Kora nods as the King sets out his plan, smiling slightly at Sol's question of actually going into the water for the dead. Interesting idea... but assumes he will be shot down, just purely out of logistics if anything. She hears how the others willingly agree to it, how could they not? Hard to turn down your King as he directly requests something that honestly is a well and good plan.
"I hope you don't mind, but I would like to go inland a bit, see if anyone decided to steer clear of the gathering people last night and were lost in the night? I will return and help you all once I have a look."
She awaits the response before leaving the groups company.
Leif the king offers you a nod of appreciation for your eager acquiescence.
The king smiles broadly at your question Sólmyrkvi, but it is Merros who speaks, "You know my Lord I think if you ask him too he will try"
"I do not doubt it." Alaric places a hand on your shoulder Sólmyrkvi, "Just those who wash ashore my friend, they are the immediate concern."
(Anyone can make an Insight DC 16 roll to read more into the kings words and instruction)
Eldon. you ask for time and the king ascents saying, "You have until tomorrows eve master craftsman. We have two days of hard labour ahead of us, other work parties will be gathering debris from the beach and securing those ships that remain sea worthy. We will need a time of respite to tend our wounds and grieve our dead."
Kora you make your request and the King agrees, "You have my leave, but do not be overlong. Your first duty is the completion the task I have set you."
He then asks you Richter, "Master Skald can I count on you to inspire these good people?"
Continued following any responses from the party...
Halp you set off immediately to see to your given task. Do any of you go with him? (with an insight of 10) you glean no deeper meaning to the kings instructions and set about your work single-mindedly. (With a perception of 21) Within the hour you have identified a good number of survivors of the right "sort," but (with an 11) only around twenty five of them agree to head to the water line for further instruction from the party.
Kora you head to the outskirts of camp (again does anyone accompany you?) give me a perception roll please.
smiling slightly at Sol's question of actually going into the water for the dead. Interesting idea... but assumes he will be shot down, just purely out of logistics if anything.
(OOC: To be clear, Sólmyrkvi didn't want to do that! He was just making sure that we weren't agreeing to recover all of the bodies, just the ones that washed up on the beach. Maybe his mother told him too many fairy tales, but he believes that it's unwise to accept a bargain unless you understand the terms of the deal. Unfortunately, the one time he didn't follow that rule is the one time that it really mattered. He still worries what price he'll have to pay for his Pact.)
"I do not doubt it." Alaric places a hand on your shoulder Sólmyrkvi, "Just those who wash ashore my friend, they are the immediate concern." (Anyone can make an Insight DC 16 roll to read more into the kings words and instruction)
(OOC: Not making an Insight check. Sólmyrkvi has never been good at reading others: he just barrels forward with the confidence of a handsome, young man from a relatively wealthy family.)
Relieved, Sólmyrkvi agrees to the task and assures the king that they will see it done.
Continued following any responses from the party...
Kora you head to the outskirts of camp (again does anyone accompany you?) give me a perception roll please.
After their audience with King Alaric, Sólmyrkvi pulls Leifand Koraaside. He suggests, "Kora, you don't look like you slept at all! Leif, perhaps you should go with her? Didn't you want to talk to the rat-girl anyway? Maybe you'll find a sign of where she went!" Looking to Kora, he says apologetically, "I'd go with you myself, but I implied last night that I was on Veldir's 'side.' I hope to be able to learn what his group is planning to do, and it's probably best that we're not seen together before I find out."
Once he's done talking to them, Sólmyrkvi tracks down Eldon: "Before you get started on the funeral pyre, I hoped that you could help me..." He'd like help crafting a dozen simple stretchers. He'll select the sturdiest canvas that was recovered the previous night if Eldon can find / fashion some straight handles. Sólmyr can fold over the edges of the canvas to make loops or a long-running "rod pocket" for the handles to slide through. That way, people won't just be dragging the bodies to the designated spot on the beach. They also won't have to handle the water-logged bodies too much.
