Both Castor and Pollux’s ears droop and tails come to a full stop from Kaemgen’s reaction. They whine, heads tilting. He was right, they didn’t take a beating, but they also weren’t the ones with open wounds and rolled in cow manure. Though, if the man didn’t want to bathe and wanted to sport the scent like ‘poopery’, it wasn’t their nose he’d offend. With wingpup duties denied, they’re hearded back to the farmhouse. This time the twins stay outside, taking up positions on the deck while the men situate themselves and rest.
((I *did* forget about the poop... In my defense, 1 HP is not the best for thinking! I'm sure he'll wake up quite offended by the smell and seek out some warm water and Axe body spray after a few hours rest...))
Mr.Dark follows along after Kaemgen without giving anything much thought, just doing as he's told, but, overhearing the chatter about the cow a part of his brain wakes up and he glances over, "Oh, thank goodness. I was worried the animal was going to expect to follow me around until the end of days. Your cow is quite the trouble maker, but..also, saved my ass. Still not sure how she got upstairs. Anyway.....I can take you to her. She needs help getting downstairs."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
”Aye, let us all adjourn to the main domicile, that we may take our ease and reunite man and beast,” agrees Auric, heading back out and towards the house main entrance.
Big Al chuckles lowly, shaking his head a little once Mr. Dark divulges. "Aye. She dunnit again. Guess she'll want a mattress ride... " He gives the man a hard clap on the shoulder as he passes by. "Fickle thing. Ya best not be the first one she sees since ya left her there." Al follows the golden dragonborn back to the house.
After tip toeing by the pair of wolves, Big Al's eyes go wide from the first sight of carnage and his mouth hangs agape while he's walked through his destroyed residence. Stepping over an orc, Big Al would wonder if it would have been better if this was burned too. Wet dog. Blood. Fresh manure. Rotten food. Must. Mold. Sour milk. The stench that wafted around the bodies, dead and alive, was more than enough for the homeowner to make a point to open every window along the way. There wasn't much he could do about everyone tracking it through the house. At least the wolfs stayed outside. Smart snoots.
"Uh, well. Yer welcomed to make yourselves uh... more comfortable." Big Al would add. There were facilities. All though well used from the hoard of orcs, they existed. There were chairs, couches and some beds available in various states of disrepair for resting. Revealing a special store, clean water was available for washing and consuming.
Big Al would head upstairs with caution. The cow would be found taking up the best bed in the house. She looked almost peaceful sleeping, if it wasn't for shallow breathing that brought attention to her wounds. Petunia was alive and showed signs of healing, but still had a way to go, much like the men who defended the home. Exhaling a breath mixed with relief, Al would turn to a bulky cedar wardrobe in the room. Bending forward he'd reach underneath it and with a click, a secret compartment would be revealed. Auric had just missed it in his search.
Al would lift an item wrapped in a light silk. Pulling back the fabric he'd reveal a suit of mithral chain mail and offer it to them. "It may not be riches, but please accept this as a token of mah gratitude. Ya saved me and kept mah prized Petunia safe." He'd bow his head in thanks.
Rest Well Earned (Please vote for a short or long rest. At your leisure please RP a little something accordingly. Please also feel free to discuss your next steps as a group. Then of course, you may reap your rewards!)
Roll Call: Everyone!
Rewards
Inspiration Granted (Give yourselves a pat on the back for the long haul on this one. There's been great RP, sincere efforts in character investment and staying true to character. As always, thank you for rolling with the punches and creating deeper connections with the world around you. You should all be commended for problem solving outside of simply hack and slash.
Thank you for being you.
Sincere thanks from your DM to everyone. If you don't already have inspiration, please click it.
I know we all get busy at times and can affect contribution, but I would also like to give specific shout outs though... for those extra efforts/detail that stood out to me. It's these little things that help inspire me to keep going:
Kaemgen - For immersing yourself and setting events in motion outside of the main adventurer story. By extending out, you've expanded the story and are making use of the living world around you. It opens up a lot of opportunity and has allowed me to connect both groups. Nathan - I give thanks for the encouragement OOC by providing feedback on my success in scene setting. For indulging us with a story, allowing me to amuse myself by incorporating it and engaging with Petunia. Scott - I want to acknowledge you staying true to Auric's logic, but also his 'weakness' for rushing forward without thought to come to someone's aid. I appreciate how you worked with me and played true to humility and embarrassment afterwards, leading to a moment of understanding with others. I also thank you for learning together and working with me on balancing out a flying familiar.)
Achievements 1 x Successful scene creep 1 x Retreat to Live Another Day 1 x Bonding with Petunia 1 x Letter to Adabra 1 x Warning Sent 1 x Wolf Enhancements 1 x Hoard of Orcs 1 x True to Character 1 x Negotiate
Experience: (Must be applied yourself) Per Player: 1800xp each
Monies Orc Pocket Change:47gp Petunia's Earnings: 65gp, 145sp, and 220cp
With 5 characters, that is 9 gp 4 sp each.
That XP takes Auric to Level 4!
"Thou art most generous, good farmer. Many thanks for thy fine reward. Let us take our ease for a moment, then we shall help thee put thy abode to rights," says the golden dragonborn.
OOC: Suggesting a combination of resting and helping Big Al clean up his house, then spending the night to fully recover...
Kaemgen will also take an Orc Battleaxe. A bit unwieldy to carry two but it could come in handy...
