Kheldor |
Kheldor watches the brief battle in slight awe. He knew his companions would make quick work of the bear, but not this quick. "Let us take a moment to thank the gods, and especially Gorum, that Anton is on our side." He says with a smile.
As the temple transforms, his smile grows "Truly we've done the work of the divine today. Arkady, do you think Erastil would mind if I made a small shrine to Desna nearby? Not in His temple of course, but in this same area?"
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
Anton's quiet in the presence of a manifestation of a powerful fighting god, but knows that Gorum is present in all battles.
"Thanks, Kata for your casting, it did save valuable time, at the very least Brave Gildas's life, a valiant warrior." For the minute that he has the advantage of height what does Anton see that would not be visible from the others?
Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 What's there?
"Erastil, is the open god of hearth and hospitality, I'm sure we can shelter here as people of good will. Yes, before light fails, we should look to see what is about. I'm sure the good brother will want a full report."
His eyes still seeing spots from the bears charge, Anton see his boots, but only just.
Ok, Here's the deal, I get all the bad rolls out of the way and when we fight the Stag Lord I roll all 20's, right? ;)
Kata Medvyed |
"You are most kind Anton. I am grateful we have you and Arkady so courageous in the face of such might. I wonder what we shall find in this place." Kata moves on into the ruins, looking for clues about its history and that of the bear. I wonder if the fae had a hand in addition to the god? Men changing into beasts hints of their nature.
Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Knowledge (History) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Knowledge (Nature) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Ryuko |
There is little inside the cave. It has obviously been home to the bear for a long, long time. There is a small altar with symbols of Erastil and several mounds that you realize after a moment are the very old remains of rotted pews. It does however, seem a good place to stay the night.
The little fey come flying forward, chattering excitedly about the battle and asking all manner of forward and unflattering questions. They seem eager to stay the night with you.
Arkady Medvyed |
"Let us sleep, then" Arkady says after the party has throughly checked the cave (by taking 20 on Perception checks) and found very little. "Perhaps they had other buildings, once, and they have rotted. I do not know."
Arkady assigns Linier to come up with something sufficiently nourishing and tasty that everyone will sleep soundly tonight.
Arkady Medvyed |
"If I recall their words aright,"Arkady says, glancing up at the two fey folk peering down toward their fire and Linier's muttered words over the frying pan, "our new friends spoke of this place, and of a trapper, but apparently they have no need of help there. Unless they know of other places, perhaps we should continue our march westward through the forest. How far does it extend? Do we know what lies beyond it?"
He leans back, staring at the rough rock ceiling lit with flickering firelight. "Perhaps we might tell you a tale, sparkle-skin and long-legs? What would you hear? Of the men of Brevoy? Of the tales my mother told me of the fey folk in her land? Of Old Deadeye and his Stag? Something else?"
Devlin comes back from finding stabling for the horses over against the back wall. "Strange, seeing those old wooden bits. Would have thought the bear would smash them. Had to calm the horses for a bit, with all that bear scent in the cave. Hope we don't have bad dreams tonight." He bends over the food Linier is serving with an eager grin.
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
"More than a bear though, I guess fuzzy memories of his life before made him keep the familiar around him. I don't know what sin he committed to deserve that fate." Anton also is eager for a meal after the fight. "We should just go anywhere we haven't while we can, everywhere that we've gone something new has popped up, we can finish to the west then we need not go back again if nothing is found." Anton will prepare for a rest, nap or sleep depending on the time o'day.
Ryuko |
As everyone begins to ready for the night, Devlin returns, having brought down one of the largest bucks you've ever seen. There is more than enough food for everyone. The night goes by with not a single creature disturbing your peace. It is as if Erastil himself watches over you, and in the morning you ready yourselves to move forward.
Where to?
Arkady Medvyed |
Arkady yawns and stretches as morning light begins to filter into the cave, then makes sure Gildas is well-fed and in good shape. Over breakfast, he says "I think we should continue west and north, perhaps as far as the boundary of our charter. If we find out what lies in this area, we need not return for a while -- there would likely be few bandits deep in the forest, as there is nothing for them to prey upon, and our charter is to explore and suppress bandits. We can finish the first here and then return to the second."
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
Anton rouses slowly, blinking his eyes, yawning widely and a bit alarmingly with his fangs, looking rather like a bear himself. He sets about simple preparations then says, "With respect to Ol' Deadeye, I'm going a bit into the woods and then I'll perform services. Any one else is welcome of course." He switches back into his breastplate and puts on the vestments, then strides into the woods about 400 yards, and begins services. When finished, he comes back and breaks fast.
"A sound plan, Sir Arkady, let's be about it."
Ryuko |
The fey excuse themselves in the morning, eager to return to their own games and fun. They ask you to stop by again next time you are in the neighborhood. After beginning to set your feet northward once more you search for a few hours before finding the body of a man, crushed under three large logs which he seemed to be attempting to make a deadfall with. The man wears the furs and simple clothes of a hunter or trapper, and his arms reach towards a handaxe buried in a stump a few feet from his hands.
