing.
Q: Has he noticed anyplace? Unlikely No
He laughs, “Nah, nothing like that in the swamps. Just bogs, and ponds, gator nests, deer and hogs. And even if there were, hate to see what might be hiding out there. Is that why you’re up this way? Don’t get a lot of southerners here. Treasure hunter?”
“Might be,” I shrug, “If I can find a partner or two and a place worth exploring. Know anyone?”
Q: Does he know anyone who might go treasure hunting? Very Unlikely Exceptional No
He shakes his head, “Nope, everyone I know would rather live to see the next sunrise. Good luck to you though, missus.”
I grin, “Thanks,” and turn back to my meal, finishing the watery soup, then setting out on the road once more.
-Afternoon encounter-Another caravan heading south-
The wind continues to whip my face, but the breeze feels alright as Warren, Princeling and I continue following the road north, occasionally waving at farmers in the nearby fields, but otherwise, travelling unimpeded. About halfway to the next village, we pass by another caravan, this one with covered wagons, presumably hauling sacks and barrels of food south. The caravan master greets, me “Whay’s a pretty young thing like you travelling these roads alone?”
I shake my head, “I’m not alone. I’ve got the two best companions a woman can have!” Gesturing to my animals. “Where are you heading?”
“South to the markets, of course. Only a few more weeks till summer ends and the weather starts turning cold, but southerners like you don’t know the cold, eh?” he chides me.
I laugh, “Perhaps not, Master…”
“Parantos,” the man replies, “Of Northold.”
“A long you’ve already travelled then,” I observe
“You know your roads then?” the man questions me, “You have the look of one who travels, young as you appear.”
“I’ve seen a few maps. Have you ever been to Even Nar, west along the Twin River? Elven lands,” I ask.
Q: Has Parantos been to elven lands? Nearly Impossible Yes Q: Did he profit? Very Likely Yes
“Indeed, I have,” he admits. “A long journey. Constant danger as you pass along the Whispering Wood, and the foothills of the Wolfgates. Lost several guards, but made a pretty bit of coin on returning. Such wondrous medicines they possess, and the incense…and their jewelry are true works of art. Their weapons, finer and more elegant than man can make, and more nimble than dwarven pieces. See this!” He climbs down from his wagon and shows me the beautiful elven dagger he carries on his hip, inset with an emerald in the pommel.
“A beautiful weapon!” I admire the steel, “I once….” I stop myself, then redirect, “I once met an elf who said there was nothing worth seeing in human lands besides the drink.”
-Parantos Insight 3-
“Ah, I suppose he must have wanted something stronger than the delicate flavors of his home. They are gentle indeed, and you don’t realize you are drunk until you wake the next morning. Thankfully without a hangover!” he laughs. “Anyway, my men idle too long. Safe travels friend.”
“Delia…my name is Delia Thorne. Safe travels Master Parantos,” I bid him farewell and we each continue on our way.
Ep 18: Scene 40: Brinesend (Generate Troopers Klaus and Luka)
Chaos Factor: 4-Expected Scene
Arriving at Brinesend, the two guards at the gate halt me. The younger demands, “Lone traveller? Dangerous habit on these roads. What’s your business here?”
“Travelling to Cragsfall, looking for work. What’s so dangerous around here?” I ask.
“Swamps…swamps,” he trails off, looking off to the west.
-My insight 9-
“Yeah, I hear there are lizardfolk out there, but I was told they are mostly harmless.” I reply.
“Harmless to groups. Lone travelers, like yourself, tend to go missing,” he warns. “Watch yourself.”
“I’ll bear that in mind,” I agree as I move on into the village, leaving the young soldier to his fears.
Q: Is it crowded? Unlikely No Q: Does anyone approach me? 50/50 No
I soon find the “Drover’s Inn” and step inside for a meal and lodging. The wench quickly arrives at my table with a bowl of lambstew cooked with corn, beans, carrots and potato. More of that crumbly cornbread is served alongside it, but the tankard of ale is welcome. My animals and I sit off to one side out of the way of other patrons, eating my meal in silence, sharing bits of the meat and bread with my companions. I pass payment for the meal and for lodging to the serving girl who brings me a key in return. Then I turn in for the night.