Kaemgen considers asking for the Dragonchess set, he learned it as a child of course. Noble birth and all. But he sucked at the game so dismissed the idea.
He'll also have no interest in the Mithril, eschewing armor.
Stepping back into the house with Big Al and all, Kaemgen begins to realize why the wolves stayed outside soon enough. He is polite though, so makes no comment about the reek, but he does excuse himself. "If you do not mind, I could use myself a good nap out in the air. I'm sure the pack will keep an eye out for anymore Orcs will I grab my rest and I'll have my new Orc Axe at my side in case they do." With that, Kaemgen steps out and looks for a likely place outside to huddle with the twins and get his rest on. Kaemgen only intends to take a short rest outside, to regain some strength while communing with nature as it was... But after that short rest he realizes that the stench was most definitely all inside the house. He will hunt down a well or water pump and bucket and take the (unspoken?) advice of the wolf pack and sill the tub before forcing himself into the cold, cold water... Luckily there is nobody around to talk about shrinkage!
After eventually becoming adapted to the freezing waters, Kaemgen carefully pulls out the return letter from Adabra and reads it once again. "Take care of yourself for a safe return home, she wrote. You think she meant my home back upon the family's lands or... Someplace else?" Kaemgen asks the twins, who don't really seem to be paying him any mind at all. "I know I'd like to think... But never mind. She also says not to be reckless but I find myself becoming more and more so. Hopefully not in a stupid way, but I seem to feel as if my attacks would be more advantageous with a bit of recklessness?" ((Barbarian lvl 2 taken. Reckless Attack and explaining why he's taking more to the outdoors, I suppose.))
"I would like to write her again, soon... But I don't suppose I can have you two running messages back and forth daily, no matter how much I'd like to. Not fair to the two of you... Perhaps I need me a bird, huh? I hear ravens have been down to carry messages written tiny on little scraps of paper..." Kaemgen allows his mind to drift for a while but as his eyes start growing heavy he has enough sense to climb out of the frigid. and now filthy, bathwater before he falls asleep and freezes to death.
After the bath, and a soaking and wringing out of his clothes, more rest is still needed. As well as the warmth of the wolves, who weren't sopping wet. Huddling together they would rest more and get in a long rest... Returning to the house proper at first light, refreshed and more than willing to lend a hand in whatever work needs doing, now that he's once again capable of such exertions.
While doing chores to try to set the house to rights, such as dragging out Orc carcasses and piling them with broken furniture and other such that needs a good burning, Kaemgen will pull Auric aside for a moment and hand him a couple of vials. "These were sent to us by Adabra when the wolves returned. I first thought to hold on to them all until needed but I've thought better of that approach. I gave an Elixir of Healing to Mr.Dark yesterday just before we freed Big Al. I told him to take if it looked to be another fight about to happen, for he seemed on his last legs. He's also just likely to need in the future anyway. I think perhaps this other one as well as this Elixir of Resistance perhaps you should carry? Truth be told, I can get a bit thick headed and unthinking during a fight. It might not even occur to me to take such a thing, even if I needed it. You tend to see the bigger picture, yes? Think more strategically? You may be wiser about when and where and who should use... And if I did happen to get myself in too deep and fall in battle, perhaps you could rush in and use the one to save me before I'm too far gone?"
((Vial of Elixir of Healing - 2d4 + 3 hit points and Vial of Elixir of Resilience - drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes both handed to Auric for safekeeping, if he is agreeable. Kaemgen keeps Elixir of Boldness for himself though...))
"Is there more on our plate before we return to town?" Kaemgen will also ask of Auric. "Would be good to get Al here set back to rights, but would be also good to..." Kaemgen wasn't really sure what to say to express his interest in returning to town so he just let that kind of drift on the wind...
Despite his fatigue, Auric spends the rest of the day helping the farmer put his house in order, then does what else he can to investigate the burned remains of the outbuildings for anything salvageable. Given their recent run-in with the wererats, he keeps an eye out for anything silver, considering if there might be any smithing tools remaining so they could silver their weapons.
At Kaemgen's offer, he says, "Thou art most kind to regard me so highly, but in truth I am no wiser than others. Still, I will endeavor to use thine elixirs at moments most apropos."
When questioned about their next stop, Auric suggests, "Unless we have the weaponsmithing art to transform that fine coat of mithril into a coating on our weapons that would prove effective against the wererats infesting the mines, that way is closed to us for the nonce. Butterskull Ranch is burned but not broken, and Master Kalazorn hath been rescued, so that task hath been resolved. The remaining job requireth us to escort goods from Phandalin, so that by default becometh our destination."
Reminder of additional quests:
Butterskull Ranch Quest. “Orcs have attacked Butterskull Ranch, five miles east of Conyberry along the Triboar Trail! Travel there with haste, assess the damage, and help any way you can. Ranch owner Alfonse “Big Al” Kalazorn is a retired sheriff who can reward you for your efforts. If he’s dead, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester with proof of Kalazorn’s demise to receive a reward of 100 gp.”
Loggers’ Camp Quest. “Deep in Neverwinter Wood, along the river that flows west toward Neverwinter, is a logging camp. Every two months, Phandalin delivers fresh supplies to the camp, which is run by the half-brother of Phandalin’s townmaster, Harbin Wester. Barthen, the local provisioner, has prepared a new delivery. He needs someone to bear the supplies safely to the camp. Return to Harbin Wester with a notice of delivery signed by his half-brother, Tibor Wester, to claim your reward of 100 gp.”
