Union! Game Thread

Corti joins the group looking over the flower, and, not knowing what other databases to search, she starts humming, mentally flipping through ballads and myths to search for any mention of a flower matching its description.

Corti, you recall about a dozen or so plants that, from what is sung about them, could match this plant. Unfortunately they include both poisonous, and healing, plants.

ANyone else want to try?

Arc looks for a nearby mammal (a rabbit, maybe a deer) and looks to see how they react to the plant, leaving those with sharper senses and knowledge about their environment to do the work for him.

(what would I roll for this?)

Brandt's days as a soldier taught him about the various plants of the wild, which ones you can eat or make medicine out of. He attempts to recall if there's any use for this.

Survival: 20

Thia would actually chuckle a little, confused as to why the book would make Tarian feel like she’d need to explain herself. “Tarian, everyone learns in different ways and I believe hands on is the best way. That’s why I begged to apprentice.” Her gaze would break as she paused before she’d continued, “I by no means expect you to use these if you rather not. They’re here though, for anyone’s use should they need. But, I did hope that if I come across something, I could run it by you. Well, everyone for that matter.” The artificer would look around, seeing the others come together to help her solve this mystery flower. Originally she didn’t think much of the flower, but now it’s intriguing her the harder it is for them to figure it out.

A genuine smile would rest on Thia’s face as she thumbed through her book in hopes something jumps out at her. Right now she was just enjoying the collaborative effort and company. It felt like they were working as a team, naturally. Or maybe she was just imagining things?

Medicine: 3

(lol Ouf)

Tarian nodded. “Yeah, well, I was often told my hands on learning should’ve had a little more time with my hands on the textbooks. ‘Brute force’ is the only way I know how to study. I’ll look through this one.” Tarian took one of the books and turned to her right, mostly away from the fire, enough that the firelight would illuminate the pages as she read.

She drew a long, slow breath and let it out just as slow before she set the book on one knee and opened it. One hand held the book open, and the other steadily traced across each page before turning to the next. A steady rhythm, page after page. While it may have seemed at first that Tarian was actually quite the quick reader and adept learner, watching her for a dozen pages or so made it fairly evident that she wasn’t actually reading. Rather, Tarian was actually searching for pictures that looked like the specimen that Thia had presented, and scanning for words that might be closely related: “blue,” “flower,” “Duskrock,” and the like.

Brandt, you remember an old sergeant telling you that bright flowers are often dangerous. You also remember how you got into an argument with him about roses, or dandelions, and that he was likely just spouting rubbish, because he disliked the look of his stew that day.

The rest of you wrack your collective brains for any hints that might help you identify this flower. After two hours, Tarian calls an end to the action, reasoning that you're better off being well rested for the next day, and that the city might have more or better resources for an identification. With that, you all settle into your regular rythm of alternating guard duties, and go to sleep.

The night passes uneventfully, and shortly after dawn, you rise to the smell of tea being prepared over a little camp fire by Njalgas. "Good morning, I received instructions yesterday, that we're to head closer to the frontier. Now, we can either take the route north, around the mountains, or we go through them. There's a pass close by, but the path could rapidly deteriorate if the wheather shifts. It's about a day shorter than the other route though..."

Tarian nodded. Hmm. Even one day could make all the difference, but I’m lacking a bit of information.

“Miss Thia, your thoughts on whether the weather will hold for the next few days? And Mister Cannith, what do you think of the terrain; should we expect rock- or mudslides through the mountains, and would it be a problem for Sparks’ rail project long-term?” Tarian turned to Brandt and thumbed at the wagon. “Mister Brandt, you seemed to know your way around a wagon when I asked you to help with the horses yesterday. Your thoughts on whether this thing could make it over a mountain pass?” Tarian looked over her shoulder toward Corti. “And Cor—Miss Corti, what’s your take on this mountain pass? Have you heard anything from travelers through Duskrock or maybe the folks at that collier’s camp? Will the pass be a problem even before we get there?”