Q: Do they come for revenge? Likely Yes
-Immersion-Fear-
Ep 18: Scene 41: Drovers Inn
Chaos Factor: 4-Expected scene
I wake with sudden fear as my ward alerts me that the door is being unlocked, and quickly shove Warren off the bed, muttering “Carochalie” as a shadow enters my room! Three men are entering and one stabs Warren, causing my dog to yelp in pain as I engulf the trio in flame. But they don’t go down! Instead, one slashes at me with his dagger, which I deflect with an arcane shield. The third man, tamping out fire, lunges at Warren while the leader yells, “Kill that dog! I want that witch alive!”
But at this point, Warren already has his jaws locked around one man’s throat and Princeling even leaps on top of the second, and then bounds past him out of the room to flee the chaos, leaving the man cursing in confusion. A second gout of flame injures the leader and takes down the man looming over Warren as the captain curses at me. “Get in here!” He yells, and I realize there must be more men outside the window. Warren clamps his leg around the leader and Princeling leaps back into the room, distracting the man for a moment as I see another man climbing in through the window.
I hurl a small bolt of flame at the leader, who cuts me with his blade as I try to avoid his rage. The man from the window lunges at Warren, who yelps in pain, and I hear an “oof” outside, as a second man trying to climb up apparently slips from the window.
-Burn Spark for a reroll, I won’t be able to recover it as the relationship with Eveline is sundered by time, distance and circumstance-
I dodge another attack from the leader, then he cuts me a second and third time, each one lightly, but deep enough, and he seems to dodge my fire bolts as well. Princeling claws the crap out of his face, but leaps away from the counterstroke. Then the man from the window cuts down Warren! In a rage, I hurl another bolt of flame, and the leader cries out as he falls to the ground.
Q: Do the last two panic? Very Likely Yes
At this, the man standing over Warren panics and bolts out the room. The one who finally made it into the window, sees three of his companions on the ground, one fleeing, and me turning towards him with hate in my eyes, and leaps back down from the window to the street below. I am quickly at Warren’s side, “Hang on, boy!” I pull my satchel open and start treating his wounds.
Q: Is anything catching fire in my room? Very Unlikely Exceptional No Q: Are other patrons waking? Likely No
Surprisingly, nobody seems to have heard the commotion, and I close the window, then the door to the room, and then cut the throats of the fallen men in my room for good measure. I don’t even care who they are. I then start bandaging my own injuries while Warren lays on my bed, whimpering, and barely conscious. After bandaging my wounds, I think drink some of the trollblood, the one that Ivor gave me. I feel much better as wounds stitch shut from within. I am a far cry from well, but the magic helps a great deal. Lighting the lamp to my room so I can see better, I search the fallen men, finding a gem incrusted gold bracelet on the leader, a pair of gold earings with stones on them as well on one man, and a gold chain on the third. Then there were coins as well. “Shame two of your men escaped,” I mutter. Then I reset my alarm ward, and try to get a little more sleep, stroking Warren’s back while Princeling snuggles up against us. “Good dog,” I close my eyes, and cry.
-Threshing 6th (Tithesday)-
-Immersion-Sound of Fire-
Ep 18: Scene 42: Threshing 6th
Chaos Factor: 5-Altered, reduce or remove activity
I wake up and check Warren’s bandages and my own, then leaving Warren in bed to rest, along with my pack, but not my satchel, I head downstairs. The hearth crackles, but nobody is here eating breakfast. It’s just the tavern girl tending the hearth.
“I need a bowl of water and some extra meat this morning,” I tell the wench handing over extra coin.
Q: Does she ask about the dog? Likely Yes
“What a second? Where’s that dog of yours? You don’t plan on feeding it in your room do you?” she asks incredulously.
(generate steward)
“He’s not feeling well. Is there someone with a cart I might hire to get to Cragfall? I don’t think my dog can walk the distance today,”‘ I reply, numbly. “And who’s the lord’s steward here? Will he receive a traveler?”
Q: Does she warn me away from him? Likely Yes Q: Does she know someone with a cart? Likely Yes
“Well, you don’t want to talk to the steward. You’re a foreigner and Lord Otto doesn’t like foreigners. And Kietel will probably be willing to borrow his father’s cart and give you a ride. He likes dogs alright, but he might not agree if he sees your cat,” she warns.
I sigh, “It’s tithe day. Is a wagon going north with the village tithes?”
“Maybe. That’s a question for the steward,” she replies
“Who I shouldn’t ask? What’s the lord’s name?” I insist.
