Rollohi-ep16-script
Eight grizzled heroes are the toast of Yib Aqua. Eight rookie adventurers are celebrated as well!
For whatever reason no nobility is present. But the burgess contingent is extensive. Their plan is to lavish praise and encourage the rookies to move on. With no cost to their own purse.
"We asked a fortune-teller to divine a direction for you. She says if you go straight as you planned, woe to you. If you roundabout, weal to you"
The innkeeper has been warned not to press for damages... but he's still billing the rookies, or the Glass Shields as the veterans name them, for bed and board. It comes to 10 gold for them and 5 for their mounts.
"We desperately need magical weapons" Ingle states soberly.
"I wonder if relic hunting is the way to go" Umbert grumbles. "Here Jack, Eryn, do ya know if ol' Gyoza atcherley took that job?"
Final new moon day
The two learned have gone through trails the veterans know. Now, they plan to use the streams coming off the north of the plateau. There are caves and Vicious stands of cacti mixed with thorn trees. And all over, so the veterans say, you can find traces of a lost civilization. Cyclopean stones, faces carved on stone, impossibly fine joins in masonry.
Topping up supply costs 40 more gold. It's probably a loss but since they are being rushed on, they trade in two used chainmail suits to cover it. Then with waves and cheers they board the ferry for the last leg across.
"We're still in the manor of Sir Fuire, we might even catch a glimpse of his pleasure lodge" Cied gossips excitedly.
Weather is cooler by far, pleasant.
Lake encounter, no and there are no unpleasant travelers waiting.
Disembarking with no fuss, and with a whole watch of clear road ahead of them, the Glass Shields move out!
Watch 4 the weather keeps chill and fog rolls up.
Night the fog clears around the high ground they are on. Moon 1st night of waxing crescent
Encounter check 1in6 safe
16.2 Are those ruins?
It's the second day of waxing Crescent and harvest is complete in most fields. At the full moon after next (40 days) the grand harvest festival is held.
Weather is not as chill in the dawn as it could be, but some of the party realize they ought to have invested in autumn clothes
Forage yes, two rolls, 10 supp
Lost no but they are not entirely clear on stream crossings.
Encounter (clear/grass) yes 2_4 in watch 1, giant ferret. Checking if this is actually mink yes and aggressive in mating season. There are 10.
Surprise: the party is surprised, the minks are not. 30yds. Mink reaction 7. Not actually a danger.
Crossing the first stream
Attributes can be STR INT WIS
Eryn makes str with an 02 and Ingle manages wis with a 10, but things go downhill from there. Jack rolls an 18! Umbert corrects with a 12 on INT!
Kylie is next and easily makes STR with an 04. The halflings, who would be swept away, ride. Xantu stumbles and falls in with an 18!
As Umbert Jack and the halflings laugh and Ingle tries notvto Kylie looks up atvthe sky and says "the night will be bitter. We need to camp early so you can dry off"
Is the entrance to a ruin very close yes
The party, instead of following the Ford gradient along its natural line, heads instead for a towering bluff that is sure to allow good hot Backstone to reflect fire back.
The less-strong gather driftwood and the strong shift a couple of boulders close together.
It is Xantu that runs a callused thumb thoughtfully along one of the boulder.
"You know, the whole plateau is basically sandstone . Somewhere in it there's going to be heat-transformed caverns. Set that aside. Ignimbrite often sits by sandstone, where lava has flowed. It looks like huge blocks. When I heard the tales of ruins in the valleys, that's what I thought.
"But look." Xantu runs his thumb across the lichen, crumbling more away. "These are cut marks, where a crew cut a face to fit."
"Get out of your clothes, stand by the fire" cied commands.
"Wait Cied, theres something more important than a dry dwarf " Ingle says gravely. He's rolled 04 on his WIS
"I think we just found a secret entrance!"
Does this lead to a complex?
Yes and it's the hobgoblin lair.
Carefully, being certain not to knock pebbles down into the hole that moving those chiseled blocks revealed, the deft-handed members widen the gap.
Suspiciously, the result is big enough for a bull hobgoblin to fit through. There's a good chance the hobgoblins use this as a sally port.
"If it is hobgoblins i mean" Ingle trails off
We're going to need to think hard about light, and what to do with our horses Pod cautions nervously
Light schmight think about the piles of goblin ears waiting ta be turnt ta gold his partner snickers greedily.
How about this. Get dry, turn back to the landing, see if theres longer term stabling, like a pasture Pod advises.
Your words smell of fear. Breathe together with your mate, Kylie advises obscurely
What i meant was, he counters, cheek reddened, this is best tackled afoot so we baint worrit about horses.
And a sack of salt would be useful Cied muses. And torches aplenty, she adds
"I say we press on," Umbert declared, his voice cutting through the gentle rush of the river. "This is our chance to end this. We have the horses; we can get back to the lake and resupply if we need to. But striking now, while he doesn't expect us, is our best move."
"And what of the animals?" Eryn countered, gesturing to the horses and pack mules. "We can't just leave them tied up out here. They could be attacked by beasts, or worse, stolen. We're responsible for them."
"We can leave them," Jack said with a shrug. "If someone takes them, we'll deal with it. We're here for the mage, not to play stable hands."
Xantu spat on the ground. "That is the talk of a fool. A warrior must always protect his assets. To leave our mounts is to invite ruin. We go back to the lake. We secure them, and we get more torches. Then we come back, stronger and better prepared."
Ingle nodded slowly, his eyes closed in thought. "I'm with Xantu. We cannot rush headlong into the darkness without proper forethought. I've had a vision—a flicker of insight—that suggests a decision made in haste will only lead to greater danger. Prudence is the wiser path."
