Rollohi-ep27-script

 It is 6 watches later ie midday of last new moon day. 

 

Reports of the roads eaSt suggest the Iron smithing town that Yib espeque has control over is the next stop. 

 

are NY of the winners circle also headed there yes is it myu no. Of the other 2 (not lords) it is the veteran Iago the Strong. 

 

Cha cha on Iago yes 16 13 no they don't gel 

 

It is the first day of winter  the 1st day of waxing Crescent 

 

And as the party rides into the downs they score an encounter. Tiger beetles  4 mv 50 

Range 80. They are curentky munching on a large serpent but are 5 hostile. Neither side is surprised though I do check that Jack (up front) and Xantu do see the beetles. 

 

Round 1 (inits do not matter) 

Beetles advance rapidly 

Before anything else the characters dismount. I tested Eryn and she rolls yes  dismount. She joins Xantu. 

 

I set this up on a small-size wargame board with ground cover that might prove vital. Using a d10 roll for direction and distance I establish where those not Eryn and Xantu are. 

Surprisingly Ingle Umbert and Jack all do what they are supposed to and stay in close support just behind the front pair. Umbert readies the wand. 

 

Kylie is back and to the left, CiedPod are off right and a little forward. Eryn yells asking Kylie to come in close. 

 

Round 2 inits beetles win! But Umbert has the wandcready so as they hit the correct range  they SV v Wands. Two make it! They are the inner two, on the road if you like and close in. Their attack is 2d6 so lethal for lightly armored... but Xantu and Eryn have AC4 and shields. And, they ate deemed defensive. That means double disadvantage. The beetles fail to get a wound.  

Jack gets a nice stab! He can improve using DEX so that beetle is down 3. I roll 3+1HD and it is only on 12 originally so now that's 9. It's on CiedPod side and they loose, Cied managing a 1 and improving it to 3 as her DEX is 16 these days. Did I mention tiger beetles are AC3? Crazy but fantastic armor raw material. 

Kylie moves further "up" parallel to the front line, shortening the range but not getting near Web. And since she moved she can't cast. She looses her longbow but it glances off. 

 

Round 3, characters win. Jack repeats his success of last round. This time Kylie uses MM and blows the heavily wounded beetle apart. 

The last beetle ML11, flees. In their defensive stance Eryn and Xantu do not get a strike in. 

Arrows and a sling bullet follow it but miss or bounce off. Xantu and Eryn, then the others, hurry forward to butcher the 2 helpless bugs before they can move 

 

 

Relieved, the party now has to weigh the time it will take to even begin to process the carcasses. 

They've come a very long way, mentally, since they hunted vipers! 

Eryn: I feel guilty already at this delay. If you Jack wish to hurry to meet your lady ixegenia I cannot complain. 

Ingle I feel now we finally have a direction to the northern Iron Town we ought to get there, today. 

Jack I hate to turn my nose up at money. This could be worth what, 600? Or 300. But on the other hand... 

Umbert, no way, I'll even help process!  

Cied: huh, against the 6k? We need to get up agin the real loot under the plateau. Leave them lie. 

Pod: I agree with you love. 

Kylie: my spirit is bewildered, are we not monster hunters? Was it I who caused you to lust for hobgoblin ears? If so I beg your patience, we tarry to camp here 

Xantu sorry to contradict ye lads, but I'm with Eryn and Ingle. Let me buy ye a hot ale next pub to make up for it. 

It's not a clearv5 3 but clear enough. On the far side of the downs, which they cross during the day, they reach the iron town. Its name is Yuxwyz. 

 

The day still has a little light, and they have time to pick a decent Inn. The first they look at is trash, the  second is great. It has a proper name, The Old Mound (is there an ancient ruin by rumor under it? Yes but, a concerted amount of rumor-gather will be needed) 

 

There, they can ask about Guild facilities, and have gear cleaned and supply topped up.  

Is the Guild presence in town large and prosperous? No but covers the basic needs of adventurers.  

Are there specialist iron smiths? No and the town is here to produce raw billets, not rework iron. 

Is the surrounding area safe for travel? Yes but the normal risks of road travel well inside the border apply. 

Number of watches to the nearest major village south: 4, a full day ride and then some. Is that the Lake? No and that lies further again Number more watches to Lake? 2.  

Encounter check at the Old Mound: yes but strictly routine pub life. This could potentially be a helpful contact. I roll 7_7 on City. Huh, halfling. Is this related to the curse of the stool? No. Is this a hook for CiedPod? No. Are they going to be helpful? Yes. OK let's get a name and outline going. Wully Oddtoes approaches Pod cautiously, scared in case he turns out to be dangerous. He has a request: he knows that adventurers often have extraordinary contacts, and wonders if this party has the ear of the local seigneur, or could appeal to them. His village (like most Halfling villages, hidden away among the downs nearby) has great need of iron. But the Ironwright Guild (which in effect is the ruler of Yuxwyz) has kept him dangling, and his purse is getting light. The only other authority would be the local landed power. Or perhaps Pod has another idea? 

Well, Pod's idea is to bring it to Cied, and Cied's idea is to broach it to the others, introducing Wully to them at breakfast time.