Halp you set off immediately....Within the hour you have identified a good number of survivors of the right "sort," but (with an 11) only around twenty five of them agree to head to the water line for further instruction from the party.
Sólmyrkvi (with a 12 and 14) by the end of the evening you have gathered a small following of survivors who seem happy to take your orders and make themselves useful in the creation of lean-to shelters
Once Sólmyrkvi secures Eldon's help with the stretchers, he heads out to the beach to find Father Halp, who jumped right into the task himself. He wants to coordinate his efforts with Father Halp. He also tracks down the people who had helped them with building the shelters last night to see whether any of them are also available to help gather the dead today. He encourages them to bring any sturdy friends or family who do not already have another task assigned to them today. Persuasion: 22 (in game log)
With the assistance of Father Halp, Sólmyrkvi gathers all of these "helpers" together. He shows them how to use the stretcher: two people can set it down next to a body, roll the body onto the stretcher, and lift it to carry the body to the designated spot. Or, if the body is too heavy, just lifting one end of the stretcher and dragging it on the other ends of the poles like a sled.
Sólmyrkvi also asks any parents or guardians of any healthy adolescents whether the children can help. He promises to keep them away from handling the dead bodies, but he thinks that it would be good for them. "We have survived the destruction of their homes and everything they knew, and everyone will need to contribute if we hope to survive here, in this new land. It would be good for the children to learn to help however they can." Persuasion: 11 (in game log), or 13if Father Halpwill Help him.
Sólmyrkvi works with the children, getting the older ones and some of the older/weaker adults who volunteered to keep the younger ones on-task. He gets them to clear a designated area at one end of the beach where the bodies will be laid to rest. (Leveling out the sand, clearing any driftwood or other debris so that it's easier for people who will be bringing the bodies.) He thinks that we wouldn't want the pyre to be right in the middle of the makeshift camp, but we also don't want it to be too far so that we don't have to carry the bodies too far. It should be above the high-tide mark, but it shouldn't be too close to any trees or plants. (We don't want the funeral pyre to turn into a wildfire!) The site should also, ideally, be downwind of their camp site. Once the pyre is lit, we'd like the smoke to blowing away from the surviving remnants' camp. Of course, Sólmyrkvi isn't really "wood wise," so he asks for help from the others to identify the best spot based on those parameters. (OOC: Mechanically, he's trying to give Help for someone else's Survival roll to identify a suitable spot.)
Once all of that is in motion, Sólmyrkvi will pitch in himself. He's not opposed to hard work, and he's in good health. He just believes that it's better to work "smarter, not harder." He also feels that they need to leverage the power of their community. They're going to either live or die based on how well they all work together, so he'd like to get the community working together as soon as possible.
Insight towards the king’s instructions: 8 (in game log)
Leif joins Kora in her survey of the perimeter. He is looking for signs of ingress or egress, footprints, drag marks, etc. as well as inspecting the types and varieties of foliage and or fauna that exists away from the shore. Perception:19 (in game log) He is also sensitive to look for messages left in Druidic. The girl’s alleged ability to speak with beasts was intriguing. There was more than once Leif stopped and studied an odd collection of stones or twigs.
“I am looking for a clue or hidden message left in Druidic.” He volunteered to Kora. “I have my suspicions that the girl may have some connection to Nature’s power. Supposing she really did talk with the rats. The men sure believed what they saw.”
After a few more steps, “Say, why didn’t you or Father Halp provide more details to the king regarding the disturbance last night?”
Kora nods to Sol, too tired to really argue or say anything else. She doesn't say anything as Leif tags along, as he seems proficient enough as she watches him look at their surroundings. While he spends most of his time looking down, she finds herself looking at more where they are then for others. She's distracted from what the king asked of them as she tries to understand where they have landed.
