-Episode 1-
Senfry’s Campaign:
27th Great Harvest
-Warm, Clear skies, Gentle Breeze-
-immersion, sound of music-
Ep 1: Scene 1: Red Whale Inn
Chaos Factor: 5
I lean back against the chair and consider my options. For the last ten days, I was on a ship bound towards the frontier. Arriving yesterday, I found a room here at the Red Whale Inn after being turned away from the Chancellor’s Palace with a suggestion that I take up vows at Fort Norgard if I want to earn my spurs . Apparently, displaced nobles like myself are a tenpiece a dozen.
After that conversation, I purchased a mule, and provisioned myself for a journey inland. There are a dozen lords here in the frontier. I hear Westhold lost a few of its vassals during orc raids, and that Feldhome, a petty kingdom to the south, was ravaged by goblins. Opportunity abounds…I just need to figure out the best path forward.
I consider this as the minstrel plays a tune on her flute, and Victoria, the one eared serving girl, refills my tankard. What to do?
-Taproom event-
Suddenly, the bench at a nearby table collapses, dumping both of the men sitting on it to the ground. Their companions and those seated nearby, burst into laughter. I grin, shaking my head. “This is what I have come to?” I chuckle, “A run town inn in a distant port, chasing a fortune I may never find.”
-Q: Does anyone approach me? 50/50 Yes (Rumor monger, generate a rumor to sell, then the quest in turns out it pertains to, retrieve religious relic, pays 20 gp/day, estimated 2 weeks time)
A very well dressed woman, with the looks of a merchant’s wife invited as guest to a baron’s court, approaches my table. “May I sit?” she asks.
I gestures towards the empty bench across from me, “If the nails hold.”
-Reaction Negative-
She scowls, “One shouldn’t make jest of other’s ill fortune.”
I shrug, “Fortune waxes and wanes. Where misfortune falls, good fortune may follow. Such is the nature of life.”
She sighs, then smirks, “I notice the blade on your hip, but I’ve not seen you before. And your accent? From the mainland. Newly arrived? Seeking your fortune?”
“Fortune, yes. If Fate smiles upon me,” I shrug.
“Find work yet?” she asks.
“Not yet,” I shake my head.
“For a few coins, I know a very powerful man who could use a good sword to run an errand for him,” she suggest.
“What kind of errand? How much coin? And what will he pay?” I follow up.
The woman smirks, “All I know is that this friend of mine has asked me to find a discreet blade. Nothing illegal. He’s no criminal, but he prefers discretion. For five crowns, I can arrange the necessary introductions.”
I nearly choke on my beer, “Five crowns? Who would I be meeting? The Chancellor’s steward?”
She smirks, and shrugs, “Close enough to him.”
“My name Senfry Talbot, and you are?” I ask as I begin counting out the coins.
“Mabelle,” she smiles seductively, her finger tracing the rim of her cup as she casually observes the coin landing on the table. “You are lodging here, yes?” I nod. “Very good. I’ll arrange a meeting for tomorrow morning. Don’t disappoint me. This man does not like being disappointed.”
(persuasion 23)
“Who does?” I shrug.
She laughs, then blows me a kiss as she rises from the table, “I suspect you rarely disappoint.”
I shake my head as she walks away, hoping I didn’t just throw away five days of living expenses for nothing. “Well, we’ll see what tomorrow brings.” I mutter before heading out to the stables to check on my mule one last time before retiring to bed.
28th Great Harvest’
-Warm, clear skies, good wind-
-Sense of being watched-
Ep 1: Scene 2: Following Mabelle-Interrupt-Current Scene-Outside Defend
Chaos Factor: 4
The following morning, I meet Mabelle down in the inn’s taproom. Though she asked for discretion, I cannot really conceal my blade beneath a cloak for it is a warm day without a cloud in the sky. However, I am unknown here, so I simply follow where she leads. But as we walk through the city’s winding streets, she says we are heading towards the cemetary which…isn’t ominous at all, I get the feeling I am being watched.
As we turn down a narrow, less travelled street, I spot step out from an alley in front of us, and hear another clear his throat behind. “I trust you’ve some coin. We’ll take the sword as well.”
They each have a cudgel in their hands, so I draw steel.
Q: Is one a badass? Unlikely No Q: Does the second man flee when his ally goes down? Likely No
“Blade first,” I reply, shoving Mabelle to the side as I lunge at the man in front of us. I catch him along the wrist, but as he cries out, his club smashes my shoulder, then his companion races past Mabelle, and his my left arm, which I hold up as though I had a shield! Left hand numb, I still use it to strengthen my hold on my blade, and bring it down on the first man’s shoulder, leaving him in a pool of blood in the alley. The second man yells, and swings his club at my head, but I duck under, then bring the blade across, splitting his belly and leaving him gasping for breath as well.