Kata Medvyed |
Kata looks over the remains of the hunter. Killed by his own craft. Either this man wasn't very skilled or something else took place.
Appraise 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Heal 1d20 ⇒ 12
"A fine axe for one of you. It looks extremely well made, but I would prefer to allow you to stand before me still. This man appears to not be long dead. Only four to five days at most."
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
"Good day, kind friends."Anton waves goodbye to there new friends. Nice but wearying.
Appraise 1d20 ⇒ 8
"I'm sure your right, Kata, but I'm good with my sword so I've never practised with that weapon."
Heal1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
"Well, so recent, I can't tell, seems fresher than that to me, I believe we need to bury this man." Anton looks around puzzled. "Kata, Arkady, why hasn't this body been ... devoured already by some scavenger? My wood-lore is weak but shouldn't something have dragged him off already?"
No point in trying perception, even a 20 fails.
Arkady Medvyed |
"Wolves, ravens, insects... many things happen to dead bodies. Perhaps some magic is laid upon him? Cousin, could you check? Our late friends may not be the only fey in these woods, and one would have expected humans to tend the body. Perhaps we can at least see that it is burned or buried. There are no rocks here to raise a cairn."
Survival 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 to see if there is any natural explanation for the condition of the body. Perhaps the cold and rainy spring has slowed decomposition?
Arkady takes the axe and swings it a few times. "Well-balanced and well-made. The man who owned this was not poor, to make or purchase such a tool. A trapper with a rich haul, I think." He flips the axe in reversal and holds it out to the others. "Not my weapon, I fear. Too short to swing from a horse's back, though I might use it were I unhorsed. And Anton uses Gorum's sword, not this light thing. Marcus, could you make use of this until we return to Oleg's? We shall have to inquire there if they knew this man, and wether he had friends or family to inherit his tools. Though, truly, there are so few folk out here they might not know that."
Arkady will take the axe if nobody else wants it.
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
"Yes, very few. And that I think answers your question Kheldor, as well. A dead trapper nearby, few people in the woods, I have no doubt that this is the man."
Anton gazes at the body. I pointless death, no battle, no glory. A terrible way to leave this world. Anton will lay out the corpse.
"I have no shovel, do we bring the body back with us? Gathering enough wood for a burning would take much time and leave a smoke trail. Burying is hard, cairn not possible here. No easy task."
How inconvenient of you to die here as well. Suppose you don't care. Anton lips quirk in a near smile as he contemplate dealing with the body.
Ryuko |
Haha. Very good show lol.
None of your deductive skills indicate anything wrong with the body, all evidence points to it having just been killed by the fall.
After making whatever arrangements you deem necessary you camp in a nearby clearing.
Arkady and Devlin Hunt:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13///1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Neither hunter returns with anything of substance and each of you gets only a cold trail ration for the night. In the morning you continue to head north, reaching the border of Brevoy.
1d20 ⇒ 15
1d8 ⇒ 2
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
"Is there a natural depressed area around here. Maybe we can push enough soil over him to cover him up fully. Best we can do I guess..." Anton trails off uncertainly.
We'll do that unless someone has a better idea.
Anton goes through his daily routine as normal. He heads out with the others as usual, heading north till it appears that we've passed outside our mandate.
Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Arkady Medvyed |
Devlin Perception check 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Linier Perception check 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Gildas Perception check 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
The two outriders notice nothing as they ride well behind the rest of the party, and neither do the horses. Arkady is busy watching for threats elsewhere assuming that Gildas can handle not stepping in something.
Ryuko |
Reflex Save:1d20 ⇒ 8 Damage:2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
Anton hears a small click on his next step and is unable to pull his foot back before a bear trap closes painfully on it, though his armor blunted much of the force of the blow.
Arkady Medvyed |
Perception check for Arkady 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8
Perception check for Devlin 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Perception check for Linier 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Linier stares at the bear trap around Antin's foot, then jerks around. "There's a lot more of them out there. Be careful. It's like Rally Day in Galt with those traps."
Arkady descends from his horse and helps pry the trap off Anton's leg. Take 20 on the Strength check if necessary.
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
Anton screams, "Ahggah! By Gorum's Protruding P(censored for family viewing). What's that?" Anton stares at the trap. In a more controlled voice he says,""Damn, aren't trappers suppose to place them better than that?"
Anton aids Arkady's efforts to free him. Strength check 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 to aid.
Dice error: rerolled correctly.
Arkady Medvyed |
"Let me see if I can do something about that leg," Arkady says. Concentrating, he calls on Erastil's gifts to restore the bruised and torn muscles.
Lay on hands heals 1d6 ⇒ 3 damage
"Such a careless trapper, too, spreading them all over the field. Did he bring a wagonload of them out here? Did any of the other traps catch anything? Why didn't he put them along trails or by waterholes or something."