Mountain’s Toe Quest. “The Mountain’s Toe Gold Mine lies fifteen miles northeast of Phandalin. The new overseer, Don-Jon Raskin, just made the trip from Neverwinter to Phandalin and needs to be escorted to the mine. There’s no telling what dangers lie between here and there. Once you deliver Raskin safe and sound, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 100 gp.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
XP added, Level 4 acquired, Took a level in Fighter.
9 gold, 4 silver added.
Question: Kaemgen, does Mr.Dark still have the potion of healing, or does Auric have it now?
Mr.Dark winces as Big Al slaps him on the shoulder. But tries to grin through the pain and follows the man into the house. Despite Big Al's warning about Daisy's moooo'd though, and against his better judgement, he follows the man upstairs to find the injured cow laying on the bed. "Oh, now you decide to take a break." He walks up to Daisy and gives her a gentle pat on her flank, "You done good. Don't worry, we'll take care of you." But, there was little he could do now, he needed to rest.
When the man presents the rich treasure of the mithril chain Mr.Dark thanks him, "It's beautiful, thank you." A full suit of chain isn't really Mr.Dark's style though and it would do only little over what he can already achieve with his ability to dodge and his leather armor. "It would be a shame to melt such a beautiful suit down, but if we could trade it for weapons that could hurt the rats, I'd be all for that. Maybe a smith would trade it in exchange for silvering all our weapons and a bunch of bolts. Maybe if I just wore the chain shirt part of the suit, that could be quite nice for me, if nobody else wants it. Then the rest of the suit might be of limited value for trade?"
Heading downstairs and seeing a battlefield inside the house, and all the stenches that come with it, he sees Kaemgen head outside and realizes the man has the right idea. Mr.Dark drags his backpack outside and tosses his sleeping mat down on a flat spot and gently eases himself into place so he can just lay here for a sec. Just a sec. He glances over at a banging noise as Auric pulls an orc body from the front door. "I'll be right with ya buddy....just a minute..."
He closes his eyes. The sound of an orc body being dragged across the dirt, the grunts of the dragon warrior, fade away as he hears the gentle sound of the wind blowing through the nearby fields, the tin clanks of the nearby wind chime, and the grunts and growls of the two wolves as they re-position themselves up wind from Kaemgen as he settles. The smells of the world waft about, unpleasant but mixing with the fresh air of the open countryside. There's a salty metallic tang in his mouth. Pings of pain and stinging injuries report in from up and down his body. The dull ache in the ribs the worst of it.
After an hour though, having grown bored of the almost constant throb of pain in his body, and having recovered enough that he figures he should probably help, he stands up and glances around for Auric to go help the dragon born manage the mess as best he can. He helps drag Orc bodies out of the house and into a pile to be burned. He helps scavenge any of the buildings that can yet be saved from fire. Liberal use of the Mending is used to patch his own gear, clothing and armor, as well as basic stuff around the house and farm, such as broken chairs or hinges. And otherwise, not being afraid of any job, Mr.Dark will get down on hands and knees and scrub floors to make the house livable again.
"I agree, spending a day here helping Big Al and Daisy seems worth it. Then we should head to Phandalin and the last remaining job."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
"A suit of mithral ain't cheap. If we sold the armor, we should be able to get some magic weapons or some silvered weapons so that we can smack those wererats round a bit." Xenophon feels exhausted, now that the adrenaline from combat has expired. "I think that it might be a good idea to rest for a day. I'm a bit beat and I know I'm not the only one."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
“Not sure we’d get full value if it’s worth from a place as small… but beggars and choosers and all that,” Kaemgen says with a shrug. “Shouldn’t just focus on the rats though, could be that situation is resolved by others before we can make our way back there. Though upgrading for that situation would likely set us up for others as well…”
Scott is ready to find a place to sleep for the night and the house, minus the awful smell, seems like as good a place as any. He’ll assist with cleaning where he can, but not being particularly strong, he’ll stick with the lighter jobs.
Assuming no one objects, Scott takes the silk fabric and puts it in his pack. Being the least wounded, mainly due to his not noticing the fighting, Scott takes first watch. Giving the others the opportunity to rest. During his watch he swears he hears another voice in his head, though he isn’t sure what it’s from. (Taking the spell beast bond to make the wolves a bit more effective. And this seemed a good way to explain it. Feel free to amend or expand upon the idea ixi) Once his watch is over, he will wake whoever volunteered next or looks the least worn out from the day. Better to let those that sustained the most injury rest as long as possible.
Indeed, the wolves weren't paying mind. After they had helped themselves to drinking the water from the tub and off any limb dangling out, they moved on to cleaning themselves, doing what the man couldn't. When everyone finished, sleep was more than welcomed. The twins were pooched. Dashing double time through the forest was exhausting, even for their level of energy. It didn't take much convincing for them to snuggle up for the night. Some treats would have been nice... And the brief moment before falling asleep Kaemgen could hear Pollux chewing on something. A rock. If only there were stones that could send messages...
Come morning, Big Al welcomed all the help and effort to put his home in decent order. While some adventurers cleared bodies out of the area, others removed trash, collected items, did some preliminary washing and straightening up. Working together, one by one, the house started to look like it was going to make a satisfying recovery from the orc hoard. The one remaining item on the list was...
MOOOOOOOOOO!
"A hand?" Big Al calls from the top of the stairs.