When Leif starts talking to her, she focuses back and answers, "It's possible you're right. Or she just fed the rats so they tended to stay near her. Men will believe anything." she lets that hang in the air, not caring what he thinks of it. Then she shrugs, "I figure he has enough on his mind then worry about a little disturbance? I could be wrong. Hopefully nothing will come of it." but her nightmare comes back unbidden and maybe she shouldn't have disregarded it so quickly? She was used to bullies picking on ones that couldn't defend themselves, so how was this any different?
Merros replies to you Eldon, scanning the nearby beach, he seems to mutter under his breath for a moment before speaking, "I would plan for at least one hundred."
OOC: Master Skald please feel free to post your response to the king out of sequence, or as a flashback. We will move forward with the action.
The king and his men take their leave as you all go about your business.
Eldon do you agree to the request from Sólmyrkvi to help with the stretchers or do you need to focus on your given task? Either way Sólmyrkvi you spring into action fashioning the stretchers and soon volunteers start to drift over through the efforts of Halp. The effort takes much of the morning and by the time you go searching for Halp you find him heading back toward you with a small crowd of followers. (With a 22) you persuade several more nearby survivors to join your efforts. Joining Halp to walk back to your makeshift worksite you deliver your words of encouragement and it appears that Halp chose these people wisely as they nod in appreciation of your words. Before getting stuck into the gruelling work you offer your help to Eldon who was tasked with designing the pyre. Eldon roll with advantage on your next roll related to your task. (i.e. a straight roll cancelling your exhaustion).
Kora and Leif you make your way to the settlements edge. Kora you are dead on your feet this day (with an 8) you notice little other than a general feel for the surrounding landscape.
Beneath your boots, the sand is not the soft gold of summer, but a grey, treacherous surface crusted in a rime of frost. It crunches like ground bone with every step.
To the north, the world dissolves into the grey gullet of a wide estuary. The tide pushes against the river’s flow, a churning meeting of waters that looks cold enough to stop your heart. High above, the gulls wheel and scream, their cries like the laughter of starving scavengers waiting for the frost to finish what the waves had begun.
Looking south, the beach offers no mercy. The sand eventually surrenders to a jagged spine of black rock, stone teeth rising from the surf to meet sheer, unforgiving cliffs. It could be a wall built by gods, or perhaps by something older, meant to keep the weak from wandering too far in that direction.
Inland, to the west, the ground rises in uneven swells, like the frozen waves of a sea made of dirt and cold grass. In the far distance, rolling hills huddled together under a leaden sky, draped in thin, skeletal areas of woodland that looked more like spears than trees. Closer to the south west one such area of woodland grows thick and tangled and from this distance you can see the first glimmers of green appearing in those branches.
Leif (with a 19) you spot no sign of the rat-girl but you do note a familiar sign constructed from seaweed and driftwood. There are other druids hereabouts. The symbol is a simple one and once you point it out to Kora you both recognise it as a simple greeting, though there is something about the construction that seems a little strange. (Either of you can make a Nature roll DC 16)
Back at the beach...
It is a grim task but you are making excellent progress. Halp, Eldon and Sólmyrkvi give me a perception roll as you go about your tasks. Whoever rolls highest can then roll me a d6 please.
The young man is comfortable talking with people, and he's reasonably good with his hands. But noticing what else is going on around him? Not one of his strengths. :-)
“Seems we’re not alone in this land.” Leif points to the oddly laid out driftwood and seaweed. “This is a greeting from others who have some sort of affiliation with Druids, like myself.”
(OOC: to this point, I don’t think Kora has revealed to Leif that she is a Druid.)
Leif studies the cipher and its construction. Could age, prevailing winds, snow, or nesting birds have disturbed the message?
With her disadvantage, she only gets a 15 with her nature roll. She looks over Leif's shoulder and nods, "Yes, it looks familiar, but I can't quite place it." She leans down and in druidic next to it, she makes a symbol that represents the kingdom with an arrow somewhat towards their campsite. Standing up, she wipes off her hands, "Well, I figure that's probably the best we can do for now and we should probably get to the King's request of assisting with the bodies. C'mon." and without waiting for Leif, she starts heading towards the beach where the others are working.