Ryuko |
After slowly prying the trap off of Anton and helping to heal him, the group realizes the traps would likely be a danger to many travellers.
It would take 2 days of work to find them all and trigger or disarm them, or about a day to flag them all so that intelligent creatures wouldn't run into them, though you'd need some form of flag.
Arkady Medvyed |
"Spring them, I think. It will take time, and there are few travelers in this area, but I think we would rather not leave them free to catch animals and waste the meat and hide. Later we can return with a wagon and gather up as many of them as may be found. How did he get them all out here without one?!"
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
I don't recall Arkady ever saying or doing anything that would make anyone believe he was not a fighter/cavalier.
Anton is relived when Arkady opens the trap, then amazed when he heals him. "Sir Arkady, I did not know you could heal, you have the favor of Erastil to perform miracles in his name. I had no idea."
At the chatter about the traps, "We cannot leave these about for anyone to fall into. And it's a waste for an animal to be trapped and not taken by the trapper. I surprised there are not many such animals already so trapped. Perhaps the fey were warning them away."
tonyz |
Arkady did mention something about Erastil's gifts in one of those campfire conversations earlier, but looking back I can see where that might have been missed. He wasn't trying to hide it, in any case.
Arkady finds a branch and sets about springing traps, after making sure that Anton is all right.
Ryuko |
Anton:1d2 ⇒ 2
Kata:1d2 ⇒ 2
Kheldor:1d2 ⇒ 1
Arkady:1d20 ⇒ 6
Kheldor:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Arkady:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Kheldor:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Encounter Day 1:1d20 ⇒ 10
Day 21d20 ⇒ 14
The two days are harrowing, setting traps hard to notice and sleeping in the wild in the same place, but they pass fairly quietly. Kheldor barely escapes a trap he doesn't notice quickly here. Arkady isn't as lucky and a trap in a hollow closes painfully on his foot.
Damage:2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8
Devlin:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9///1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
The first night finds no luck in hunting and each of you settles for a cold ration. The second night Devlin comes back into camp sporting a mighty elk, shot clean throuh the heart. There is enough meat for all and you enjoy the delicious meal.
45 Days Rations left.
Assuming you're continuing westward.
1d20 ⇒ 17
Hunting:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9///1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Devlin once more proves his worth with a small boar caught on the edge of the forest to the south, freeing the need for some of the rations.
40 Rations Remaining
1d20 ⇒ 8
The next morning leads you to a brambly area of grasslands with early blackberries and other prickly plants.
Kata Medvyed |
Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
"It is good we are traveling with you Devlin. Your skill at hunting is very much appreciated. We would be returning to Oleg's nearly every day if not for your talents." Finding her eye drawn to soemthing unusual about the brambles, she trains her sight on the area and is rewarded by spying the stone. "Look there! An ancient stone hidden in the bushes. Shall we see what it portends? We should be careful, the fae seem to be thick in these lands and some of the old people worshipped them with strange magicks."
Ryuko |
After prying off the brambles for a few minutes it becomes clear the item is a large pile of stones, with the largest poking through the top and covered in carved runes. None of the rocks are magical.
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
Sorry about the slow posting, busy days right now.
Not a chance for me either, on those rolls.
Anton surveys the fallen stones, the inevitability of destruction over time.
Anton speaks slowly but with a quiet building fury. He turns to the others.
"All that we seek to build will, one day, be this. This truth is the reason to seek yourself in battle, with a goal that you make your own, knowing that you buy, with blood, but one fleeting moment, that is everything."
Turning back to the stones, Anton draws and swings his blade in a wide arc.
Anton roars, "Hear me Lord in Iron, I see fate's end before me, knowing all I do, will be but broken rock one day. I do not care. What I do matters for me, here and now. I don't fight for you! I don't fight for the future! I fight for the true me! I fight for my comrades, that they may know a moments transcendence. Stones mean nothing, empty lands mean nothing! I defy you to bring destruction upon my work, I know you will win one day, but not while I stand. SO I PLEDGE MY BLOOD!"
Gorum and his followers have such an interesting relationship with each other :)
Arkady Medvyed |
Arkady steps back slightly, sweating from his brush-clearing. "You are not alone in the fight. Every building rots and falls -- but it can be patched. The fire on the hearth falls to ashes -- if it is not fed. The noble house fades -- when there are no children. Everything we build decays. Therefore we work together to repair it, and teach our children after us to carry on the work."
And when will I have a place to bring a wife? A time to sire chilren? he thought to himself. Can we succeed where so many before us have failed in the midst of this wilderness?
Anton Domnoff Lebeda |
Anton puts his blade back as the others chatter. They do not understand, not even Arkady.
Anton walks up to help Arkady defy destruction by clearing the bramble.
"It doesn't matter, Arkady, in thousand years or generations, it will all be dust. But that is not reason not to give your all, standing for what you believe, giving your life blood to it, is everything, even if defeated, you win."
In the end, nothing really matters at all, not even that. Anton's lips once again lifts in a quirky, semi-smile.