“Steward’s Lord Otto. But if want the village lord, that’s Lady Nicola, after her husband Lord Balrick went missing in the swamp a couple years ago,” she explains.
“Alright, where can I find this Kietel fellow?” I ask.
“Likely out threshing grain like all the others,” she suggests.
I shake my head, “I guess I’ll just ask around for him then. Thank you.”
-He failed his con save, but I passed my medicine save, so he will live, but he suffers a pierced stomach. The stomach will heal in 10 days. Until then, he has to pass a DC 10 con save each day or suffers the poisoned condition, he heals in 10 days of rest. His “severely injured” status ends in just 5 days though, so that’s good. Neither of us recovered hit points overnight-
I eat, then take the meat and bowl upstairs to ensure that Warren eats something, but he spits most of it back out. A few words cleans up the mess on the bed, but I leave the bloodstains on the floor from the dead men. I head back outside with Princeling and head over to the manor house.
I knock on the door and a servant answers, “I am requesting an audience with Lady Nicola, or her watch officer,” I inform the servant.
Q: Does he laugh in my face? Likely Yes Q: Will he fetch the sergeant? Likely Yes (Random Event-Group-People of local settlement (Protect Path)
The servant laughs, “No common wanderer requests an audience with the lady.”
There is suddenly a commotion behind me and I see a dozen of the village lads coming up with spears in hand, led by a sergeant. “There’s your sergeant for you, if you want to talk to Piet.”
I thank the servant and approach the sergeant as he is talking to his men, “Alright, last night, a couple of horses were stolen from Sanders farm just outside of the village. We are going to go find the thieves and get the horses back!”
-Persuasion 19-
“My guess is that they went north, towards Mordye, and if you ask Barkely and Tongin where they are, those two likely know how to find them,” I offer.
“What makes you so sure?” the sergeant asks, as everyone looks towards me.
“Well, two of the men who attacked me in my room last night got away. I suspect they likely stole the horses to help them escape. And yesterday, Barkely and Tongin told some bandits to jump me on the road. I reckon the men who attacked me here were likely from the same gang, looking for revenge after the first ambush went badly for them. Anyway, there are three dead men in my room. And I’d like to hire a cart to get to Cragsfall. My dog is hurt pretty bad, but I’d like to get back on the road,” I shrug.
Q: Are they in shock at all of this? Very Likely Yes
Everyone just kind of stares at me in shock. “Cart? Please?” I repeat myself.
The sergeant suddenly comes to his senses and then he and a trooper follow me up to the inn room where they find the dead men in my room.
Q: IS the leader a known criminal? 50/50 Yes (Herszberg, 50 gp bounty on him, plus 20 gp and 15 gp bounty for the other two taken with him)
“Hummm…that’s Herszberg. He’s a killer. There’s a bounty on him. And these men were with him?” the sergeant asks.
I nod, “Yes.”
“How did…” he notes their throats are all cut, but their clothes and flesh are burnt pretty bad.
I let some fire play around my fingers as I talk, “They gave me no choice but to protect myself,” I let the fire fade. “A bounty, you say? Will your lady honor it?”
Q: Will the lady pay the bounty? Very Likely Yes
“Of course. And we’ll send the bodies to Cragfall by cart to get repaid for the expense, so…you can ride the cart as well,” then he turns his eyes to the badly wounded dog, laying pitifully on the bed, “They got your dog?”
“Yes, but not before he got one of them,” I reply. “That’s why I need the cart. He shouldn’t have to walk after all that.”
The sergeant nods, “Alright, I’ll inform the lady. Trooper, police these bodies,” he commands, and I collect my gear, then pick up Warren and head outside. The sergeant casts a glance over his shoulder at me, shudders, and then leads me back towards the manor house, calling on oneo of the peasant levies to go fetch a cart for us.
-Immersion-Pounding-
Ep 18: Scene 43: Lady Tabitha’s Manor house, (6th)
Chaos Factor: 5-Altered add object-delightful garbage
The sergeant pounds on the door, and the servant lets him in almost immediately and steps to the side as i follow the man in with Warren in my arms and Princeling following close behind. The sergeant gestures to the sitting room where a rather well built man in fine clothing looks up from his desk. “What is…this?” the man sneers, setting down the statue of a naked nymph that he seemed to have been stroking admiringly as we entered. I flinch in disgust.