At the time, Richter had only nodded, perhaps giving a murmur that the king took to be confirmation. But in truth, he was conflicted. He was not the kind of person to inspire - not as he had been. His words were memories of old, those who were now well and truly dead. Those to whom many, he knew, still prayed. It angered him, frankly, that he had not had faith before the end, that cataclysm and death had brought what would become the Skald to the realization of the Gods.
And he was expected now to inspire others, where he himself was not? Madness. Stepping between bustling men and crackling tinders, the old bard's eyes barely registered the feverish work around him. Builders moved fervently, dedicated, the thrum of their activity reverberating like a great drum or a fitful heartbeat; warriors gathered and recovered, boasting where previously they'd only stayed silent and shivered. Their blades glistened like teeth, a great beast licking its wounds and gnashing its teeth in anticipation, long after limping away from battle in defeat.
The camp was alive, even among the dead, the energy practically pulsing among those absorbed in their work, pure wills aching to thrive, overcoming any fear or malediction reality sought to drive into them. It was an experience the old Skald could only balk at. With time, and uneven steps, Richter had made it to the edge of the camp. There, he stood, a single soul between the edge of civilization's remnant and pure solitude. The weight of standing at this cliff brought no fear. He'd long since left such a thing behind. Instead, he sought this disparity. At least among crashing waves and creaking barges, the sound was constant, and drowned his darker thoughts. But now, with greater responsibility foisted upon him, the doubts were pouring in, a soft wellspring of ill thought bubbling within. They were almost enough to bring him physical pain, as it had upon him before.
Taking a deep breath, the man stepped forward, letting cold silence wash over him. He did not look back as he walked - in truth, this was his resolve. He was alive, that was something he'd strived for. To question it now... perhaps he always would. But his greatest issue was finding purpose in that doubt, as so many others were trying to themselves. And he was certain he would not find it among those alive. He needed to commune with those lost. And so, with heavy, dragging steps to mark his path, Richter wandered towards the waves, and the many silent, waiting forms lying motionless along the water's edge, contemplating purpose.
OOC: @Leif very true but at the same time it would not stop you pointing it out and her recognising it and now you know she knows druidic :) Point taken though, I should have left it to Leif to decide whether to point it out or not.
Leif and Kora (with a 6 and 15) you can not quite put your finger on what is different about this sign. However, (with that 15) Kora you do spot a small tuft of red fur snagged on a nearby twig. Your first sign of the local fauna apart from the guls. (You can take it if you wish and try to identify it with another Nature check at your leisure. DC 12 this time). Leif it is now clear from her response and the crafting of the symbol that you have something in common! Do you follow Kora back to the beach?
Back at the beach...
Halp you see the Skald walking past in sombre silence, no hint of a rousing tune has yet left his lips. (With a 22) your eyes drift past him to where rows of bodies have now been laid out further up the beach. At least thirty so far their forms still and silent in the cold afternoon air. It is then that you see her. The girl from last night. She is crouched low over one of the bodies as if whispering in its ear. At the moment you are the only one to notice her.
Before leaving the area, Kora leans down and plucks up the red fur from the nearby twig and sniffs it, rolls the tuft in between her fingers as she attempts to figure out what kind of creature this came from.
Nature w/dis: 10
Not able to figure it out, she hands it over to Leif, "Any idea what this is?"she waits for his answer, then heads to the beach.
Not able to figure it out, she hands it over to Leif, "Any idea what this is?"she waits for his answer, then heads to the beach.
A chill gust almost blows the tuft of fur away during the exchange. Leif had been more focused on Kora’s face than the transfer. He thought he had met all of the Druids from his village and most from surrounding, but he couldn’t recall ever meeting this one. A curious grin was instantly replaced with shock as his hand clenched the flyaway fur ball. He turns his shoulder against the oncoming breezes and opens his palm to study the tuft.
