Rollohi-ep22-script
Meanwhile the tired trio have left EV Wines and Bitters as the owners lock up, and walk back down to their depressing ostlery where they turn in for the night on their own bedrolls, with the benefit of straw laid down as padding. Given the chance for privacy Eryn sets her bed apart from the men.
Does Eryn get accosted or attacked? No but she's not really rested come dawn. Making the best of it, she asks early morning workers what they know of the tourney in about a week's time.
It's not the biggest nor richest, but adventurers enter, so rich people - especially women - pick favorites.
Weather: very pleasant morning. On the broad slope, grape pickers are hard at work. The smell of crushed grapes and the music the pressers work to is everywhere.
It is the 3rd day of waning crescent. Eryn hopes the others won't linger. But she needs more accurate directions than those Ingle managed to get. I make one representative CHA check and assume Eryn tips for information. She makes 06.
The tourney is held out in the plains, or prairie, at the castle town Opal. It is two more days ride. Since the tourney is well attended, arriving early is the only way to secure good rooms. It costs Eryn a walk back to EV Wines and Bitters, and a couple of silver coins, to get that. There her tiredness is rewarded by the proprietress pouring her a pint of Bitters.
"You were down in the mouth last night my dear."
The same to you Eryn thinks, but doesn't say so.
Is Eryn curious about her story? Yes. Today, the woman is much readier to chat, perhaps because it's woman to woman.
17 years ago when she was a lithe young archer, she wanted to become expert at the longbow. She and three other women were determined to be a true all-female party.
Here the Tavernier, Eve, sighs. "You can probably guess... sexual leanings broke the group up. It turned out that two of the party had decided to groom us other two girls."
Is Eryn surprised? No. She has probably had to fend off advances from both sides of the fence. Though she's never been small and cute, once she grew proficient with a blade and saddle there have been plenty that find her capable side attractive.
"We foolishly separated while still in dangerous country. The other girl with me was the party cleric, so we thought we could cover each other's weaknesses. But instead we met a huge charging humanoid with a club. It brained poor Wilhelmina. All I could do was run. Then, Val saved me... well, he and 5 others. But it was an elven fletching on the fatal arrow. So I followed him and made him mine!"
Is Eryn going to ask about the informal marriage? Yes and also wants to ask about elven life expectancy.
Excursus - on elves
So here's a campaign question. So far, I know elves are character blanks and the real elves are elsewhere. That allows elves to carry round an all-sufficient spellbook that gives them their new spell once they are ready for it, while also not needing the intense training that martial humans have to put in.
Are elves more like Faerun-long-lived Ed Greenwood types or more like Elfquest types. 1 they are Ed Greenwood, 6 they are Elfquest. 5. So yeah that fits in with the idea I had, that the true elves are survivors of the ancient times, while character elves don't have any special expectation of long life. Can they breed with humans? No, there are no half-elves. Or at least, male elves can't produce offspring with a female human. It might be worth asking about the opposite: I think Yibh Espeque is half elf.
22.2 an uphill struggle
Back to the story. 1, just never came up. 6, there is some legal barrier to it. I roll a 3. So they just have somewhat different views and Eve's business partnership with Val is as good as marriage.
I think Eve might finish by saying Val has never aged much, and already looks younger than her, but maybe elves, like some women, age all of a sudden towards the end of their life.
Will Eryn go back to urge the lads on? No and heads up
Encounter: yes and...
1_11 is a trader but... what if it's Solace? Is it? Yes.
Now we know where he went. If the party can make friends with him, he's got really good info about that route east.
Having paid for breakfast and thanked Eve, Eryn resumes her walk up to where Eve advises her the others went. At this point she hasn't worried about Umbert or Ingle, save to wish they could be persuaded to hurry the pace – she'd like to get to the tourney sooner rather than later.
As she leaves the main markets behind Eryn checks. She has spotted Brother Solace. She knows him, because of Ingle explaining carefully how dangerous he could be.
Reaction he reacts 08. Not hostile.
As she turns from buying street meat Eryn locks eyes with Solace! She rolls 05 on CHA and holding her nerve looks him in the eye:
"Why's it strange? I'm on my way north to a tourney. What about you... brother?"
It's Solace' turn to double-check. He rolls 19 on INT. He fumbles his response and shambles off, embarrassed.
Eryn moves on, playacting as though she has nothing to hide.
With a 08 on WIS she also picks up that Solace is loosely escorted by at least a dozen thugs. Her "playact" is just 13 so it's a fail on her CHA of 10. Those watching may realize it is worth following her. Eryn briskly works her way up to the Guild Hall.
22.3 we may need some help
[let's check in... yes they are still there]
Soon, she shown into the common room where the others are.
ERRYNNN bellows Xantu. The party is amidst a press of other adventurers.
But her looks are urgent and soon, the group heads back to one of the two rooms they occupied last night and she explains what she's seen.
Eryn is not a deep thinker and only after all that has been set before the others does she think to use the Guild to send an urgent messenger.
Eryn's explanation brings in Ingle's warning. Does this wreck party plans?
What about Kylie? Nope she's fine
Xantu – the castle town might be at least as good as this town but it would be good to get a crossbow here
Pod – this is more fuel for his resentment
Cied – wanted to spend up on luxury goods
Jack – no but would have liked to rest more
It sounds as though it's down to Ingle and Umbert.
How long does it take for the messenger? D6, 1 hour. That's quick.
Down at the Ostlery Umbert and Ingle are still taking it easy (the messenger only takes an hour after leaving the guild, so this is maybe 11am?)
The news alerts them to "a certain acolyte" and tells them where the party is. It casts a shade of gloom on Ingle, and he goes quickly, without thinking to bring the beasts, up with Umbert. Perhaps that's for the best. Even so Umbert is very much ready to use his Wand.
Do they meet Br Solace on the way up? Yes but... they can avoid him. Two sets of WIS checks with disadv. Ingle gets a 14 on his WIS which is OK. They maneuver so that the acolyte and lay brothers won't see them, and have a chance to decide what to do from there.
And regarding Solace and why he is here, we will see about that next time.
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