“This foreigner seems to be some sort of battle mage. Killed some bandits at the inn last night, including that villain Herszberg. You’ll issue the bounty for him and two of his gang?” Sergeant Piet explains.
Q: Will the steward issue the bounty? Likely No
“Pah! A foreign wizard comes into our village and starts a brawl, murders three people, and gets lucky they happen to be criminals? Perhaps I should have her arrested instead,” he sneers.
-Intimidation 7-
“Well, Lord Otto, I presume? It seems your reputation for fairness towards travelers is well earned. Tell your lady you’ve cost her a potential friend. In this world, friends are valuable commodity,” I turn and leave the room.
Q: Does he try to have me arrested? 50/50 Exceptional Yes
“Arrest her at once!” the lord commands, and Sergeant Piet and another man immediately grab me.
“You will not speak to your betters in such a way, you foreign little tramp!” the man steps up from behind his desk and slaps me. My ward flares and deflects his hand. I spit at him in return.
“I’ll speak to Lady Tabitha!” I retort, my eyes shine with rage. Princeling hisses a warning. Even Warren manages a weak growl.
Q: Does Lady Tabitha grant an audience? 50/50 No Q: Do they let me set down Warren? Likely Exceptional Yes
Unfortunately, I am dragged away instead, and taken down into the cellar where they let me set down Warren, even obtaining some straw to lay him on. The guard looks at me apologetically, “You’ll…not cause any trouble down here, will you?”
I shrug, “I didn’t come here seeking trouble. Only to borrow a cart to get my dog safely to Cragsfall. Please pass word to your lady that I would beg her mercy and my freedom.”
Q: Will the soldier help? 50/50 Yes
“I’ll relay your message,” the soldier replies then locks me inside the cellar.
I mutter a word and ignite the lamp I saw before he closed the door. Then I wait.
—
Q: Does Lady Tabitha come to visit? 50/50 Exceptional No Q: Are food and water brought? Very Likely Yes Q: Was I allowed to keep my things with me? 50/50 Exceptional No -Persuasion 24- followed by Persuasion 5-
A short time later, two other guards come down with the steward. They take my satchel and pack, then at the lord’s command strip me completely while he sneers at me, lust in his eyes. I cover myself as best I can and glare at him, “My sleeping tunic? Allow me that, at least?” One of the men relents, and pulls the tunic out for me, and the lord scowls at him but a warning glance from the soldier convinces him not to have it removed. I put the tunic on, “And my satchel? I have an animal to treat.” They ignore that second request, and take my things upstairs, snuffing out the lamp as they go.
I reignite it as soon as the door is closed, and the servant who brings down food for us doesn’t notice it wasn’t supposed to be lit at all.
—
-Threshing 7th-
-Warm, cloudy, no rain, good wind-
-Immersion-Bird song-
-Warren does not heal any, I recover 3 hit points-
Ep 18: Scene 44: Threshing 7th-
Chaos Factor: 6 Altered-increase activity, add hard, ready object (oh dear! This has sexual innuendo written all over it)
Even from the cellar, I hear birdsong outside. There must be a loose board or something…a hole sound can travel through. I lean back against the wall, gently petting Warren and Princeling. My companions and I waiting patiently for punishment or release.
Suddenly, the door opens up from above and the steward comes down the steps, eager to indulge some base desire.
-Intimidation 16-
I shoot him an icy glare, and raise a hand sheathed in fire, “You might want to reconsider my request for an audience. This building only stands because I am a patient woman…which is also why you still live at this moment.”
Q: Does he fetch lady Tabitha? Likely Exceptional Yes
Suddenly the randy but now ashen faced, strong looking fop freezes in his tracks, and yammers a sheepish, “Yes…yes, I should fetch my lady.” Then he hurriedly retreats upstairs.
A short time later, two guards fetch me and I am taken to the dining hall where a well dressed woman only a few years older than me holds court. I immediately bow before her.
“Rise,” the woman commands, “My steward says you murdered three criminals in our tavern and just now threated to burn down this house if not granted an audience.”
-Persuasion 24-
I chuckle, “I’d no intention of doing so, but your steward had me stripped naked and thrown in a cellar overnight, then came to visit me…alone…with the looks of an eager youth heading towards a brothel, and I wanted to get his attention loud and clear without actually having to cause him harm. Please forgive the crudeness of my threat,” I bow my head.
Q: Has she already investigated? Likely No
“It is forgiven. Tell me of your brawl in the tavern,” she commands.