Those answering the call would find the man trying to drag the mattress to the top of the stairs. Who other than 'Daisy'. With her flower crown on, snout up, she was on top of it and in her morning sass, she refused to make the task easy. Pull me peasant.
Mattress Surfing (Help a cow oot!)
Animal Handling Check: Mr. Dark gets Adv. Dexterity or Strength Check: Push or pull. Help or not. Good luck!
Roll Call: Anyone!
Confirmation check: Returning to Phandalin?
Auric's Quest Reminder
Butterskull Ranch Quest. “Orcs have attacked Butterskull Ranch, five miles east of Conyberry along the Triboar Trail! Travel there with haste, assess the damage, and help any way you can. Ranch owner Alfonse “Big Al” Kalazorn is a retired sheriff who can reward you for your efforts. If he’s dead, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester with proof of Kalazorn’s demise to receive a reward of 100 gp.”
Mountain’s Toe Quest. “The Mountain’s Toe Gold Mine lies fifteen miles northeast of Phandalin. The new overseer, Don-Jon Raskin, just made the trip from Neverwinter to Phandalin and needs to be escorted to the mine. There’s no telling what dangers lie between here and there. Once you deliver Raskin safe and sound, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 100 gp.”
Loggers’ Camp Quest. “Deep in Neverwinter Wood, along the river that flows west toward Neverwinter, is a logging camp. Every two months, Phandalin delivers fresh supplies to the camp, which is run by the half-brother of Phandalin’s townmaster, Harbin Wester. Barthen, the local provisioner, has prepared a new delivery. He needs someone to bear the supplies safely to the camp. Return to Harbin Wester with a notice of delivery signed by his half-brother, Tibor Wester, to claim your reward of 100 gp.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mr.Dark looks at the mattress and the cow, then over at Big Al. "Um. This is the plan?" He looks again at the scene. Shaking his head in amazement, he looks at Daisy. "Well, you got yourself up here. This really is your fault. Let's go...on the mattress. Let's make it happen." Animal Handling : 10
"Don't be a cow! Get on the darned mattress. The only other way off the 2nd floor is as tonights BBQ, so get moving ya daft animal!" Mr.Dark seems to be losing his cool with the animal.....
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Mmmm...? Whatsat?" Kaemgen would ask, coming briefly out of his sleep. "Pollux! No. Drop it!!"
Reaching over into his pack, Kaemgen rummages around for a bit before pulling out a bone he had purchased in town for the pair. This looked like some kind of socket joint, he imagined. "Here, this'll be better for your teeth... Magic or not, shouldn't be chewing stones..." And moments later, Kaemgen is back asleep thinking about magic and stones.
...
The next morning Kaemgen laughs loudly and long regarding the Cow Situation. But when push comes to shove, Kaemgen decides he would much rather pull. "I seen this regal bovine kick the royal crap out of one of them there Orcs. I'll stay in front for my own safety..." So Kaemgen stays up near her shoulders, trying to strong arm encouragement for the cow to edge her way down the stairs, and give her a steadying support as she does.
Str. Check: 18
"Could always sic the twins on her from behind... That would get her moooooving," he jests.
((Yes, back to town to try to buy some magic or silvered instruments!))
'Daisy' would give Mr Dark a look. She was already on the mattress. Big Al was the one struggling to pull it with her on it. As Mr. Dark became more and more frustrated, 'Daisy' continued to stand her ground, true to her stubborn nature. And although it didn't appear to be working, the more flustered Mr. Dark got, the more smug 'Daisy' became. They're cute when they're annoyed. So, Mr. Dark definitely didn't make the situation worse. He at least kept Petunia occupied for others to work safely. For the most part.
Kaemgen making point not to strong arm her from the back was a wise decision because even from the front, he was met with a wall of resistance. Sure, rough can be a real good time but not everyone likes a head pusher off the hop. Consent anyone? Petunia snaps at him to shoo him away to give her some space. He'd be met with a leer when he'd threatened the twins. She'd scuff the mattress with her hind legs to return her own message.
The twins dopey excited faces drop. They exchange looks with each other, then look up at Kaemgen. Pollux picks up his bone and the pair nope out of the house real quick. They'd rather go frolic in the fields to fetch bacon. Castor leads the way to go mess with some pigs on the loose instead.
Perhaps Petunia could be convinced to come down instead...
Sweet Talk Unlocked! (Maybe I could have provided a Charisma option... DM bad!)
Charisma Check: Available!
(Sounds good! Phandaline next when the group is ready.) (Ps. The rock was a hint/reminder that you guys do have sending stones. And of course, Castor is outfitted with a note/letter carrier as well.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Auric:
With a handful of fresh grass in hand, Auric approaches up the stairs and says, "Salutations, oh profitable Petunia. Mayhaps thou wouldst deign to join us below whence an abundance of such nature's bounty grows in fertile fields?"
The dragonborn attempts to lure the cow onto the mattress for the slow slide downstairs. Persuasion: 22
Edited to try and force the die roll to resolve...
Both Castor and Pollux’s ears droop and tails come to a full stop from Kaemgen’s reaction. They whine, heads tilting. He was right, they didn’t take a beating, but they also weren’t the ones with open wounds and rolled in cow manure. Though, if the man didn’t want to bathe and wanted to sport the scent like ‘poopery’, it wasn’t their nose he’d offend. With wingpup duties denied, they’re hearded back to the farmhouse. This time the twins stay outside, taking up positions on the deck while the men situate themselves and rest.
just an unstable unicorn.