As her companions presented their responses, Tarian had one last thought. One day gained if it goes well, and who knows how many lost if it goes poorly.

(DM, does this wagon look sturdy enough to go through a mountain pass?)

It's a sturdy wagon and a healthy draft horse. But you don't know exactly what kind of conditions to expect up in the mountains...

Arc gives his opinion, "If we aren't in a hurry, let's just take the safer route. There's no need to risk our lives, or the ones of those with us, for just some extra time we don't need."

Brandt shrugs in response to Tarian's question. "Maybe. The wagon and the horse look fine, but I don't know what could happen up in those mountains. If you're concerned about safety, do what the kid said. Our business isn't so urgent that we need to risk everybody's safety to get there a day sooner."

Thia would review her notes from earlier today on the terrain and what she could have observed about the sky and weather patterns. She’d take a quick walk around the camp and spend some time looking up at the sky.

(Nature check for weather: 16)

Corti nods as the others give their opinions and then chimes in, "I think I agree." She folds her arms tighter to her body, "Nothing good comes from mountain passes, in my opinion. The folks at the logging camp mentioned that we should stick to the valley for any travel, and they certainly seemed to know their work."

Thia, they sky seems clear for now, but in the highlands, the weather can change radically in a couple of minutes.

With the majority deciding to follow the valley route, you all mount up on the waggon after stowing your gear, and you head on out, along the road. Time passes quickly, between you trying to take in the surroundings, Arc thinking of how to set the foundations for the track and how much the landscape around here will change, when logging camps for the railroad will clearcut several of the smaller woods for timber, or simply to make space for the tracks. Thia, you're taking in the changing rock faces, and are wondering whether the local granite would be easily quarried or tunneled through. Corti and Brandt are still trying to help identify the blue flower, by going through your books and trying to crossmatch the images and descriptions with what the pressed flower looks like. 

Tarian, you're sitting quietly in the front with Njalgas, trying to sort through various thoughts and putting the different information into context.You don't realise that you've drifted off, until Njalgas taps you on the shoulder: "Up ahead. Looks like a person or something... What should we do?" and , turning around to Brandt, asks "Can you make anything out?"

The more Tarian had thought about it, the more the path around the mountain made sense. First, there was the issue of their cover story: if the path over the mountain would have been dangerous for a single cart, it would have been catastrophic for something like Sparks’ rail, and thus pointless for them to survey. Second, for their real mission, if the passes were dangerous for a single cart, then a procession of eight hundred armed soldiers would certainly have trouble, given the gear necessary for a band that size to function. So, if Arceneaux’s forces were proceeding toward Duskrock, she would have to send her forces around the mountain as well.

However, if Arceneaux truly needed to get there faster, she could proceed with a small detachment over the mountain. It would save them a day of travel, though she would be left relatively undefended. As Tarian thought of this possibility, she looked toward the mountain pass to see the army cresting the mountain, marching in wide rows like a blanket of ants, each armed and armored like the military elite. She reached for her sword, but it wasn’t there. As she looked toward the mountain again she realized that at the rate they were approaching, the army would be at the town in minutes. Flaming arrows blazed overhead, catching the buildings alight. Tarian leapt for her father’s horse, but she skittered away and Tarian fell in the dirt. At least she found her sword there in the dirt. Tarian grabbed for it, but another hand still held the hilt… her father’s disembodied arm. His drunken singing called out behind her, and Tarian felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Up ahead. Looks like a person or something… What should we do?”

Tarian flinched awake. Her heart was still pounding from the dream she hadn’t realized she was having. She squinted in the sun then shielded her eyes, and looked first to where Njalgas pointed, then to either side of the road. Paranoia still clung to her thoughts, settling in her spine like tiny icy snakes wriggling just below the skin.

