November 15th, 5 AM in the year 670 by Kingdom reckoning
There is a definite chill in the air and even some frost on the ground as you pack your belongings and load your horses for the trip. The group is in a somber mood and Thorvald especially seems keen to move forward as quickly as possible.
Rayla restores Dolgi's stats and introduces a dwarf named Jul. She met him on her shopping trip and found him to be a useful companion and eager for adventure.
The party leaves Bremel by 5 and rides for some time in near total darkness. You are shivering by the time the sun rises and begins to cut through the fog coming off the ground. You pass the camp where Rayna was killed and pause for a moment to pay your respects.
It is difficult but not impossible to follow the river on horseback and though you cursed the cold earlier, you find it helps that the ground near the water is at least partially frozen so the horses hooves don't sink too far in. The forest grows thicker as you make your way toward the camp. As the young bandits had said, the ground begins to rise more quickly up to some hills in the distance. You decide you are within half an hour of your destination.
As a reminder of what Armin said:
"Her camp is another 7 miles ride, probably a couple of hours at least through this brush. Just follow this stream til you get to a big hill then cut south. She's set up in a valley between two ridges. You'll ride right past it if you're not careful."
It is 8 in the morning and the sun is just now showing through the trees.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
An Ignominious Return
November 13th in the year 670 by Kingdom reckoning
You spend the morning packing up camp, securing Rayna's body and returning to town. Your intuition tells you that you should consult a priest on the matter and the local chaplain of the temple of Torag welcomes you. He asks after Khazad and when he hears of the young cleric's personal journey he nods with approval. He inspects Rayna's corpse and tells you that there is a chance of her returning as a ghoul. He says that cleansing her with holy water and burying her in sanctified ground will be enough to keep her from returning and he offers to do so.
With concern in his eyes, he asks if anyone else was bitten.
You may spend the rest of the day in town. Rayla will join the party today in whatever manner she wishes so if you just want to post and ask any questions, tell me what you want to buy and when you plan on leaving that would be fine.
You spend the morning packing up camp, securing Rayna's body and returning to town. Your intuition tells you that you should consult a priest on the matter and the local chaplain of the temple of Torag welcomes you. He asks after Khazad and when he hears of the young cleric's personal journey he nods with approval. He inspects Rayna's corpse and tells you that there is a chance of her returning as a ghoul. He says that cleansing her with holy water and burying her in sanctified ground will be enough to keep her from returning and he offers to do so.
With concern in his eyes, he asks if anyone else was bitten.
You may spend the rest of the day in town. Rayla will join the party today in whatever manner she wishes so if you just want to post and ask any questions, tell me what you want to buy and when you plan on leaving that would be fine.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
The Bump in the Night
November 13th in the year 670 by Kingdom reckoning, early morning
The members of the first shift keep their eyes open but there is no sign of the two young men once they ride off. The camp they made is a decent one, with fallen logs used as benches and a nice fire with plenty of wood. There is a large tree to the West and a stream runs North of the camp about 20 feet away. Members of the group not on first watch fall asleep quickly after such a long ride. It is a quiet night.
At around 4 am, the second shift takes over. Dolgi, Rayna and Thor take up their places around the fire. It is quiet for a time and you think it may be an easy night when Dolgi hears something in the brush beyond the tree.
(The camp is laid out roughly in a circle, with a fire in the center and everyone sleeping around. I rolled dice and determined that the horses are tied up to the Northeast. Dolgi sits with his back to the tree, Rayna sits across from him and Thor sits to the south. The sound was then behind Dolgi and Dolgi was the only one to hear it. Dolgi, you have one action.)
The members of the first shift keep their eyes open but there is no sign of the two young men once they ride off. The camp they made is a decent one, with fallen logs used as benches and a nice fire with plenty of wood. There is a large tree to the West and a stream runs North of the camp about 20 feet away. Members of the group not on first watch fall asleep quickly after such a long ride. It is a quiet night.
At around 4 am, the second shift takes over. Dolgi, Rayna and Thor take up their places around the fire. It is quiet for a time and you think it may be an easy night when Dolgi hears something in the brush beyond the tree.
(The camp is laid out roughly in a circle, with a fire in the center and everyone sleeping around. I rolled dice and determined that the horses are tied up to the Northeast. Dolgi sits with his back to the tree, Rayna sits across from him and Thor sits to the south. The sound was then behind Dolgi and Dolgi was the only one to hear it. Dolgi, you have one action.)
Thursday, June 6, 2013
On the Trail of Minx the Banshee: Into the Night
November 12th in the year 670 by Kingdom reckoning, evening
You strike off into the growing night, moving southeast. For the first hour you founder in the darkness, moving back and forth in a wide arc, trying without success to find the trail. Finally, however, Dolgi homes in and you move with greater speed. The raven returns in the second hour and he tucks into a handful of grain. His mood is irritable but he is uninjured.
Your backsides are growing sore from a day's worth of riding and the ale in your bellies is making your eyelids heavy when Dolgi holds up a signal that the party is to halt and be silent. Up ahead, among a copse of trees 200 yards away, there is a fire. You see two horses outlined against the night and hear the strains of an old drinking song from the flat lands.
(You spent an hour searching for the trail and another 4 hours riding. It's 11 or 12 at night.)
You strike off into the growing night, moving southeast. For the first hour you founder in the darkness, moving back and forth in a wide arc, trying without success to find the trail. Finally, however, Dolgi homes in and you move with greater speed. The raven returns in the second hour and he tucks into a handful of grain. His mood is irritable but he is uninjured.