((I *did* forget about the poop... In my defense, 1 HP is not the best for thinking! I'm sure he'll wake up quite offended by the smell and seek out some warm water and Axe body spray after a few hours rest...))
Mr.Dark follows along after Kaemgen without giving anything much thought, just doing as he's told, but, overhearing the chatter about the cow a part of his brain wakes up and he glances over, "Oh, thank goodness. I was worried the animal was going to expect to follow me around until the end of days. Your cow is quite the trouble maker, but..also, saved my ass. Still not sure how she got upstairs. Anyway.....I can take you to her. She needs help getting downstairs."
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Auric:
”Aye, let us all adjourn to the main domicile, that we may take our ease and reunite man and beast,” agrees Auric, heading back out and towards the house main entrance.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Scott follows along trying to put the pieces of everything together in his head.
Big Al chuckles lowly, shaking his head a little once Mr. Dark divulges. "Aye. She dunnit again. Guess she'll want a mattress ride... " He gives the man a hard clap on the shoulder as he passes by. "Fickle thing. Ya best not be the first one she sees since ya left her there." Al follows the golden dragonborn back to the house.
After tip toeing by the pair of wolves, Big Al's eyes go wide from the first sight of carnage and his mouth hangs agape while he's walked through his destroyed residence. Stepping over an orc, Big Al would wonder if it would have been better if this was burned too. Wet dog. Blood. Fresh manure. Rotten food. Must. Mold. Sour milk. The stench that wafted around the bodies, dead and alive, was more than enough for the homeowner to make a point to open every window along the way. There wasn't much he could do about everyone tracking it through the house. At least the wolfs stayed outside. Smart snoots.
"Uh, well. Yer welcomed to make yourselves uh... more comfortable." Big Al would add. There were facilities. All though well used from the hoard of orcs, they existed. There were chairs, couches and some beds available in various states of disrepair for resting. Revealing a special store, clean water was available for washing and consuming.
Big Al would head upstairs with caution. The cow would be found taking up the best bed in the house. She looked almost peaceful sleeping, if it wasn't for shallow breathing that brought attention to her wounds. Petunia was alive and showed signs of healing, but still had a way to go, much like the men who defended the home. Exhaling a breath mixed with relief, Al would turn to a bulky cedar wardrobe in the room. Bending forward he'd reach underneath it and with a click, a secret compartment would be revealed. Auric had just missed it in his search.
Al would lift an item wrapped in a light silk. Pulling back the fabric he'd reveal a suit of mithral chain mail and offer it to them. "It may not be riches, but please accept this as a token of mah gratitude. Ya saved me and kept mah prized Petunia safe." He'd bow his head in thanks.
Rest Well Earned
(Please vote for a short or long rest. At your leisure please RP a little something accordingly. Please also feel free to discuss your next steps as a group. Then of course, you may reap your rewards!)
Roll Call: Everyone!
Rewards
Inspiration Granted
(Give yourselves a pat on the back for the long haul on this one. There's been great RP, sincere efforts in character investment and staying true to character. As always, thank you for rolling with the punches and creating deeper connections with the world around you. You should all be commended for problem solving outside of simply hack and slash.
Thank you for being you.
Sincere thanks from your DM to everyone. If you don't already have inspiration, please click it.
I know we all get busy at times and can affect contribution, but I would also like to give specific shout outs though... for those extra efforts/detail that stood out to me. It's these little things that help inspire me to keep going:
Kaemgen - For immersing yourself and setting events in motion outside of the main adventurer story. By extending out, you've expanded the story and are making use of the living world around you. It opens up a lot of opportunity and has allowed me to connect both groups.
Nathan - I give thanks for the encouragement OOC by providing feedback on my success in scene setting. For indulging us with a story, allowing me to amuse myself by incorporating it and engaging with Petunia.
Scott - I want to acknowledge you staying true to Auric's logic, but also his 'weakness' for rushing forward without thought to come to someone's aid. I appreciate how you worked with me and played true to humility and embarrassment afterwards, leading to a moment of understanding with others. I also thank you for learning together and working with me on balancing out a flying familiar.)
Items Received
1 x Silk Fabric
1 x mithral chain mail
Achievements
1 x Successful scene creep
1 x Retreat to Live Another Day
1 x Bonding with Petunia
1 x Letter to Adabra
1 x Warning Sent
1 x Wolf Enhancements
1 x Hoard of Orcs
1 x True to Character
1 x Negotiate
Experience:
(Must be applied yourself)
Per Player: 1800xp each
just an unstable unicorn.
Auric:
OOC: Also we need to split Auric's earlier findings (ignore Petunia's earnings that were returned to Big Al)
Misc Goodies
1 x Three-Dragon Ante playing cards
1 x Dragonchess set
3 x Orc Battleaxe
Monies
Orc Pocket Change: 47gp
Petunia's Earnings: 65gp, 145sp, and 220cp
With 5 characters, that is 9 gp 4 sp each.
That XP takes Auric to Level 4!
"Thou art most generous, good farmer. Many thanks for thy fine reward. Let us take our ease for a moment, then we shall help thee put thy abode to rights," says the golden dragonborn.
OOC: Suggesting a combination of resting and helping Big Al clean up his house, then spending the night to fully recover...
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
9gp and 4sp added.
Kaemgen will also take an Orc Battleaxe. A bit unwieldy to carry two but it could come in handy...
