Red Dead Annihilation: Campaign Thread

So the whip did crack, he thought to himself as Amphyretta weaves her tale. The more he listened the more he is convinced that she is either lying through her teeth or was so deluded by the treatment of her master that she genuinely believed to feel love and mourn a loss. Maybe, he considered, she was even imbuing enchantment on her words. True enchantment, not the carnival tricks she displayed with the shadows, but if it was the case he couldn’t quite grasp the presence of the spell.

“I wouldn’t be as beautiful as you.” He answered inexpressively. He did find beauty in her appearance, but his voice was too cold to sound anywhere near flattering. “And for those who walk between two worlds like we do there is always someone to inflict hurt, hexchild. You had your sisters, I my crone.“ That much seemed to be true. He had not met with others like then,but knew enough about the hags to believe as much. “When it comes to questions, you still didn’t answer two of mine. You have not said what exactly happened after the villagers came or if your Auntie will return. I would like to know what retribution to enact on the sisters, since one way or another our paths seem fated to cross theirs and in such manner that makes battle all but inevitable.”

Besides, he thought, simple children cannot kill hags. The village was either a lair of danger to be avoided or a source of strength to be sought. People there were either monstruous themselves or knew how to deal with monsters. At the very least the kind to which the sisters belonged.

As they finish their conversation and Amphyretta bade them leave, Mica nods his head slightly in a silent farewell and heads back toward their camp.  “He may not wish our demise, but he may also not care if he places us in danger to get closer to what he wants.” he replies to Meili.  Perhaps Ran was right and it was revenge for his arm, perhaps it was something else.  “Capn's right, he was awful eager to get on an expedition back to the jungle.  Still, I will trust his actions above the words of that witch.  At least until he gives us reason not to.” 

 Mica glances up at the night sky and sets up their rain catchers, just in case.  It was a close call today and he doesn’t want to run out of water again.  He prepares for the evening and will volunteer for a watch (looks like the last watch?)

Perception for watch (if needed): 23.

"No druids... though de magick does touch the wild places of de world," she says to Danica.  "Dey are closer to warlocks... though dey draw der powers from de fell shadows rather den some infernal patron."

As Velan presses her for details, she weaves on her bench, swaying like a serpent.  "My sweet auntie is gone... dose villagers fell upon her, all her secrets betrayed by de Sewn Sisters.  Dey broke her charms, burned her home, emptied her larders and turned her out to de jungle to starve.  I was away and did not see de deed, but I knew dose folk had doomed deyselves in the bloody work.  Without me Auntie to look over dem, I knew it wouldn't be long until the jungle and de dark claimed dem.  So I turned and fled as well, lest dey decide to come for me too... and was fortunate to find dis little camp in need of a bit of der own spiritual guidance and protection."

She draws a large red fruit from somewhere under the table and takes a bite.  "Is me Auntie still out dere somewhere?" she grins, and juice runs through her teeth and down her chin.  "I'd like to think she is still watching over us... but I don't expect I'll be seeing her soon."  And just like that the humor drains from her and she finally opens her eyes.  "I'm afraid you don't feel compassion for de loss I have suffered.  Me Auntie hasn't yet harmed ye, but ye stonewall yer face at de mention of her.  I might be inclined to take affense... were I not such a gracious host."

"I think we are done here.  Good night."

***

You set watches but there are no threats in the night.  Several times you hear that loud, bull-elk sounding shriek, but it is far off and across the river.  Bats and bugs prowl the night sky over the camp, but it is safe, quiet, and you all are able to take a Long Rest.  [Danica, roll your save again per the terms we discussed.]  

In the morning, Hew lets all of you sleep in a little.  "We have several days ahead with no safe shelter.  There's no where to rush to so you might as well enjoy a wall between you and the jungle for a wee bit longer."  Salazar allows you all to fill your water skins from their stores, and Hew refills his 5gallon barrel.

Ran stretches a bit and gathers his gear. He then smears on some of the bug repellent, wrinkling his nose as he does so.

"Did you understand what Amphyretta was on about last night?" Ran asks Velan. "I lost the thread of it once I heard my sister was headed to M'bala. I get the idea these Sewn Sisters are bad news and the red and white wizards aren't exactly chummy, though I think we'd figured out the last bit already. But the rest? I might has well been have a convo with the dunny."