Nature: 10 (in game log)
”I’m afraid I don’t.”Leif admits. “But, I’ll hang onto it. Maybe someone back in camp can identify it.” He tucks the tuft into the same pocket that contains the silver coin that was given to him yesterday, and then returns to the beach with Kora.
Kora nods as the King sets out his plan, smiling slightly at Sol's question of actually going into the water for the dead. Interesting idea... but assumes he will be shot down, just purely out of logistics if anything. She hears how the others willingly agree to it, how could they not? Hard to turn down your King as he directly requests something that honestly is a well and good plan.
"I hope you don't mind, but I would like to go inland a bit, see if anyone decided to steer clear of the gathering people last night and were lost in the night? I will return and help you all once I have a look."
She awaits the response before leaving the groups company.
Leif the king offers you a nod of appreciation for your eager acquiescence.
The king smiles broadly at your question Sólmyrkvi, but it is Merros who speaks, "You know my Lord I think if you ask him too he will try"
"I do not doubt it." Alaric places a hand on your shoulder Sólmyrkvi, "Just those who wash ashore my friend, they are the immediate concern."
(Anyone can make an Insight DC 16 roll to read more into the kings words and instruction)
Eldon. you ask for time and the king ascents saying, "You have until tomorrows eve master craftsman. We have two days of hard labour ahead of us, other work parties will be gathering debris from the beach and securing those ships that remain sea worthy. We will need a time of respite to tend our wounds and grieve our dead."
Kora you make your request and the King agrees, "You have my leave, but do not be overlong. Your first duty is the completion the task I have set you."
He then asks you Richter, "Master Skald can I count on you to inspire these good people?"
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
Continued following any responses from the party...
Halp you set off immediately to see to your given task. Do any of you go with him? (with an insight of 10) you glean no deeper meaning to the kings instructions and set about your work single-mindedly. (With a perception of 21) Within the hour you have identified a good number of survivors of the right "sort," but (with an 11) only around twenty five of them agree to head to the water line for further instruction from the party.
Kora you head to the outskirts of camp (again does anyone accompany you?) give me a perception roll please.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
With exhaustion weighing on her, perception: 8
Eldon nods in acceptance. "How many dead do we want this pyre to hold?"
DnD is awesome!
(OOC: To be clear, Sólmyrkvi didn't want to do that! He was just making sure that we weren't agreeing to recover all of the bodies, just the ones that washed up on the beach. Maybe his mother told him too many fairy tales, but he believes that it's unwise to accept a bargain unless you understand the terms of the deal. Unfortunately, the one time he didn't follow that rule is the one time that it really mattered. He still worries what price he'll have to pay for his Pact.)
(OOC: Not making an Insight check. Sólmyrkvi has never been good at reading others: he just barrels forward with the confidence of a handsome, young man from a relatively wealthy family.)
Relieved, Sólmyrkvi agrees to the task and assures the king that they will see it done.
After their audience with King Alaric, Sólmyrkvi pulls Leif and Kora aside. He suggests, "Kora, you don't look like you slept at all! Leif, perhaps you should go with her? Didn't you want to talk to the rat-girl anyway? Maybe you'll find a sign of where she went!" Looking to Kora, he says apologetically, "I'd go with you myself, but I implied last night that I was on Veldir's 'side.' I hope to be able to learn what his group is planning to do, and it's probably best that we're not seen together before I find out."
Once he's done talking to them, Sólmyrkvi tracks down Eldon: "Before you get started on the funeral pyre, I hoped that you could help me..." He'd like help crafting a dozen simple stretchers. He'll select the sturdiest canvas that was recovered the previous night if Eldon can find / fashion some straight handles. Sólmyr can fold over the edges of the canvas to make loops or a long-running "rod pocket" for the handles to slide through. That way, people won't just be dragging the bodies to the designated spot on the beach. They also won't have to handle the water-logged bodies too much.
Once Sólmyrkvi secures Eldon's help with the stretchers, he heads out to the beach to find Father Halp, who jumped right into the task himself. He wants to coordinate his efforts with Father Halp. He also tracks down the people who had helped them with building the shelters last night to see whether any of them are also available to help gather the dead today. He encourages them to bring any sturdy friends or family who do not already have another task assigned to them today.