Then I turn my sword towards Mabelle,”Friends of yours?”
-My insight of 13, plus she’s telling the truth, so I buy it-
“No! No! I am not part of this…I swear!” she stammers in protest.
Q: Fair kills? Likely Yes
Then the pain hits me. I swallow hard, but hold it together. I kneel down, clean my blade on their clothes…then I check their purses for coin and pull a gold moonshaped pendant with silver accents from around one’s neck. “Fools,” I shake my head, rising back to my feet, sheathing my blade, and looking to Mabelle. “Will the watch defend me or accuse me?”
“I’ll tell them it was self defense. You’ll come to no harm for it,” she says.
I nod, “Then let’s tell the watch.”
-Mabelle investigation 13, she’ll find someone quickly with that-(Survival checks, both passed)
I follow Mabelle back onto the main street, and while she speaks to a town guard, I start working out my injured arm, trying to restore circulation to it. The watchman nods, and then Mabelle and I return to the side street where a crowd has gathered around the two men, and a woman is attempting to staunch the bleeding. We walk past as the watchman takes over.
-Encounter-Local Character-Guildmaster bUtchers guild, but I’m going to sub master of the Cooper’s Guild, since that is who we are on our way to meet-
As we near the cemetery, I spot a well dressed man with a couple of bodyguards heading our way up the street. On seeing us, he signals for his men two hold back, and he approaches Mabelle and I. “You are late. I thought you weren’t going to show.”
Mabelle bows her head slightly in apology, “We were nearly robbed in the street. I don’t like coming here during the week. Anyway, this is your man. He can handle a blade well enough.”
I shake my head, “Not well enough to fight two on one with ease.”
-Rodald Mottar’s Reaction Negative-
“Then how is this my man? Why would I trust him with this errand?” he turns from me back towards Mabelle.
-Persuasion 7-
“If you want a proven sword and a known professional, you could hire one. You asked for someone nobody would notice. He’s a foreigner, newly arrived. Nobody knows him. And with what you said you were paying, he can hire a second blade once he leaves town. Or maybe I can find him a partner fresh off the boat as well?” Mabelle suggests.
“What is it I’m supposed to be doing? I may not even be interested,” I protest.
Q: Will he tell me? Unlikely Yes
“I need someone to go pay my friend Master Teyler in Oldenfall a visit, and ask why he hasn’t sent the book I bought from him to me with any of the caravans that have come north! We had a deal! And I’d like to know if he has changed his mind, swindled me, or just gone senile!” the man says through gritted teeth.
“Oldenfall? How far away is that?” I ask.
He sighs, “About a hundred forty miles as the crow flies. About two hundred miles the way a smart caravanner will get there. How is this the right man?” he turns to ask Mabelle.
Q: Does she warn me? 50/50 No
“You said you wanted someone discreet. If he’s fresh arrived, how is he supposed to know Oldenfall? You didn’t even tell me Oldenfall,” she looks at me. “It’s a simple errand. You attach yourself to a Caravan heading south to Truestone as a guard or something. Then from there find another one heading east to Oldenfall. Deliver the letter, then bring the book back, or reimbursement, and come back the same way you went.”
-Persuade 15-that should get the job-
I nod, “I need a few days to recover from…this.” I try moving my shoulder, but the pain is excruciating. “But I’ll do it.”
“Alright, 280 crowns when you bring the book back to me,” the man replies.
“”That’s a very expensive book,” I blink in confusion.
“You don’t know the half of it,” then as I start to ask, he raises a finger, “Nor do you need to. When you return, give the book to Mabelle, and she’ll return it to me.” Then the man looks around, shakes his head, and adds, “We’ve never met.”
With a snap of his fingers, his men come up and follow him as he heads past us farther into the city, leaving Mabelle and I outside the cemetery gate. I look at Mabelle, “He’s used to having his way. Being obeyed. Who is he?”
Mabelle shakes his head, “If he wanted his agent to know that, he’d hire someone who does.” I shrug, and we return to the city.
-Street encounter-None-
We make our way back to the Red Whale Inn without further incident. Mabelle leaves me there, and I spend the rest of the evening relaxing and nursing my sore shoulder.
-Great Harvest 29 through 35th-
-It takes six days to recover the 12 hit points lost in the alley fight, 7 crowns spent including lodging and food for the 28th-
-Downtime event, Offend someone who demands a duel as he is jealous of my spouse or friends-
Ep 1: Scene 3: The Duel
Chaos Factor: 4
“You are a gentleman, are you not?” demands a man about a decade my senior as he approaches my table one evening, left hand shaking the scabbard of his blade, “You insult my honor with your…infatuation with Mabelle. You cannot have her! And you will answer for your…impertinence!”
