Beyond the Ragnarök

Sólmyrkvi takes the wolf's head brooch from the king and is waiting to see whether Merros or King Alaric can lend him a pearl when the bear attacks.  He stumbles back a few steps, startled.  It's easy to forget, especially in this new "market," that their little community is really just a camp at the edge of an unexplored wilderness, but it's still shocking when the peace is shattered by such an attack by a wild beast.

Thinking to protect King Alaric, Sólmyrkvi says, "Stay back," as he moves forward a few feet to put himself between the king and the bear.  While Leif and Kora rush toward the bear, he slips the small, dark book from his pouch and casts Mage Armor on himself.  Then he waits to see whether the druids can halt the bear's rampage.

Movement: ~10-ft to move 5-ft in front of King Alaric, in the direction of the bear
Action: Cast Mage Armor
Free Action: Equip his Tome (spellcasting focus)

Leif make a persuasion check with advantage as you try to reason with the animal. DC 15

The beasts mind is a rush of blood and fury as two words barrel into your brain like peals of thunder, "Hunger, Fear!" images of tearing flesh and noisy humans accompany the words. At your offer of help you receive only a sense of confusion as if the concept is alien to the creature. 

Off to the side you can all see that Veldir is readying some of his men to attack the beast, ignoring your warnings. They are struggling to work up the courage for the moment.

Persuasion: 9

“Peace, rest, hibernation.” Leif mildly yowls to calm its mind. He wiggles his fingers and uses Prestidigitation to waft the aroma of elderberry blossoms towards the beasts nostrils.

OOC: It was going so well

Leif (With a 9) You waft the aroma of the elderberry blossoms toward the bear and it sniffs once and grunts, again it sniffs and it shakes its head before releasing an almighty sneeze that covers you in specks of bear snot and shieldmaiden skull. The bear roars with annoyance but for now the charm still holds. 

Veldir and his men are edging forward now, arrows trained on the bear. 

Sólmyrkvi you hear a whisper as Merros places a hand on your shoulder, "Perhaps we should call the lad back before he loses his head?"

Leif resigns himself to what is going to happen. He slowly backs away never turning from the face of the bear.

”Run! Too many. Attack like bees. Stingers size of young trees.” Leif rumbles the warning in his best bear dialect. He is fairly confident it will NOT be heeded.

Quote from Dreamhobbit >>

Veldir and his men are edging forward now, arrows trained on the bear. 

Sólmyrkvi you hear a whisper as Merros places a hand on your shoulder, "Perhaps we should call the lad back before he loses his head?"

Sólmyrkvi says, "It seems to be working," but he's quietly planning for what to do if the bear leaps to attack again, which it probably will do if Veldir's men attack it.  He remembers that Kora helped him improve on the Elvish he learned from his mother.  He calls ahead to her in Elvish:

(OOC: FYI - trying not to take a second action until @Godster1 has a chance to catch up and post Halp's initial action.)

Halp sparks up his Shillelagh with his bonus action and moves 15' until he's just south of Kora.

He mutters to Leif, "Lad... I could Command it to flee - but it may resist..."

(OOC his save is only a 13)

Instead Halp moves up to behind him and casts Guidance on Leif to help with any influencing the lad may try. 

Halp you move forward carefully, your weapon at the ready.  Briefly you pass Kora leaning forward to place a hand on he lads arm, casting guidance before stepping back to stand just behind Kora.

OOC: Leif with the guidance from Halp and the change to your message, you may make one more roll for persuasion. Advantage with a raised DC of 16

Persuasion: 16

Leif feels the surge of encouraging magic as he entreats the bear with his warning.

Leif (with a 16) the bear snorts in sudden understanding, its flinty eyes fixed on your own. Then with a dejected growl it heaves its huge bulk around and begins to move away from the settlement. 

Once the beast is at a safe distance Master Gaelran darts forward to speak quietly with Veldir and his men. 

"Well done lad." Alaric nods toward you as he approaches. Drawing level with you he kneels beside the fallen corpse of the shieldmaiden with sadness in his eyes.

Merros speaks to you Sólmyrkvi, "It appears another fire must be lit this evening."  he shakes his head, "Gather your people we need to secure your boat and a pearl was it?." and with that he attends to the kings grief and the removal of the dead warrior.

Leif heaves a sigh of relief as the beast lumbers away. He had seen his mother speak with nothing larger than a female moose before, convincing it that she should keep her calves away from our village back in Midgard. He smiles with the hope that the bear will know better in the future to not approach when he smells humans. Then he hears the king, which snaps him back to the reality that our clan has lost another member.

”I am sorry, my king,” he mournfully pauses, “that I could not prevent her death.”

Quote from Dreamhobbit >>

Merros speaks to you Sólmyrkvi, "It appears another fire must be lit this evening."  he shakes his head, "Gather your people we need to secure your boat and a pearl was it?." and with that he attends to the kings grief and the removal of the dead warrior.

Sólmyrkvi reaches out with his free hand and pats Merros on the shoulder, saying, "At least it's only for one.  Be thankful of that!  It seems the young druid was trained well."  Looking around and knowing that he's speaking the King Alaric's advisor, he suggests, "There could be greater threats than wild beasts out there, and perhaps my companions and I will learn what sort of creatures or peoples inhabit this new land during our expedition.  But we would not want to return to find that the encampment was razed to the ground and our people slaughtered while we were gone.  Perhaps the work on the market should be paused until our foothold in this new world is more secure.  Do you think that the king could redirect efforts into the construction of a crude fort?  Or at least a palisade wall around the encampment?"  He recommends against clearing the wilderness, "at least not until we learn what Good Folk reside there and how to remain on good terms with them."