Persuasion: 22 (in game log)
With the assistance of Father Halp, Sólmyrkvi gathers all of these "helpers" together. He shows them how to use the stretcher: two people can set it down next to a body, roll the body onto the stretcher, and lift it to carry the body to the designated spot. Or, if the body is too heavy, just lifting one end of the stretcher and dragging it on the other ends of the poles like a sled.
Sólmyrkvi also asks any parents or guardians of any healthy adolescents whether the children can help. He promises to keep them away from handling the dead bodies, but he thinks that it would be good for them. "We have survived the destruction of their homes and everything they knew, and everyone will need to contribute if we hope to survive here, in this new land. It would be good for the children to learn to help however they can."
Persuasion: 11 (in game log), or 13 if Father Halp will Help him.
Sólmyrkvi works with the children, getting the older ones and some of the older/weaker adults who volunteered to keep the younger ones on-task. He gets them to clear a designated area at one end of the beach where the bodies will be laid to rest. (Leveling out the sand, clearing any driftwood or other debris so that it's easier for people who will be bringing the bodies.) He thinks that we wouldn't want the pyre to be right in the middle of the makeshift camp, but we also don't want it to be too far so that we don't have to carry the bodies too far. It should be above the high-tide mark, but it shouldn't be too close to any trees or plants. (We don't want the funeral pyre to turn into a wildfire!) The site should also, ideally, be downwind of their camp site. Once the pyre is lit, we'd like the smoke to blowing away from the surviving remnants' camp. Of course, Sólmyrkvi isn't really "wood wise," so he asks for help from the others to identify the best spot based on those parameters.
(OOC: Mechanically, he's trying to give Help for someone else's Survival roll to identify a suitable spot.)
Once all of that is in motion, Sólmyrkvi will pitch in himself. He's not opposed to hard work, and he's in good health. He just believes that it's better to work "smarter, not harder." He also feels that they need to leverage the power of their community. They're going to either live or die based on how well they all work together, so he'd like to get the community working together as soon as possible.
Insight towards the king’s instructions: 8 (in game log)
Leif joins Kora in her survey of the perimeter. He is looking for signs of ingress or egress, footprints, drag marks, etc. as well as inspecting the types and varieties of foliage and or fauna that exists away from the shore. Perception: 19 (in game log) He is also sensitive to look for messages left in Druidic. The girl’s alleged ability to speak with beasts was intriguing. There was more than once Leif stopped and studied an odd collection of stones or twigs.
“I am looking for a clue or hidden message left in Druidic.” He volunteered to Kora. “I have my suspicions that the girl may have some connection to Nature’s power. Supposing she really did talk with the rats. The men sure believed what they saw.”
After a few more steps, “Say, why didn’t you or Father Halp provide more details to the king regarding the disturbance last night?”
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
Leif Pedersen - Human Druid - Beyond the Ragnarök
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Kora nods to Sol, too tired to really argue or say anything else. She doesn't say anything as Leif tags along, as he seems proficient enough as she watches him look at their surroundings. While he spends most of his time looking down, she finds herself looking at more where they are then for others. She's distracted from what the king asked of them as she tries to understand where they have landed.
When Leif starts talking to her, she focuses back and answers, "It's possible you're right. Or she just fed the rats so they tended to stay near her. Men will believe anything." she lets that hang in the air, not caring what he thinks of it. Then she shrugs, "I figure he has enough on his mind then worry about a little disturbance? I could be wrong. Hopefully nothing will come of it." but her nightmare comes back unbidden and maybe she shouldn't have disregarded it so quickly? She was used to bullies picking on ones that couldn't defend themselves, so how was this any different?
Merros replies to you Eldon, scanning the nearby beach, he seems to mutter under his breath for a moment before speaking, "I would plan for at least one hundred."