Kylie, who had been staring intently at the swirling water, spoke in a voice that was both melodic and completely detached from the conversation. "The river knows where it is going. The river does not fear the dark places it must pass through."
Pod fiddled with the strap on his satchel, his brow furrowed. "I agree with Xantu and Ingle. It's a long way down that hole, and we barely have enough light for half of us. It's not a risk worth taking. We go back to the settlement. We can pay someone to watch the horses and buy supplies. Cied, you agree with me, right?"
"No, I don't!" Cied piped up, her eyes bright with excitement. "This is a great adventure! Let's go in now! What's the worst that could happen? We run out of light? We'll just feel our way back out! We can't let this opportunity pass us by!"
Eryn sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Look, we are all in agreement that the threat is inside this bluff. But we can't be careless. We can't abandon our resources and our allies. We need to go back to the lake. We need to make sure the horses are safe, and we need more torches. A few hours of travel now could save us from a disaster later."
"Hours?" Umbert scoffed. "More like an entire day of travel and another day to get back! The element of surprise will be gone."
"But the enemy will not be expecting us to be so thorough," Ingle interjected, his voice calm. "He will be expecting us to act impulsively. When we return, with fresh supplies and a clear mind, he will be unprepared for our resilience."
As Umbert opened his mouth to argue again, Xantu laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. "The cleric is right. A true warrior knows when to retreat and regroup. We are not running from a fight; we are preparing to win one. The horses are coming with us. We go back."
The debate was over. Despite the loud arguments from the militant and selfish members of the party, the quiet logic of Eryn, the spiritual guidance of Ingle, and the stubborn traditionalism of Xantu had won the day. The party turned their mounts around and began the journey back downriver, toward the small settlement by the lake.
16.3 How fares my lady
Just one moment... we are sure of hobgoblin bounties?
This is Eryn. She's worried that the whole raison d'etre of the party is getting buried.
"Yes the seigneur we ferried along with said two gold for goblin or whelp, four for breeding cow, eight for hobgoblin and sixteen for bugbear" Cied confirms greedily.
The party has swing about and plans to push back downstream quickly as it's basically a one-watch march. But they've forgotten about the giant minks.
This time the reaction is a 6. Restless at the return across their territory. But neither side is surprised. The party gives them a wide berth.
How well set is the ferry post? Let's roll a d6. 1, 2, relies entirely on the seigneur's own household 3,4,5 has simple services for passengers then finally 6, as good as new jhay.
It's a 2.
Disappointed the party eats on the move and tries to get to the manor house before evening. Luck is with them, they meet only folk of the area. But no senior staff.
I wonder how preoccupied the seigneur is? 1 he's buried between 2 sets of magnificent bosoms, 6 he's throwing a very open but formal gala. I roll 3.
DO the party meet one of his women
Yes
Is she actively considering undermining her rival no and is relieved not to have to entertain the knight.
Is she similarly gifted to Eikpe yes but more of an elegant beauty.
Name Ixegenia
Reaction 10 and double 5s.
She likes
1 adventure as a concept
2 wizards
3 halflings
4 dwarves
5 elves
6 thieves yes its thieves
Are we saying she likes thieves?
1 no and, has a plan that might make use of one
So she's just pretending to be friendly yes but unexpectedly finds Jack interesting
Jack's stock in trade courteous patter she finds amusing.
She is accompanied by the absolute minimum, just her maid/Bodyguard.
What is she doing out here then
Basic personality from solo osr: charitable. Comes off as kind. How does the other mistress fare? 3 militant. Thinks in absolutes and comes over as stubborn.
Outwardly the party doesn't have anything to do with ixegenia. They want lodging incl stables then supplies of torches. Maybe a fire arrow or three.
Ixigenias reaction is helpful. She acts as impromptu guide, chatting to Jack and pretending to find his blunt personality charming.
Ingle is tired and with disadvantage does not find this suspicious.
Watching them as the manor's ostler (checked on how low the rank is) organizes water and bedding ixigenia heads away saying she will be sure to bring them a hot meal from the kitchen and that's not really what happens. Her Bodyguard supervises house Servants.
What's the supply sitch 3, enough for simple things like torches, but not for fancy supplies.
How much hospitality (advantage thanks to ixigenia) 4 days
Night encounter check no and everyone gets a good rest.
16.4 In through the sally port part 1
Morning, 3rd waxing Crescent. There are two months left in the season.
Shall we attempt to navigate overland?
I think local fields should be left undisturbed... and if we try to use local lanes we'll probably get turned around
So we'll just retrace the path of yesterday
But lets avoid minks.
Weather a beautiful still cool morning. Getting back on track yes and they know how to save time this time even though afoot.
Encounter yes and varied as befits a settled area. Any threats? No but one of the local fisherman mentions the piranha and minks.
Watch 2
Getting lost yes and get confused about where they crossed the stream yesterday. Frustration grows. Back track do they manage to find the correct Ford? No but next watch.
Encounter no and it seems barren
Watch 3
After a testing long delay, they find the same bluff of ruined Stone blocks.
Should we delay? Xantu
We argied this out beforr and now we uns nayd ter move in, Pod growls sulkily
What about one person scouting? Xantu
I could scout, but a burning torch isn't discreet. Jack muses: And a taper or rushlight will be slow work.
It's a d6 with 123 as Jack 45 whole party, and a 6 Kylie mysteriously volunteering
Its a 1
Jack checks over his gear VERY carefully as watch 4 progresses. He eats little, his stomach is clenched into a small knot.
Taking a selection of rope, grapnel, rushlight, tapers, and torches, along with his trusty 3 daggers and 1 shortsword, Jack slips into the darkness beyond.
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