Kaemgen considers asking for the Dragonchess set, he learned it as a child of course. Noble birth and all. But he sucked at the game so dismissed the idea.
He'll also have no interest in the Mithril, eschewing armor.
Stepping back into the house with Big Al and all, Kaemgen begins to realize why the wolves stayed outside soon enough. He is polite though, so makes no comment about the reek, but he does excuse himself. "If you do not mind, I could use myself a good nap out in the air. I'm sure the pack will keep an eye out for anymore Orcs will I grab my rest and I'll have my new Orc Axe at my side in case they do." With that, Kaemgen steps out and looks for a likely place outside to huddle with the twins and get his rest on. Kaemgen only intends to take a short rest outside, to regain some strength while communing with nature as it was... But after that short rest he realizes that the stench was most definitely all inside the house. He will hunt down a well or water pump and bucket and take the (unspoken?) advice of the wolf pack and sill the tub before forcing himself into the cold, cold water... Luckily there is nobody around to talk about shrinkage!
After eventually becoming adapted to the freezing waters, Kaemgen carefully pulls out the return letter from Adabra and reads it once again. "Take care of yourself for a safe return home, she wrote. You think she meant my home back upon the family's lands or... Someplace else?" Kaemgen asks the twins, who don't really seem to be paying him any mind at all. "I know I'd like to think... But never mind. She also says not to be reckless but I find myself becoming more and more so. Hopefully not in a stupid way, but I seem to feel as if my attacks would be more advantageous with a bit of recklessness?" ((Barbarian lvl 2 taken. Reckless Attack and explaining why he's taking more to the outdoors, I suppose.))
"I would like to write her again, soon... But I don't suppose I can have you two running messages back and forth daily, no matter how much I'd like to. Not fair to the two of you... Perhaps I need me a bird, huh? I hear ravens have been down to carry messages written tiny on little scraps of paper..." Kaemgen allows his mind to drift for a while but as his eyes start growing heavy he has enough sense to climb out of the frigid. and now filthy, bathwater before he falls asleep and freezes to death.
After the bath, and a soaking and wringing out of his clothes, more rest is still needed. As well as the warmth of the wolves, who weren't sopping wet. Huddling together they would rest more and get in a long rest... Returning to the house proper at first light, refreshed and more than willing to lend a hand in whatever work needs doing, now that he's once again capable of such exertions.
While doing chores to try to set the house to rights, such as dragging out Orc carcasses and piling them with broken furniture and other such that needs a good burning, Kaemgen will pull Auric aside for a moment and hand him a couple of vials. "These were sent to us by Adabra when the wolves returned. I first thought to hold on to them all until needed but I've thought better of that approach. I gave an Elixir of Healing to Mr.Dark yesterday just before we freed Big Al. I told him to take if it looked to be another fight about to happen, for he seemed on his last legs. He's also just likely to need in the future anyway. I think perhaps this other one as well as this Elixir of Resistance perhaps you should carry? Truth be told, I can get a bit thick headed and unthinking during a fight. It might not even occur to me to take such a thing, even if I needed it. You tend to see the bigger picture, yes? Think more strategically? You may be wiser about when and where and who should use... And if I did happen to get myself in too deep and fall in battle, perhaps you could rush in and use the one to save me before I'm too far gone?"
((Vial of Elixir of Healing - 2d4 + 3 hit points and Vial of Elixir of Resilience - drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes both handed to Auric for safekeeping, if he is agreeable. Kaemgen keeps Elixir of Boldness for himself though...))
"Is there more on our plate before we return to town?" Kaemgen will also ask of Auric. "Would be good to get Al here set back to rights, but would be also good to..." Kaemgen wasn't really sure what to say to express his interest in returning to town so he just let that kind of drift on the wind...
Auric:
Despite his fatigue, Auric spends the rest of the day helping the farmer put his house in order, then does what else he can to investigate the burned remains of the outbuildings for anything salvageable. Given their recent run-in with the wererats, he keeps an eye out for anything silver, considering if there might be any smithing tools remaining so they could silver their weapons.
At Kaemgen's offer, he says, "Thou art most kind to regard me so highly, but in truth I am no wiser than others. Still, I will endeavor to use thine elixirs at moments most apropos."
When questioned about their next stop, Auric suggests, "Unless we have the weaponsmithing art to transform that fine coat of mithril into a coating on our weapons that would prove effective against the wererats infesting the mines, that way is closed to us for the nonce. Butterskull Ranch is burned but not broken, and Master Kalazorn hath been rescued, so that task hath been resolved. The remaining job requireth us to escort goods from Phandalin, so that by default becometh our destination."
Reminder of additional quests:
Butterskull Ranch Quest.
“Orcs have attacked Butterskull Ranch, five miles east of Conyberry along the Triboar Trail! Travel there with haste, assess the damage, and help any way you can. Ranch owner Alfonse “Big Al” Kalazorn is a retired sheriff who can reward you for your efforts. If he’s dead, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester with proof of Kalazorn’s demise to receive a reward of 100 gp.”
Loggers’ Camp Quest.
“Deep in Neverwinter Wood, along the river that flows west toward Neverwinter, is a logging camp. Every two months, Phandalin delivers fresh supplies to the camp, which is run by the half-brother of Phandalin’s townmaster, Harbin Wester. Barthen, the local provisioner, has prepared a new delivery. He needs someone to bear the supplies safely to the camp. Return to Harbin Wester with a notice of delivery signed by his half-brother, Tibor Wester, to claim your reward of 100 gp.”