OOC: Master Skald please feel free to post your response to the king out of sequence, or as a flashback. We will move forward with the action.
The king and his men take their leave as you all go about your business.
Eldon do you agree to the request from Sólmyrkvi to help with the stretchers or do you need to focus on your given task? Either way Sólmyrkvi you spring into action fashioning the stretchers and soon volunteers start to drift over through the efforts of Halp. The effort takes much of the morning and by the time you go searching for Halp you find him heading back toward you with a small crowd of followers. (With a 22) you persuade several more nearby survivors to join your efforts. Joining Halp to walk back to your makeshift worksite you deliver your words of encouragement and it appears that Halp chose these people wisely as they nod in appreciation of your words. Before getting stuck into the gruelling work you offer your help to Eldon who was tasked with designing the pyre. Eldon roll with advantage on your next roll related to your task. (i.e. a straight roll cancelling your exhaustion).
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
Kora and Leif you make your way to the settlements edge. Kora you are dead on your feet this day (with an 8) you notice little other than a general feel for the surrounding landscape.
Beneath your boots, the sand is not the soft gold of summer, but a grey, treacherous surface crusted in a rime of frost. It crunches like ground bone with every step.
To the north, the world dissolves into the grey gullet of a wide estuary. The tide pushes against the river’s flow, a churning meeting of waters that looks cold enough to stop your heart. High above, the gulls wheel and scream, their cries like the laughter of starving scavengers waiting for the frost to finish what the waves had begun.
Looking south, the beach offers no mercy. The sand eventually surrenders to a jagged spine of black rock, stone teeth rising from the surf to meet sheer, unforgiving cliffs. It could be a wall built by gods, or perhaps by something older, meant to keep the weak from wandering too far in that direction.
Inland, to the west, the ground rises in uneven swells, like the frozen waves of a sea made of dirt and cold grass. In the far distance, rolling hills huddled together under a leaden sky, draped in thin, skeletal areas of woodland that looked more like spears than trees. Closer to the south west one such area of woodland grows thick and tangled and from this distance you can see the first glimmers of green appearing in those branches.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
Continued...
Leif (with a 19) you spot no sign of the rat-girl but you do note a familiar sign constructed from seaweed and driftwood. There are other druids hereabouts. The symbol is a simple one and once you point it out to Kora you both recognise it as a simple greeting, though there is something about the construction that seems a little strange. (Either of you can make a Nature roll DC 16)
Back at the beach...
It is a grim task but you are making excellent progress. Halp, Eldon and Sólmyrkvi give me a perception roll as you go about your tasks. Whoever rolls highest can then roll me a d6 please.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
Sólmyrkvi - Perception: 3 (in game log)
The young man is comfortable talking with people, and he's reasonably good with his hands. But noticing what else is going on around him? Not one of his strengths. :-)
Perception: 13
d6 (If Highest): 3
DnD is awesome!
“Seems we’re not alone in this land.” Leif points to the oddly laid out driftwood and seaweed. “This is a greeting from others who have some sort of affiliation with Druids, like myself.”
(OOC: to this point, I don’t think Kora has revealed to Leif that she is a Druid.)
Leif studies the cipher and its construction. Could age, prevailing winds, snow, or nesting birds have disturbed the message?
Nature: 6 (in game log)
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
Leif Pedersen - Human Druid - Beyond the Ragnarök
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
With her disadvantage, she only gets a 15 with her nature roll. She looks over Leif's shoulder and nods, "Yes, it looks familiar, but I can't quite place it." She leans down and in druidic next to it, she makes a symbol that represents the kingdom with an arrow somewhat towards their campsite. Standing up, she wipes off her hands, "Well, I figure that's probably the best we can do for now and we should probably get to the King's request of assisting with the bodies. C'mon." and without waiting for Leif, she starts heading towards the beach where the others are working.