“Slow the wagon before we get close, Mister Njalgas. Give us a moment to look around. But be ready to either turn us around or rush ahead at a moment’s notice.” Before Njalgas could comment, Tarian added, “There’s no one out here to protect us but us. So, everyone, if you’ve got a weapon, I hope you know where it is.”

Tarian, you notice clear signs of somebody's presence here a short while ago. Several smaller branches are broken off, and you can grass that has been pressed down by footsteps of what looks like a small band of humanoids. You also spot a tree with a knick, from some kind of bladed weapon. You're on edge, but try as you might, you find no sign of anyone who could have been responsible for these marks, and you don't spot anyone still here. As your eyes drift towards the road, you hear a moan however, and you now see the slumped figure of a man, crumpled up by a treetrunk, who must have drawn Njalgas attention.

Let’s see… either the combatants are still here or they aren’t. There’s a good chance they left, but if they’re still here, they’d be hiding among the trees. Approaching this person could be risky. This person could also have been left behind as bait. Some of the Skins would do that on occasion: rough up one of their own, leave them at the side of the road, then attack the person that comes to help.

Tarian quickly looked to the back of the wagon. I think Brandt and Arc would be fine if we just left this person here, but I don’t think Thia or Corti would. We’re going to have to help them. Best thing we can do is get them in the back while the wagon’s still moving because stopping to help would leave us open if this is an ambush. Reversing the situation, if I had to take out a wagon like this, the first I would take out would be the driver, and keep the horse and cart intact if I could. Njalgas looks like he’d fall over in a stiff wind, and he’s the only one who knows the telelith.

Tarian ran through her options. She didn’t like any of them. Then again, she didn’t like the thought of an ambush, either. Finally, she offered a plan.

“There’s signs of combat nearby.” Tarian gestured to the trees, but didn’t explain further. “Mister Njalgas, I’ll need you to get to the back and keep your head down. Miss Corti, you take his place at the reins. I hope you know how to drive a wagon, because we’re not stopping to do this. Go slow. I’m going ahead to collect the body, but I’ll need Mister Brandt and Mister Cannith up front in the wagon ready with cover fire in case anyone comes at me from either side. Miss Thia, be ready at the back for me to hand your patient up to you. As soon as I’m back on board, it’s full speed until we know we’re safe. I know this plan isn’t ideal, so if anyone has a better one, I’d like to hear it.”

"Sounds like a fine plan to me, Tarian," Corti had started at the body in the road, but sprang to action at Tarian's assignments, thankful that she had chosen to help the person. She pulls her lute around her shoulder, moving it behind her to keep it safely out of the way. As Corti swings herself into the driver's seat, she taps Njalgas's shoulder. "Excuse me, Mr. Njalgas? I can take over." She takes the reins from the gnome and settles herself into the rhythm of the wagon. Here's hoping I didn't forget everything from the war.

As the cart approaches the body, Corti begins to sing lightly to herself, loud enough to be heard by the entire wagon.

OOC: I'm sorry for the wait, I wasn't sure if somebody else wanted to do something or not. 

As the cart approaches the body, with Tarian trailing behind it to use it as cover if necessary, you hear the wounded man cry out for help. She quickly grabs him and hands him to Thia at the back of the cart, before jumping back on herself. Corti was steering the cart forward, as Thia started to scan the wounded man for any obvious injuries.

The man looked like a farmer or a heavy labourer, with calloused hands and sun-burnt skin as tough as hide. He was in rough shape, badly beaten, with his left eye almost swollen shut, and two teeth missing, as well as what looked like a broken nose and jaw. After giving him some water, he starts to mumble :"Hnnn… thannn-g you… thought I was gunn' die ou' there… 'Fraid tha's wha' happen'd wi' the others… We was jumped by Belkar an' 'is bandits, they go' everythin' we carried..." What followed were a series of coughs, at the end of which he spits a small glob of blood out the back of the cart. "Arhh... it hurts when I breathe... think he go' one of me ribs, tha' big'un. No' from 'round 'ere he is..."