Mountain’s Toe Quest.
“The Mountain’s Toe Gold Mine lies fifteen miles northeast of Phandalin. The new overseer, Don-Jon Raskin, just made the trip from Neverwinter to Phandalin and needs to be escorted to the mine. There’s no telling what dangers lie between here and there. Once you deliver Raskin safe and sound, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 100 gp.”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
A truly fabulous post Ixi! Thanks so much Ixi!
XP added, Level 4 acquired, Took a level in Fighter.
9 gold, 4 silver added.
Question: Kaemgen, does Mr.Dark still have the potion of healing, or does Auric have it now?
Mr.Dark winces as Big Al slaps him on the shoulder. But tries to grin through the pain and follows the man into the house. Despite Big Al's warning about Daisy's moooo'd though, and against his better judgement, he follows the man upstairs to find the injured cow laying on the bed. "Oh, now you decide to take a break." He walks up to Daisy and gives her a gentle pat on her flank, "You done good. Don't worry, we'll take care of you." But, there was little he could do now, he needed to rest.
When the man presents the rich treasure of the mithril chain Mr.Dark thanks him, "It's beautiful, thank you." A full suit of chain isn't really Mr.Dark's style though and it would do only little over what he can already achieve with his ability to dodge and his leather armor. "It would be a shame to melt such a beautiful suit down, but if we could trade it for weapons that could hurt the rats, I'd be all for that. Maybe a smith would trade it in exchange for silvering all our weapons and a bunch of bolts. Maybe if I just wore the chain shirt part of the suit, that could be quite nice for me, if nobody else wants it. Then the rest of the suit might be of limited value for trade?"
Heading downstairs and seeing a battlefield inside the house, and all the stenches that come with it, he sees Kaemgen head outside and realizes the man has the right idea. Mr.Dark drags his backpack outside and tosses his sleeping mat down on a flat spot and gently eases himself into place so he can just lay here for a sec. Just a sec. He glances over at a banging noise as Auric pulls an orc body from the front door. "I'll be right with ya buddy....just a minute..."
He closes his eyes. The sound of an orc body being dragged across the dirt, the grunts of the dragon warrior, fade away as he hears the gentle sound of the wind blowing through the nearby fields, the tin clanks of the nearby wind chime, and the grunts and growls of the two wolves as they re-position themselves up wind from Kaemgen as he settles. The smells of the world waft about, unpleasant but mixing with the fresh air of the open countryside. There's a salty metallic tang in his mouth. Pings of pain and stinging injuries report in from up and down his body. The dull ache in the ribs the worst of it.
After an hour though, having grown bored of the almost constant throb of pain in his body, and having recovered enough that he figures he should probably help, he stands up and glances around for Auric to go help the dragon born manage the mess as best he can. He helps drag Orc bodies out of the house and into a pile to be burned. He helps scavenge any of the buildings that can yet be saved from fire. Liberal use of the Mending is used to patch his own gear, clothing and armor, as well as basic stuff around the house and farm, such as broken chairs or hinges. And otherwise, not being afraid of any job, Mr.Dark will get down on hands and knees and scrub floors to make the house livable again.
"I agree, spending a day here helping Big Al and Daisy seems worth it. Then we should head to Phandalin and the last remaining job."
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Mr.Dark has Elixir of Healing
Auric has other Elixir of Healing AND an Elixir or Resiliance.
Kaemgen has an Elixir of Boldness, a wolf with magic teeth and a wolf with a magic bandana...
"A suit of mithral ain't cheap. If we sold the armor, we should be able to get some magic weapons or some silvered weapons so that we can smack those wererats round a bit." Xenophon feels exhausted, now that the adrenaline from combat has expired. "I think that it might be a good idea to rest for a day. I'm a bit beat and I know I'm not the only one."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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“Not sure we’d get full value if it’s worth from a place as small… but beggars and choosers and all that,” Kaemgen says with a shrug. “Shouldn’t just focus on the rats though, could be that situation is resolved by others before we can make our way back there. Though upgrading for that situation would likely set us up for others as well…”
"Right. It can't hurt us to have a magic or silvered weapon in the future. Odds are that they're gonna come in handy at some point."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Scott is ready to find a place to sleep for the night and the house, minus the awful smell, seems like as good a place as any. He’ll assist with cleaning where he can, but not being particularly strong, he’ll stick with the lighter jobs.
Assuming no one objects, Scott takes the silk fabric and puts it in his pack. Being the least wounded, mainly due to his not noticing the fighting, Scott takes first watch. Giving the others the opportunity to rest. During his watch he swears he hears another voice in his head, though he isn’t sure what it’s from. (Taking the spell beast bond to make the wolves a bit more effective. And this seemed a good way to explain it. Feel free to amend or expand upon the idea ixi) Once his watch is over, he will wake whoever volunteered next or looks the least worn out from the day. Better to let those that sustained the most injury rest as long as possible.
Indeed, the wolves weren't paying mind. After they had helped themselves to drinking the water from the tub and off any limb dangling out, they moved on to cleaning themselves, doing what the man couldn't. When everyone finished, sleep was more than welcomed. The twins were pooched. Dashing double time through the forest was exhausting, even for their level of energy. It didn't take much convincing for them to snuggle up for the night. Some treats would have been nice... And the brief moment before falling asleep Kaemgen could hear Pollux chewing on something. A rock. If only there were stones that could send messages...