Q: Is Mabelle married? Unlikely Yes Q: Is this her husband? Likely No Q: Has she been checking in on me? Likely Yes (My persuasion 8)
“You misunderstand,” I reply, standing to my feet and dropping my left hand to my scabbard as well, but opening the palm of my right in a gesture of peace, “I am merely a business associate of Miss Mabelle, no lover. And she speaks quite highly of you! I would never intrude upon your marital union, for yes, I am a gentleman.”
“You are a coward!” the man fumes, “step outside!”
Q: Is Mabelle here now? Unlikely Exceptional No Q: Am I outclassed? Unlikely No (Intimidate 20)
I shrug, “Very well.”
I step outside, and draw my blade with a fluid motion as we enter the inn’s courtyard, “To first blood or…are you willing to die over a simple misunderstanding about a woman I scarcely know?”
Q: Does he go forward? Very Unlikely No
The man stammers a bit, on seeing the moonlight reflected in my swift moving blade. He swallows nervously, and then stammers, “Forgive me. I…I…I have been drinking and sometimes…sometimes I let my imagination run wild.”
“All is forgiven,” I bow my head lightly, keeping my blade in hand, relaxed, but ready, and I allow him to quickly run away. I then return to the Red Whale, patrons crowded by the door some eager, some afraid that blood might be spilt that night. I take my plate and tankard, and then retire to my room, grateful I did not have to kill a man, or die, over nothing!
Threshing 1st’
-Cool, Clear Skies, Steady Wind-
-Sidekick touching stone-
Ep 1: Scene 4: Following Mabelle-Interrupt-Current Scene-Outside Defend
Chaos Factor: 4
Ep 1: Scene 4: Threshing 1st, Finding work
Chaos Factor: 4
Having spend much of last week recovring from my wounds, I avoided the Harvest Day festivities and even skipped out on Low Challenge. Normally, I might have entered such a tournament, but I’d rather earn serious coin than risk being bedridden a few more days on the off chance I can best a dozen experienced soldiers, and their sergeants! I know better.
I relax in the tavern, waiting for Mabelle, who has promised to introduce me to some caravan merchants. Then I hear whispers, “Orcs have invaded Westhold again!”
A taproom patron looks over at me, “Sellsword? I hear Baron Alestor pays well. Are you going to join a company or continue drinking your days away?”
I smirk, “I suppose it depends on how well he pays.”
Q: Is a mercenary captain seriously recruiting in the tavern right now? Unlikely No
The patron turns to his companions “always about the coin with mercenaries. Not about driving out orcs or keeping people safe!”
I shake my head, rise to my feet, and head out to the front patio.
Q: Does Mabelle come by? Likely Exceptional Yes Q: Is she grateful? Likely Yes Q: Is Wides her lover? 50/50 No
Mabelle soon shows up, as she often does early in the morning, “I see you are feeling much better. Well enough to accept a duel anyway. Thank you for treating Master Montage gently. He is…a fool. A well meaning fool completely enamored of me, but ultimately harmless.”
“Nobody is harmless with a sword in their hand, but he was clearly unprepared for what he was demanding. It would be beneath me to fight him, but you had best advise him to be more circumspect in the future. Others may not be so gentle,” I shrug.
“I have already warned him against his folly,” Mabelle replies.
“So, a caravan to…Truestone?” I ask
Q: Is a caravan heading to Truestone or beyond tomorrow? 50/50 Yes
“Yes! If you will come with me, Master Therault’s company is returning home to Faithstone tomorrow and he will likely welcome an additional guard passing through the highlands. You could likely tag along with him until Truestone, then find another company at that point,” Mabelle offers.
“Very well! Lead the way,” I gesture and she nods, then starts guiding me through the vast city, of which I have seen remarkably little so far.
-Encounter-Rumor Monger-seriously? I’m with a rumor monger! Roll a different entry from the Townsfolk subtable-
Walking down the street, a pretty young woman in ragged clothes comes racing towards me, “Save me!” she pleads, “That foul beast! That hellhound! It’s come for my soul!”
The barking grows louder as the woman cowers on the cobblestone street behind me, pleading for my protection. And then I see it! A rather ordinary looking dog.
“Hellhound?” I raise a skeptical eyebrow, drawing my blade.
Q: Does the dog attack? Unlikely No Q: Does Mabelle know her? Likely Yes Q: LIke her? Unlikely Exceptional No
The dog stops some distance away, and barks at us. The woman cowering behind me pleads, “Stop it! Stop it!”
