The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

They're a type of monster that happens to look like a very ugly old woman.  While they are probably old, and likely female, they aren’t women.  I’ve never encountered one either, though. Only read about them in books.

You continue your conversation through the day as you head up this well-worn road through the rich farmland of the Marrow Valley.  There don't seem to be many dangers around, but the girl sticks close to you and though people seem friendly enough as you pass, you notice that a fair few carry bows or other weapons as you get further from Alfield.

You stop in the middle of the day; Emi has her own rations in her basket and offers you both some bread and cheese.  As the day goes on, it turns into a pleasant, warmish day, though it's clear summer is long past.  Night approaches, and though there are occasional farmhouses it's been a while since you passed through a village of any size, and there are no inns.  You will have to make camp.

Emi assists in gathering firewood, and then erects a small tent for herself; you get the sense that despite her age she's experienced in travelling this land, perhaps alone.

What's the biggest monster you've killed with that sword? she asks Silent as you sit around the campfire.

Magnum returns the bread and cheese and gets to work on setting up his own tent.  Thank you, but I don't need to eat or drink.

Silent thinks for a moment before unhooking a curved tusk from his belt, hollowed out to resemble a reasonably large drinking horn. He hands it over to Emi. 

That used to belong to a moorbounder - big angry cat beasties, and they're fast as a bat outta the Nine Hells. Got ambushed by one on a hunting party back when I was a soldier, turned into a real close scrap. First time I ever managed to kill one and I haven't done it again since. They're beautiful creatures, seems like a waste. Least I could do for that poor fellow was keep a part of him around. 

Are moorbounders bigger than those half ogres we took on a ways back?

Silent thinks back (consulting his rather poor memory). Hard to say, what with those ogres standing on two legs and all. I reckon those giant hyenas we fought mighta been a similar size to the moorbounders, some people ride 'em like horses. 

So you killed some cats and some dogs.  And half an ogre.  But not a whole ogre?

Technically two half ogres. We each killed one, so I suppose a whole ogre was killed in the end.

Why'd ya kill 'em?

We were traveling along the road, escorting this guy away from an uncomfortable conversation with a coworker.  We found some people killed beside the road. We figured it was a trap, but investigated anyway to see what happened. Then the half ogres attacked.  They’d killed some travelers and used their bodies as bait for the unwary. It worked, but they found us instead of the unwary.

Oh, and I found a letter among the dead I wanted to ask around about.

Did ya read it?

I did. I still have it, in fact.

Who's it for? 

Someone named Annai.  It appears to be from the woman's niece, but it doesn't use any surnames so I'm not sure what I can really do with it.

Dunno.  Ask people if they know someone called Annai, I guess?  I don't.  We can ask Gran.

Are you continuing to talk to Emi, or are you settling down for the night?  If the latter, please give me a watch order and Perception checks.

Magnum will happily take first watch with Auspex.

Perception - 19.

Auspex's Perception - 19.

(OOC: Magnum coming through with the perception!) 

Silent will take the second watch. 

Perception 12 

15

The night passes peacefully, and you awake in the morning having completed a long rest.

We'll be there by nightfall, says Emi happily as you set off.  At about midday, Emi directs you to turn left off the main road onto a smaller trail that leads to her village.  You meet far fewer fellow travellers now, though you are still travelling mostly through farmed land and you do see people busily working the fields.  Magnum, you would know that Harvest Close is not too far off.

In late afternoon you arrive at the village of Nest, tucked into the edge of the woods.  You see people waving and calling out to Emi as she leads you through the tiny village of perhaps two dozen houses, until you come to one that has almost been swallowed up by the trees.  Gran and I live here, she says.  You better knock though, so she knows she has visitors.

(OOC Note:  Not sure if this contradicts the time of year I've established before, but as I'm bringing the two parties together, I also want to fix us on the Wildemount calendar so that we can fit around events of the CR campaign where needed.)

Magnum knocks on the door, then steps back from it so that he leaves Emi in view.

You wait one second.  Two... three... four...

The door slams open with enough force to send a shock of sound across the village.  In the doorway stands a woman in her sixties with muscles that would put most fighters to shame  She looks immediately at Emi and smiles, then turns her gaze to Magnum and Silent, looking you up and down.

A construct and an orcling - how old are you, boy?  Never mind.  Not bad, Emi, I can work with these.  Come on in.  She heads into the small house. 

You better go in, says Emi, stifling a laugh.