-Persuasion 20-
“The day before last, as I was leaving Mordye, I was warned that two men, Tongin and Barkely, had been seen speaking to another man about my fat purse, and that I should expect trouble on the road. Sure enough, I was ambushed by three men on the road, and had to kill them. I continued my journey, warning the first caravan I passed, then stopping for a meal in Redvat, then on to your village, where in the middle of the night, my door was forced open by three men. My dog nearly died protecting me, but I killed those three, while two more, who entered through the window, fled. I hear that two horses were stolen? I told your sergeant he might find out where they fled from Tongin and Barkely as I suspect they were sent to avenge their fellows. Part of the same gang. Why else attack someone in an inn room?” I shrug.
She looks at Lord Otto in confusion, “Why did you arrest her? Have you sent riders to my father to have Tongin and Barkely arrested? Or have you given them time to escape?”
Q: Were riders sent? Unlikely Exceptional No
“Ummm…well…no. You see…she…” the steward stammers, while Lady Tabitha commands one of the soldiers to obtain a horse and set off at once to her father’s to have the two men arrested while they can still be found.
Q: Is all forgiven? Very Likely Yes
Then she turns to me, “Please forgive my house for my steward’s embarrassing negligence. He is clearly unworthy of his post,” she glares at the man. “Your effects will be returned to you, and if anything is missing, my steward will replace it tenfold. Is that understood?” she glares at the man, who sheepishly bows and nods agreement.
Turning to me once more, she asks, “Where did you learn battle magic? It is not commonly taught among Norgard’s. They fear it as witchcraft.”
“My aunt knows the elven ways and taught me, lest the art be forgotten. That is part of the reason I came north. I thought, perhaps, my talents might be more welcome here. I did not expect to be accused of murder for merely asking help with the dead men who attacked me and for a cart to help transport my injured companion to a new home in Cragfall.” I explain.
“An unfortunate misunderstanding,” Lady Tabitha admits. “And my steward did not pay you the bounties on these men?” I shake my head, and she has him issue the coin as my things are brought to me, and I begin taking inventory.
Q: Is anything missing? Very Unlikely Yes (12th cool item in gear list)
“Four vials of trollblood,” I announce after inspecting my gear. “That’s 200 crowns of alchemy, but I’d rather have the vials.” I announce, glaring at the steward.
Q: Does he confess? Likely Yes
“I…realized what they were…and thought they might save some lives if we held on to them. I didn’t….didn’t expect her to be released with her things,” he explains.
“Bring them back immediately you fool!” Lady Tabitha commands, irate. He sheepishly returns with the vials, which I slot back into my belt and satchel.
“May I…change clothes? I’d like to get back on the road,” I tuck the bounties into my packpack.
Q: Is he stripped of station? Likely Exceptional Yes
“You may change in the steward’s room and…anything you see that catches your eye, please feel free to take as compensation for his crimes against you,” she glares at the man. A servant leads me to the steward’s room where I immediately switch back into my travelling clothes and inspect the contents of his room while I hear Lord Otto pleading for mercy and forgiveness through the closed door.
Q: Does he have a chess set? Unlikely No (I generate some pocket wealth for a wealthy person instead)
I peek around his room, and take his signet ring, and a gold bracelet with three stones inlaid, along with some coins I find. Adding them to my purse, I return to the hall, smiling on seeing the steward stripped down to his undergarments. I bow to the lady, “By your leave, my dog and I will be heading north.”
Q: Does she wave me off? Likely Yes NPC Event Positive Faust Family Lure/Success Lady Meriel
Then I notice, among the pile of the stewards effects on the floor is a letter bearing the seal of my mother. “Might I…?” I ask.
Lady Tabith looks at me in confusion, and picking up the letter, I break the seal, opening it to read, my face growing white as I do.
“What is that letter?” Lady Tabith asks.
“Just some filth from some southern lady is all. Nothing of concern to us!” he protests.
I smile, then turn to the man, “It is a letter from my mother, the Baroness Meriel Faust, asking you to pass word from my father should I pass this way.” I then bow to Lady Tabitha, “I shall be keeping this letter, as it was meant to find me, against all odds. There must have been hundreds sent.” I fold the letter carefully and place it in my satchel. “I must be going now.”
I then head downstairs, and with the help of a guard, bring Warren upstairs, where a cart is arranged to transport us to Cragshall.
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