The joviality of the camp is good for everyone after a night of weirdness. Everyone seems content enough taking a leisurely pace with breaking the fast and packing but since the morning started before dawn for most, the group is still ready to leave by 7 am. There is much joking and singing but you might still catch Draymun looking with concern deeper into the trees when he thinks no one is watching.
The NPC's
Alis follows Thorvald like a puppy dog, offering to carry your gear and cook your meals if you'll only let him learn to fight like you. (He'll make a fine quartermaster and cook, if you can just get him to sit still.)
Rethas sulks and complains a bit about being stuck under the tarp but eventually falls asleep again. His eyes continue to be bloodshot and his mood continues to be dark. He hears about the severed head and growls, "why didn't anyone wake me? Familiars are one of my specialties."
Hamish tries to be of use but you can tell he's getting tired of the subterfuge and even more tired of Alis' young enthusiasm. He also eats as much as all the dwarves together. He spends his morning sharpening his handaxe and oiling his chainmail.
The road is again agreeable enough. Mid-morning you meet a man going toward Bremel pulling a hand cart. He offers to sell you some items:
| oil of magic weapon | 50 gp | Potion / Oil |
| arcane scroll of level 2 spell, spider climb (caster level 3) | 150 gp | Scroll |
| potion of eagle's splendour | 300 gp | Potion / Oil |
| wand of level 0 spell, resistance (caster level 1), with 50 charges | 375 gp | Wand |
(If you want to purchase any of his wares, feel free to do so after the fact.)
Shortly after the salesman Tom looks to the sky and decides its time to enter the forest. This is old growth oak and beech woods with trees as high as any building you've seen, towering eight or more stories into the air. The forest floor is covered in years' worth of debris but since there isn't much undergrowth the wagon can still be brought along, but at a reduced pace. It's eerie how fast you are engulfed by the old woods and without so many trained woodsmen, you might be lost.
Rethas, who hasn't spoken more than five words to anyone will beg anyone to purchase the wand. He'll offer to pay you back double and threaten to leave with the traveling salesman if you don't buy it.
Entering the Forest
Around evening time you find a clearing that Tom states was probably burned in a lightning storm many years ago. There is a stream nearby and there is grass enough for the animals. The clearing is about 50 feet across.
(You have two hours of daylight. You are halfway across the next hex on your way toward the grove.)
"This place was blessed by Thunor's grace, we could not ask for a better camp site," Thorvald announced in the best of moods upon learning of the lightning.
ReplyDelete"Alis, aid me in making camp and perhaps I will show you a few things with my axe before it grows too dark," Thorvald offered to the young lad. Before getting started, however, he made another suggestion.
"Tom, perhaps you could organize a quick scouting of the area around the camp before it grows dark?"
Tom made sure his mule was cared for, then said ”Hamish, why don't we take an look around, we'll see what of woodsman you are." With a wink to Draymun and a wave to the rest of the group, Tom headed into the woods surrounding the clearing. "If we are quiet maybe we can find some fresh meat." After a hundred yards or so, Tom looked at Hamish and asked, "What's got you in such a bad mood?"
ReplyDeleteHe says "nothing, I'm just tired of waiting and I'm tired of hearing that Alis hound your friend. It's not his place to be so familiar."
DeleteYou hear a rustling in the bushes and a rabbit bolts out.
With stunning speed and precision he pulls a dart and flings it at the creature, impaling it.
You consider you may have underestimated his martial prowess.
((Goodberry roll for the day: 2d4 (2,3) = 5))
ReplyDeleteDraymun is glad to be off the road, finally, and takes the opportunity to stretch his legs and walk for a bit. The forest is old, and the trees tall. 'Not my sort of thing,' he thinks, 'but I can sure respect my kin that call this home.'
As the clearing is reached and the crew scatters to prepare for the coming night, Draymun helps gather resources and pitch tents. He attempts to make some friendly conversation with Rethas as they set about their work.
"So, Elf, what lead you into the adventuring life? What of the arcane lured you to study? I've noticed you are not only passionate, but a bit obsessed with your work. Trust me, I know how that can be... but for me, it's usually ale!"
He looks at you sidelong and rolls his eyes. "My grandmother is an archmage in the elven city of Theonor. I am the only male child in my family so my sisters are all on their way to becoming archmagi as well. I have no claim to property or status in the elf lands, so I left to explore and gain knowledge I can bring home in hopes of securing a position at a library or university."
DeleteThorvald took Alis to the edge of the clearing to begin their training session. Removing his battle-axe from his hip, he handed it to Alis to give him a feel for it.
ReplyDelete"Have you any experience with an axe or other weapons?" Thorvald asked. "Learning to fight is more than simply swinging a weapon at the face of your foe. You must learn how to move, when to strike and when to hold back. Sometimes taking an enemy unawares is a better strategy, while at other times it is best to charge directly at the enemy to frighten or demoralize them."
"Before you can be taught the martial skills, you will need to build your strength, to hone your senses and steel your body against damage," Thorvald continued, taking back his axe. "If you wish to learn, you must commit fully, and by Thunor's grace I will show you what you need to become skilled in battle."
"For today we will begin with strength building," Thunor continued. "Take up one of the bags of feed for the horses and we will run the length of the clearing until you are fatigued."
The first shift passes peacefully. Draymun and Thorvald spend their watch by the fire, comparing war scars and nipping at a flask of spirits. Rethas is restless and comes to the fire for a bit before whispering under his breath about your unrefined jokes and returning to his tent. At midnight you wake Tom and Khazad and then bed down for the night.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to describe the comfort that being in the woods brings Tom and he spends much of his shift wandering around camp, listening to the sounds of the forest. This ends up being in your favor because not long after the camp is in deepest sleep, Tom sees several dark shapes coming up the stream bed, about 20 feet away.
Kring spends the time observing. Observing the dynamic of the group, wondering where the break down will come. He is wary of this group of adventurers, knowing the he has no other place to go. He can't head towards home, prison awaits his return, and he couldn't stay in the tavern for the rest of his life. Did he make the right call throwing his hand in with these adventurers? He knows, on some level, he owes a few of them his life, after all, he would have died at the bottom of that hole. Oh well, as long as he stays vigilant he at least hopes to stay alive. Who knows, maybe there is a reason he is here, maybe this is his lot in life. It sure beats prison.
ReplyDeleteKring shakes himself back to reality, adjusts his danglebones, and begins checking his gear, making sure that when the time comes, he would be ready.
Kring quickly tucks his things away, suddenly feeling uneasy, not from the group, as he had felt so far during this journey, but some thing else. Was he being watched?
Tom sees at least 5 dark shapes moving toward the camp in the dark. Not hearing any signal from Khazad, Tom realizes he's the only one who has noticed the group. Nocking an arrow, Tom sights in on the first dark shape. As he looses the arrow, he makes a (at least to him) very convincing panther scream, hoping the noise will alert the camp. (rolled 14 +5 +1 (point blank) = 19 Assume that hits (rolled a 2--I don't think I get any bonuses to damage)
ReplyDeleteTom then moves toward the camp, howling like a wolf.