Halp's perception and d6 roll, if highest:
Perception: 22
d6 (If Highest): 6
At the time, Richter had only nodded, perhaps giving a murmur that the king took to be confirmation. But in truth, he was conflicted. He was not the kind of person to inspire - not as he had been. His words were memories of old, those who were now well and truly dead. Those to whom many, he knew, still prayed. It angered him, frankly, that he had not had faith before the end, that cataclysm and death had brought what would become the Skald to the realization of the Gods.
And he was expected now to inspire others, where he himself was not? Madness. Stepping between bustling men and crackling tinders, the old bard's eyes barely registered the feverish work around him. Builders moved fervently, dedicated, the thrum of their activity reverberating like a great drum or a fitful heartbeat; warriors gathered and recovered, boasting where previously they'd only stayed silent and shivered. Their blades glistened like teeth, a great beast licking its wounds and gnashing its teeth in anticipation, long after limping away from battle in defeat.
The camp was alive, even among the dead, the energy practically pulsing among those absorbed in their work, pure wills aching to thrive, overcoming any fear or malediction reality sought to drive into them. It was an experience the old Skald could only balk at. With time, and uneven steps, Richter had made it to the edge of the camp. There, he stood, a single soul between the edge of civilization's remnant and pure solitude. The weight of standing at this cliff brought no fear. He'd long since left such a thing behind. Instead, he sought this disparity. At least among crashing waves and creaking barges, the sound was constant, and drowned his darker thoughts. But now, with greater responsibility foisted upon him, the doubts were pouring in, a soft wellspring of ill thought bubbling within. They were almost enough to bring him physical pain, as it had upon him before.
Taking a deep breath, the man stepped forward, letting cold silence wash over him. He did not look back as he walked - in truth, this was his resolve. He was alive, that was something he'd strived for. To question it now... perhaps he always would. But his greatest issue was finding purpose in that doubt, as so many others were trying to themselves. And he was certain he would not find it among those alive. He needed to commune with those lost. And so, with heavy, dragging steps to mark his path, Richter wandered towards the waves, and the many silent, waiting forms lying motionless along the water's edge, contemplating purpose.
OOC: @Leif very true but at the same time it would not stop you pointing it out and her recognising it and now you know she knows druidic :) Point taken though, I should have left it to Leif to decide whether to point it out or not.
Leif and Kora (with a 6 and 15) you can not quite put your finger on what is different about this sign. However, (with that 15) Kora you do spot a small tuft of red fur snagged on a nearby twig. Your first sign of the local fauna apart from the guls. (You can take it if you wish and try to identify it with another Nature check at your leisure. DC 12 this time). Leif it is now clear from her response and the crafting of the symbol that you have something in common! Do you follow Kora back to the beach?
Back at the beach...
Halp you see the Skald walking past in sombre silence, no hint of a rousing tune has yet left his lips. (With a 22) your eyes drift past him to where rows of bodies have now been laid out further up the beach. At least thirty so far their forms still and silent in the cold afternoon air. It is then that you see her. The girl from last night. She is crouched low over one of the bodies as if whispering in its ear. At the moment you are the only one to notice her.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
Before leaving the area, Kora leans down and plucks up the red fur from the nearby twig and sniffs it, rolls the tuft in between her fingers as she attempts to figure out what kind of creature this came from.
Nature w/dis: 10
Not able to figure it out, she hands it over to Leif, "Any idea what this is?" she waits for his answer, then heads to the beach.
A chill gust almost blows the tuft of fur away during the exchange. Leif had been more focused on Kora’s face than the transfer. He thought he had met all of the Druids from his village and most from surrounding, but he couldn’t recall ever meeting this one. A curious grin was instantly replaced with shock as his hand clenched the flyaway fur ball. He turns his shoulder against the oncoming breezes and opens his palm to study the tuft.
Nature: 10 (in game log)
”I’m afraid I don’t.” Leif admits. “But, I’ll hang onto it. Maybe someone back in camp can identify it.” He tucks the tuft into the same pocket that contains the silver coin that was given to him yesterday, and then returns to the beach with Kora.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
Leif Pedersen - Human Druid - Beyond the Ragnarök
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