Regarding supplies, Sólmyrkvi nods: "Yes, a pearl, if you can spare it.  I'll bring it back when I return."  He assumes that Merros may know why he wants it.

Quote from Dreamhobbit >>

(OOC: the boat will be furnished with sufficient storage containers once you have secured it and each of you may choose three mundane (worth up to 50g total) items from the merchants stores before embarking on the mission).

(OOC: I believe that's 50 gp per person.)

Regarding the other equipment, Sólmyrkvi saw that they only have two lengths of Rope among them, and he suggests that the others may want to ask for rope if that's not among the general supplies for the expedition.  ("You'll always want a bit of rope!") He'll discuss gear with Leif, Kora, and Halp.  If someone else needs him to request some equipment for them, he will.  

Otherwise, Sólmyrkvi is just thinking about possible obstacles that could prove difficult for them.  He was able to bring most of his gear ashore on that first terrible night last week, and that includes a variety of equipment for "roughing it," not that he has much experience with survival outside of a town.  He continues to eschew armor in favor of his magic, and he says that he doesn't feel like he'll be of much use with weapons beyond a simple spear or staff, which he already has.  Otherwise, he'll request: 

• Climber's Kit (25 gp) - mostly just in case they encounter a bluff or other steep cliff on their expedition.  ("I'm not afraid of heights, but I'm definitely not enthusiastic about falling!")
• Holy Water (25 gp)

If the others cannot spare room for it in their gear requests, he'll also see whether he can purchase a set of Manacles (2 gp) or have Eldon construct a set before they leave.  He says that it's in case they capture any natives during their exhibition, but he's secretly thinking that they might need a way to restrain Veldir if the man tries to betray them in some way.

Leif considered manacles as well, and for the exact same reason. But he decided upon:

A length of rope (because, of course), a grappling hook (for clifftop views with rope assist), and a 10’ pole (might need to navigate a cold marsh).

Leif inquires about adding a cartographer to the party and maybe a few more strong backs for the oars as we pilot upstream.

Unsure if Sólmyrkvi will be bringing his tent along, he packs up his bedroll and blanket, emptying the tent of his possessions. ‘Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it’, his father always said.

While Halp appreciates the importance of being well kitted out for an expedition, he has what he needs.

He requests 50 gp of rations then takes Merros aside, asking him to distribute them "to those with need. As you would if we were a motley surviving a shipwreck rather than fools playing at market." 

Halp goes to watch preparations on their boat. He is ready to set off, stamping his feet in the morning cold. 

Quote from PlotArmored >>

Unsure if Sólmyrkvi will be bringing his tent along

Sólmyrkvi is planning to pack the tent if he has time.  By the second week in Nyrgard, we must have already provided shelter for all of the survivors, so there's no reason to leave it behind.  He probably won't use it if the weather continues to be dry and warm, but we'll want it if we hit bad weather.

Sólmyrkvi might be wrong, but he thought that we were taking a big "ship", like the ones that brought us here from Midgard.  He expects that we'll be stopping at spots up the river to explore the wilderness, returning to sleep on or beside the ship each night.  That way, he can leave his tent in the ship while we explore and still sleep comfortably at night.  That assumes, of course, that we don't come to a waterfall or rocks or some other obstacle that forces us to leave the ship behind and continue for a few days on foot.

(OOC: the ships in the first post looked to me like large longships.)

Sólmyrkvi you give your advice to the kings advisor and he smiles broadly, "The market is the business of the merchants and we are content to keep their meddling hands busy. Alaric has plans for the settlements defences and that work will begin while you are away. This mornings attack and the decision by the merchants to hire these... men, has only increased the urgency of the effort."

On the way to the boats Merros slips into what you presume is his tent before returning clutching a glistening pearl which he drops into your hand. "Consider it a down payment for services rendered." he says with a grin.

Halp you commission Merros to distribute your rations and he agrees, giving you a considered look. "A holy man indeed." he comments before delegating the task to a nearby guard.

The ships for the most part are indeed longships, though they vary in size a purpose. Merros helps you locate three sea worthy vessels that can be easily manned and equipped for the journey.

The Stormbrand - is a wide ship kitted out for the carrying of cargo. It is well balanced and solid.

The Leapard - Is a lean vessel built for speed and stealth.

The Seawolf - is a warship kitted out with a ramming spike, shields and a trunk of martial equipment suitable for a raid.

Each ship has a captain and crew that will obey your commands under the kings authority. Which do you all choose?

OOC: Yes 50g pp :)

(OOC: I'm assuming that "Leapard" was a typo.)

Sólmyrkvi thanks Merros for the pearl, saying that it may prove critical if the expedition encounters anything weird and magical.

Sólmyrkvi votes for the Leopard.  Remembering King Alaric's instructions:

Quote from Dreamhobbit >>

Sólmyrkvi, you make your requests of the king and he thinks for a moment before making response; "Consider this a scouting mission, you are to bring back word, though I am sure that Master Gaelran would not object to you bringing back samples of what you find....If you meet other inhabitants or settlers take no action that could lead us to war. The Gods know we can not afford it. Otherwise make contact and yes Sólmyrkvi you may act as my envoy."  

he says, "Since it's just a 'scouting mission,' it doesn't seem like we should be planning on conducting a raid or even transporting that much cargo.  If we meet serious dangers or resistance, better to sneak past or outrun it."

Leif’s first vote was for The Stormbrand. Not so much for the capacity to bring back booty but, in his limited knowledge of shipbuilding, he figured the wider deck would allow for a shallower keel, thus allowing them to travel further upstream where a deeper keeled ship might run aground. However, upon further reflection,

“I’ve reconsidered. I agree with Sólmyrkvi. Speed and stealth suits a reconnaissance mission best.”