Come morning, Big Al welcomed all the help and effort to put his home in decent order. While some adventurers cleared bodies out of the area, others removed trash, collected items, did some preliminary washing and straightening up. Working together, one by one, the house started to look like it was going to make a satisfying recovery from the orc hoard. The one remaining item on the list was...
MOOOOOOOOOO!
"A hand?" Big Al calls from the top of the stairs.
Those answering the call would find the man trying to drag the mattress to the top of the stairs. Who other than 'Daisy'. With her flower crown on, snout up, she was on top of it and in her morning sass, she refused to make the task easy. Pull me peasant.
Mattress Surfing
(Help a cow oot!)
Animal Handling Check: Mr. Dark gets Adv.
Dexterity or Strength Check: Push or pull. Help or not. Good luck!
Roll Call: Anyone!
Confirmation check: Returning to Phandalin?
Auric's Quest Reminder
Butterskull Ranch Quest.
“Orcs have attacked Butterskull Ranch, five miles east of Conyberry along the Triboar Trail! Travel there with haste, assess the damage, and help any way you can. Ranch owner Alfonse “Big Al” Kalazorn is a retired sheriff who can reward you for your efforts. If he’s dead, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester with proof of Kalazorn’s demise to receive a reward of 100 gp.”
Mountain’s Toe Quest.
“The Mountain’s Toe Gold Mine lies fifteen miles northeast of Phandalin. The new overseer, Don-Jon Raskin, just made the trip from Neverwinter to Phandalin and needs to be escorted to the mine. There’s no telling what dangers lie between here and there. Once you deliver Raskin safe and sound, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 100 gp.”
Loggers’ Camp Quest.
“Deep in Neverwinter Wood, along the river that flows west toward Neverwinter, is a logging camp. Every two months, Phandalin delivers fresh supplies to the camp, which is run by the half-brother of Phandalin’s townmaster, Harbin Wester. Barthen, the local provisioner, has prepared a new delivery. He needs someone to bear the supplies safely to the camp. Return to Harbin Wester with a notice of delivery signed by his half-brother, Tibor Wester, to claim your reward of 100 gp.”
DM: 15
just an unstable unicorn.
Mr.Dark looks at the mattress and the cow, then over at Big Al. "Um. This is the plan?" He looks again at the scene. Shaking his head in amazement, he looks at Daisy. "Well, you got yourself up here. This really is your fault. Let's go...on the mattress. Let's make it happen." Animal Handling : 10
"Don't be a cow! Get on the darned mattress. The only other way off the 2nd floor is as tonights BBQ, so get moving ya daft animal!" Mr.Dark seems to be losing his cool with the animal.....
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
"Mmmm...? Whatsat?" Kaemgen would ask, coming briefly out of his sleep. "Pollux! No. Drop it!!"
Reaching over into his pack, Kaemgen rummages around for a bit before pulling out a bone he had purchased in town for the pair. This looked like some kind of socket joint, he imagined. "Here, this'll be better for your teeth... Magic or not, shouldn't be chewing stones..." And moments later, Kaemgen is back asleep thinking about magic and stones.
...
The next morning Kaemgen laughs loudly and long regarding the Cow Situation. But when push comes to shove, Kaemgen decides he would much rather pull. "I seen this regal bovine kick the royal crap out of one of them there Orcs. I'll stay in front for my own safety..." So Kaemgen stays up near her shoulders, trying to strong arm encouragement for the cow to edge her way down the stairs, and give her a steadying support as she does.
Str. Check: 18
"Could always sic the twins on her from behind... That would get her moooooving," he jests.
((Yes, back to town to try to buy some magic or silvered instruments!))
'Daisy' would give Mr Dark a look. She was already on the mattress. Big Al was the one struggling to pull it with her on it. As Mr. Dark became more and more frustrated, 'Daisy' continued to stand her ground, true to her stubborn nature. And although it didn't appear to be working, the more flustered Mr. Dark got, the more smug 'Daisy' became. They're cute when they're annoyed. So, Mr. Dark definitely didn't make the situation worse. He at least kept Petunia occupied for others to work safely. For the most part.
Kaemgen making point not to strong arm her from the back was a wise decision because even from the front, he was met with a wall of resistance. Sure, rough can be a real good time but not everyone likes a head pusher off the hop. Consent anyone? Petunia snaps at him to shoo him away to give her some space. He'd be met with a leer when he'd threatened the twins. She'd scuff the mattress with her hind legs to return her own message.
The twins dopey excited faces drop. They exchange looks with each other, then look up at Kaemgen. Pollux picks up his bone and the pair nope out of the house real quick. They'd rather go frolic in the fields to fetch bacon. Castor leads the way to go mess with some pigs on the loose instead.
Perhaps Petunia could be convinced to come down instead...
Sweet Talk Unlocked!
(Maybe I could have provided a Charisma option... DM bad!)
Charisma Check: Available!
(Sounds good! Phandaline next when the group is ready.)
(Ps. The rock was a hint/reminder that you guys do have sending stones. And of course, Castor is outfitted with a note/letter carrier as well.)
just an unstable unicorn.
Auric:
With a handful of fresh grass in hand, Auric approaches up the stairs and says, "Salutations, oh profitable Petunia. Mayhaps thou wouldst deign to join us below whence an abundance of such nature's bounty grows in fertile fields?"
The dragonborn attempts to lure the cow onto the mattress for the slow slide downstairs. Persuasion: 22
Edited to try and force the die roll to resolve...
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"