Your backsides are growing sore from a day's worth of riding and the ale in your bellies is making your eyelids heavy when Dolgi holds up a signal that the party is to halt and be silent. Up ahead, among a copse of trees 200 yards away, there is a fire. You see two horses outlined against the night and hear the strains of an old drinking song from the flat lands.
(You spent an hour searching for the trail and another 4 hours riding. It's 11 or 12 at night.)
Monday, June 3, 2013
On the Trail of Minx the Banshee
November 12th in the year 670 by Kingdom reckoning
The Lady agrees to keep your wagon and hired men and provide Rethas any space he needs to study. Hamish complains a bit about being left behind but Alis is nowhere to be found. The Lady tells you with a smile that it appears he has taken a liking to a cotter's daughter and is working hard on her fathers house, in hopes of gaining favor as well as chances to flirt with her.
Dolgi easily finds the tracks you had crossed previously and leads the group as stated. He maintains that there were two riders, both heavily laden. You see that they rode at a gallop for perhaps a mile before slowing and turning again towards Bremel.You are glad you left the wagon, as the bandits took a path much better suited to horses than wagons. The trail leads lazily through thickets and across small creeks. It parallels the main road into Bremel but never joins up with the road. It is late afternoon before you follow the tracks to Bremel and lose them in the bustle of the town.
You are in Bremel, it is 5 in the evening and the shadows are already growing long. What do you want to do?
The Lady agrees to keep your wagon and hired men and provide Rethas any space he needs to study. Hamish complains a bit about being left behind but Alis is nowhere to be found. The Lady tells you with a smile that it appears he has taken a liking to a cotter's daughter and is working hard on her fathers house, in hopes of gaining favor as well as chances to flirt with her.
Dolgi easily finds the tracks you had crossed previously and leads the group as stated. He maintains that there were two riders, both heavily laden. You see that they rode at a gallop for perhaps a mile before slowing and turning again towards Bremel.You are glad you left the wagon, as the bandits took a path much better suited to horses than wagons. The trail leads lazily through thickets and across small creeks. It parallels the main road into Bremel but never joins up with the road. It is late afternoon before you follow the tracks to Bremel and lose them in the bustle of the town.
You are in Bremel, it is 5 in the evening and the shadows are already growing long. What do you want to do?
Thursday, May 9, 2013
After the Fire
November 11th in the year 670 by Kingdom reckoning
The afternoon is difficult for all involved. You are sore from hauling buckets of water and tired from moving rubble to ensure the safety of the survivors. The worst part of the day, however, comes after the immediate threat is past. When the fire is out, the shock wears off of the survivors and they begin to realize what has happened. Their spouses and children are dead from steel and flames and many of their homes are destroyed. You realize now what little these peasants have.
After asking around, you discover that the lord of the manor, a Sir Rawley, is one of the bodies. Lady Rawley is unceasing in supporting her people. She moves from family to family, calling everyone by name. She has her men bring food to the hungry and gives honest condolences for the lost. Families that have lost their homes are moved into what's left of the hay shed. The Lady is swift in her decisions and businesslike in her actions but there is kindness too.
The burial is quick and without much ceremony. The friar says a blessing and the bodies are put in a mass grave. The Lord Rawley is laid to rest apart from the peasants, in a small family sepulcher on the hill behind the manor.
When pressed about what the bandits took, the Lady will again defer, this time with a chill in her voice that warns you away.
Asking some of her workmen brings suspicious glances and whispers of "I hear it's a cursed artifact of her grand-daddy's" and "it's the Lord Rawley's treasure that he stole from the pagans during his adventuring days" or "nothing but some old love letters."
It is late in the evening when you finally bed down for the night and you all sleep soundly.
The next morning, you are awoken before dawn by workmen already clearing rubble and hauling in what straw is left for re-thatching those roofs that were saved. The whole lot of you are sore and tired and cold.
The afternoon is difficult for all involved. You are sore from hauling buckets of water and tired from moving rubble to ensure the safety of the survivors. The worst part of the day, however, comes after the immediate threat is past. When the fire is out, the shock wears off of the survivors and they begin to realize what has happened. Their spouses and children are dead from steel and flames and many of their homes are destroyed. You realize now what little these peasants have.
After asking around, you discover that the lord of the manor, a Sir Rawley, is one of the bodies. Lady Rawley is unceasing in supporting her people. She moves from family to family, calling everyone by name. She has her men bring food to the hungry and gives honest condolences for the lost. Families that have lost their homes are moved into what's left of the hay shed. The Lady is swift in her decisions and businesslike in her actions but there is kindness too.
The burial is quick and without much ceremony. The friar says a blessing and the bodies are put in a mass grave. The Lord Rawley is laid to rest apart from the peasants, in a small family sepulcher on the hill behind the manor.
When pressed about what the bandits took, the Lady will again defer, this time with a chill in her voice that warns you away.
Asking some of her workmen brings suspicious glances and whispers of "I hear it's a cursed artifact of her grand-daddy's" and "it's the Lord Rawley's treasure that he stole from the pagans during his adventuring days" or "nothing but some old love letters."
It is late in the evening when you finally bed down for the night and you all sleep soundly.
The next morning, you are awoken before dawn by workmen already clearing rubble and hauling in what straw is left for re-thatching those roofs that were saved. The whole lot of you are sore and tired and cold.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Onward Toward Bremel
November 10th in the year 670 by Kingdom reckoning
The rest of the day passes uneventfully and you find a nice place to camp. The night is calm and clear, but very cool.
The next morning you awake and head out again. The road is empty and you make good time. Around lunch, however, you see a plume of smoke rising from the east.
The rest of the day passes uneventfully and you find a nice place to camp. The night is calm and clear, but very cool.
The next morning you awake and head out again. The road is empty and you make good time. Around lunch, however, you see a plume of smoke rising from the east.
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