While he talks, Ran starts loading the canoes.

Short meditation-a few exersizes-repellent-water skins. A new everyday routine Meili was getting used to. Add to this a (short, obviously) breakfast, taking down the tents and packing what was outside - and she was ready to continue the journey.

"We were told to beware of Camp Vengeance," mentioned she to Hew. "Something is very wrong there. Nobody knows specifics, but all agree it is something terrifying." To be fair, everything in this place was quite scary and obviously dangerous. Considering the river of blood with the skeleton creature ahead Meili was not sure the jungle can offer something more horrific, but by now did not exclude the possibility. "I mean, we probably would not find shelter there." Meili glanced at Danica - at the moment it was she who might count the distance in resting places, but by the evening it could be any of them. And one less safe spot was not a good thing.

She thanked Salazar for hospitality (paid or not, it was kind and risky of them to allow strangers in) and for water. She looked around for Amphyretta but should the druid (?) not be around, would not go to bother the woman in her hut instead sending the group's regards through Salazar.

In the morning, all the scary warnings felt less dramatic, but it was sincere warnings nevertheless. She remembered each and was going to keep her eyes and ears open.

While Danica was a little disappointed that Amphyretta, her auntie or these fowl Sewn Sisters weren't druids, she was more unsettled to hear where their powers truly came from. Before exiting the small abode, the elf took the time to cast Goodberry and offered their host one with a small nod. She may not understand what was going on between her and Velan but she was thankful for the safe walls and water. The rest of the nine berries would get distributed through their party. "Have to make rations last as long as possible..." She murmured past chattering teeth, huddling up close to the fire.

Danica soaked up as much warmth as she could, her back to the fire as she stared blearily up at the sky. Her vision was making it hard to keep track of which stars were which but she centered herself and focused on the warmth at her back, the companions around her and the mission they had ahead of them. The way was dangerous but she always knew that Selune would guide her. Whether she was being guided the way she wanted or the way she needed to go was another matter. But she was always grateful for the Goddesses guidance regardless. When Danica opened her eyes again after taking time to center herself, she was able to see the stars a little clearer and noted which constellation was where. It was never good to sleep facing away from the Displacer Dipper so she shifted her bedroll accordingly with the North Star at her head to steer her true during her rest. Settling in, she remained seated upright in her bedroll, beginning a silent prayer.

 With that, Danica laid down to sleep. 
Con Save: 15
Guidance: 2

Mica was up early from the morning watch, taking the time to run a whetstone over his hand axes and prepare his equipment to head back out to the jungle.  Wearing his insect repellent, used to it as a second skin by now, he fills his waterskins and  helps the others pack up camp and checks to see if the rain catchers held any water. 

As they load the canoes, he slides up behind Meili as she warns Hew of what they heard of Camp Vengence and adds his own questions. “What do you know of M’bala?  A village looking over the Aldani Basin we hear, and the destination of our wizards.  Who lives that deep in the jungle?”

Hew looks unsurprised when you mention problems at Camp Vengeance.  "Salazar said much the same.  Still... it will be difficult to avoid... it controls the river.  We would need to port around it through a bad stretch of forest...".

Talk of M'bala does little to improve his mood.  "Odd folk dwell there.  Exiles or somesuch."

"Heretics," Inete chimes in.  "They splintered off from the old empire, before the fall of Mezro.  Their people still worshipped Ubtao, but differed on just how to do so.  They cut off ties centuries ago and its said they seldom even trade with the outside any longer."

"They survive based on geography.  The village sits atop a tall, lonely plateau.  They killed off all the large predators and undead at the top, control the only pass up, and - presto - they have a moderately safe, defensible site deep in a jungle of death."  Hew sketches a little map in the dirt, with the river, the aldani basin, and M'bala.  "I was only ever there once, and it was ages ago, but its hard to miss.  Rather than follow the river into the basin, we would need to leave the canoes here... and hoof it across the floodplain to the base of the plateau.  Then its a long climb."

Ran listens as Hew describes M'bala.

"Mica might be disappointed he can't take one out," Ran begins "but no large dinos makes me stoked about the M'bala trip. Bit of climbing's a piece of piss, eh? As long as cap's feeling better we'd be up in no time."