“Let the dog be! it won’t hurt her,” Mabelle scoffs contemptuously. “Get up, Judit! And stop opening gates to people’s yards!”
“But..but…” the woman protests as she gets up to her feet, “But I just wanted to see the ducklings!”
Mabelle sighs, shaking her head, “Nothing but trouble.” She looks at me, “Come on.”
I sheathe my blade and follow Mabelle, “A bit touched, isn’t she?”
“Clearly,” Mabelle shakes her head, “And don’t let her beauty fool you. Even the brothel’s won’t take her. I’m not sure how she finds her bread each night.”
I glance back at the frightened woman, hissing at the dog, which continues to bark at her, shake my head, and continue on my way.
-Tap room events-mercenaries recruiting-
We soon arrive outside the Black Hearth Inn, but as we approach, a man wearing a yellow tabard with a red blade, wreathed in flame upon it, calls to me, “Tired of guarding caravans? Want to see some real action and the spoils of battle? Join the Fireblades!”
I shake my head even before Mabelle pulls me past the man, “You’ll make more coin faster, and with lower risk my way,” she warns, leading me inside the inn.
Q: Is the master in the tap room? Unlikely Exceptional No
Once there, she guides me towards the innkeeper, “Is master Therault in his room?” she asks scanning the taproom.
“No, he is out this morning,” the innkeep replies.
Q: Is a sergeant here to hire? Likely No
Mabelle sighs, “This man is here to hire on to his caravan. They still depart from here in the morning, yes?”
The innkeep shrugs, “I suppose you can wait around then.”
Q: Will she wait with me? 50/50 No
Mabelle sighs, “Fine!” Then she looks at me, “You wait here. Master Therault is a big man, about 32 years old. Has a short red beard, shoulder length hair. Usually wears a red vest and can’t stop talking about what a great trader he is. Tell him that your the man Mabelle told him about.”
“You’re leaving?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Of course! I’m not going to wait around here all day. I don’t need the work,” she shrugs and then heads towards the door.
-Persuasion 9-
I nod, “Have a nice day.” Then I add, “And thank you.”
She pauses, and looks back at me, and furrows her brow, uncertain whether I am being sincere or sarcastic. Then leaves.
Q: Does anyone approach me? 50/50 No
I sit and wait, and eventually, a man meeting Mabelle’s description enters the place. He sits alongside a couple of armed men who were with him, and they order meals and drinks. I walk over to introduce myself, “Pardon me. Are you Master Therault? Mabelle told me that I should speak with you about caravan work, helping guard your wagons on the road to…Truestone.”
-Reaction Neutral-(generate the caravan company)
Therault looks me up and down, but one of the men at his side, a fellow missing one of his front teeth suggests, “We could use an extra man. She said he cut down a couple of thugs what caught them off guard. Not the same as putting down a gnoll, but keeps his nerve anyway.”
Q: Will he hire me? Likely No
Therault nods at his companion’s advice, then shakes his head, “Five wagons. Ten guards. I don’t need any more than that. If you are heading to Truestone, you’re welcome to tag along, but I won’t be paying a wage.”
I nod, “Fair enough. I won’t be keeping watch at night, but I’ll lend my blade if trouble comes.”
Therault nods, and his companion sighs, but offers a hand anyway, “Name’s Rhou. I’m in charge of the guards.”
“Senfry. Pleasure to meet you,” I nod, shaking his hand.
“Gots manners too!”, Rhou suggests to Therault.
“A gentleman, I hear. Near penniless from the looks of him though. Which reminds,” he continues, turning to Rhou, “I suspect we could make a quick jaunt down to Ironhold with some of that elven wine. The dwarves don’t often get much of that, don’t you think? They like their drink. I once sold a bunch of scrimshaw to them, because they don’t sail either. Fascinated by bone carving they were.” Therault rambles on. I excuse myself, promising to rejoin them here first thing in the morning, then leave to go home to the Red Whale Inn.
-Pilgrim bumps into me-
Walking through town I am jostled by an ordinary looking man, one of many travelling together, seemingly lost in prayer, each wearing a copper or silver falcon pendant. “Pardon me,” the man says.
-History 15-
I nod, “No harm” I reply, checking my purse. Then I continue on my way, arriving at the Red Whale Inn, where I eat dinner, check on my mule, then retire to my room, doublechecking my gear and finally retiring to bed. I’ll need my rest. “Gnolls? Blasphemous beastmen of the west. Some…soulless perversion.” I shudder, “May the goddess guide my hand,” I yawn, as I try to get some sleep before the morn.
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