"And no undead," nodded Meili. "Here the place sounds almost idyllic. Almost a sight to see if we need to make a stop on our way. Can be a high enough ground to spot our true destination too."

She looked at Inete. "Is it known what was so special about their way to warship Ubtao?" One possibility could be human sacrifices but she tried not to jump to conclusions.

“They must have hunters of some sort up there on the plateau, unless they are all farmers.  They will know where the big ones live.”  he shoots Ran a smile “Besides we still have far to travel, who knows what we will find along the way.”  He pauses as he stows some of the tents on the canoe “The lady says two women were following the wizards.  You know if your sister was working with anyone?”

Ran was right about the Captain and climbing, Mica turns to Danica to ask her himself “How are you feeling this morning, Cap’n?  Still got the shakes?”

Ran nods back at Mica. 

"She seems to have acquired a chum," Ran says. "Shepard came down to Chult on her own but she might have picked up a guide back in port. Little easier to handle the jandal with someone who's put eyes to this jungle before."

He then turns to get a better look at Danica and how she's doing.

Inete thinks for a moment.

History 18

...

"I don't think it was anything outrageous.  It is said Ubtao once dwelt on the mortal plane, walking amongst his followers.  When he left, there were many schisms within his church.  Different sides blamed the others for displeasing their patriarch.  As I recall, the people of M'bala thought decadent city life had made the people soft, and so they set out to live closer to nature in the deep jungle."

Hew exchanges rote farewells with the hunters and then heads outside to ready the canoes while the rest of your party finishes packing and prepares to depart.

Ran helps Hew with the canoes.

"How far up river do we need to go before heading overland to M'bala?" Ran asks then after a pause he continues. "Have you ever been there?"

"It depends how long of a walk you want to take.  If we take the river all the way up to the basin, we would only need to walk for... 2 days, maybe less to reach the plateau?"

"But we could also entirely avoid the Gauntlet camps by leaving the river sooner and marching west tomorrow.  In that case it would take us about a week.  I'd prefer to keep to the river and cover more distance, but if you think you are ready for the deep jungle, it is an option."

"And yes, I've been to M'bala, though it was a lifetime ago.  The people weren't hostile but... close knit.  And distrustful.  We should not expect an inn or quaint country festival waiting for us there."

Ran looks back at the others and then wipes beads of sweat off his brow.

"The less walking the better," Ran says. "A beaut jungle cruise seems the best way to me."

“I am ready for the jungle, but you know this area.  If the river is the best, then we should stick with the river.” Mica nods in support of Hew “The Gauntlet camps may still provide shelter, supplies, and information.  We shouldn’t avoid them just yet”  He pauses “But it is nice to know the overland route is an option if needed.” 

Mica settles into a canoe and gets ready for another hard day of paddling.

As Danica awoke from a finally peaceful slumber that didn't have her tossing and turning and shivering, she stretched, enjoying the fact that her muscles didn't feel as tense as they had the day before.  Knew the stars wouldn't let me down. But it seemed that with her health she traded the shivers for the typical Chultan sweltering humidity. It wasn't a fun task to slather on further insect repellant but it sure beat contracting the Shivers again. Listening to the discussion about the direction of their journey next with quiet pensiveness, the wood elf's ears twitched as she was addressed. Smiling, she held out her hand to show that it was unwavering as could be and said, "Steady as an anchor. Sorry for slowin' us down but I'm right as rain now." 

Chewing on her morning rations, she hummed at Mica's enthusiasm to continue via river and visit the Gauntlet camps. "But if what Amphyretta and the trappers said is true, then might be a mite more dangerous. Never thought I'd argue against traveling by water, but not entirely sure we'd be less in danger on the river, even with it making shorter travel time. We have a day to mull it over though, right? What do you think, Hew?" She turned to their guide, staring perhaps a tad too long, feeling especially sensitive to his expressions after the strange woman's warning. "I know you said you'd prefer to stay on the river as long as possible, but do you think their warning might have some salt to it?" 

Hew scratches his beard.  "I don't doubt there's serious trouble that the Gauntlet is dealing with.  My concern is that, whatever has caused their men to desert and turn bandit, that trouble is likely to be in the jungles.  We've has smooth sailing thus far... but I'd prefer not to learn what is menacing the Order of the Gauntlet by encountering it when it attacks our camp one night."