Dragon of Icespire Peak - Campaign 1

Auric:

"Let us then be on our way, noble companions, that we might provide for the hungry mother and her potential progeny and turn a monster's malfeasance into the people's protector," says Auric, looking to the wolf to lead the way forth.

Mr.Dark pays for the rations. (-80 gold from group treasure, correct?) 

Then, after turning his crotch away from the wolfs snout in discomfort, coughs and says, "Yes, quite Auric, let's get movin." 

A smirk would grow on Adabra’s face as she’d wait for McScáth to gather himself and secure the transaction. She’d give a dip of her head, accepting the payment from the Coin Man

Deal or No Deal: Deal Struck!
(You successfully strung some deals with the Manticore and Adabra.)

XP Granted: 300xp
Equals: 50xp per player
(Must be added yourselves)

When Auric would speak up and look to the wolf, it’s mismatched eyes stared back at you a little wide eyed, as if admiring you with a little bit of awe. And when the man behind them would clear his throat and agree with the dragonborn, they’d pick their rump off his foot and begin trotting off towards the hills in the west.

Goodwill Hunting!
(We get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds.)

Task: Go hunting with a guide for the rest of the rations
Roll Call: Everyone who’s going

Check It!
(RP what you would/could do while out in a hunting party)

Nature or Survival Check: Each player roll 1 Nature or Survival
Another roll: 1d100 each plater

Meanwhile Adabra would take a few steps forward, placing her hands on her hips while she watches her dedicated guide lead the group of unique adventurers off on their hunt. Once out of view, she’d test the weight of the coin sack in her palm before tucking it away on her person. She’d then move to begin collecting a couple baskets from beside the building. She was preparing to head east.

     Kaemgen stays behind.  “A couple rapiers no good for hunting,” he says with false chagrin.  “Besides, someone should stay behind in case the beast returns early…”

     While the reasoning is true, Kaemgen’s nobility streak also tells him that proper hunting is done on horseback.  With hounds.  And snacks.

     He offers Adabra assistance with whatever she may need done around her homestead.  “A few chores never hurt anyone… though something where I can pause occasionally and scan the skies may be for the best.  Just in case it does return and all…”

Mr. Dark follows the group, ranging off to one side and behind the wolf, slipping cautiously through the underbrush. His hand crossbow is stowed at his side as he focus' on searching for animal trails and using his meagre hunting skills to help the group. 

Survival: 13

d100: 86

Auric:

Auric stays with the main group and keeps his eyes and ears open for prey.

Survival:  19

d100:  95

Xenophon keeps an eye out for prey while making sure that the group doesn't get lost.

Survival:20

d100:64

Helping with the hunting sounds wonderful to Hansel, who with the arrival of the friendly wolf is beginning to appreciate the wonders of the outdoors. He tags along, humming a happy tune, and stopping fequently to smell or pick some of the flowers.

Nature: 14

45

Scott tries his best to help track their quarry, any game animals that may be around, keeping his bow at the ready.

Survival: 21

d100: 66

East

Hearing Kaemgen chatter behind her was no surprise to her, he had voiced his desire to stay behind. In fact, a smirk even danced on her lips. "Oh I was planning on putting you to work all along." Adabra would turn around to face him. "And there will be plenty for you to view on your breaks." She'd press a harvesting basket to his chest. "I'll teach you a thing or two, maybe even have you sweating by the end of it." The brunette would reach to grab an axe and hoist it onto her shoulder. "Are you ready for it, McScáth?" She wouldn't really wait. She'd simply smile and step off towards the field. "Keep up!"

The healer would lead the way east to an open field where the scents you were picking up started smelling familiar, like Adabra herself. Sure enough, she'd bring you to an area at the edge of a tree line where berry bushes and range of other plants where in abundance, as if it's been strategically worked for years. Without so much of a pause, she'd guide you to an overgrown section and begin pointing out medicinal herbs. She was thorough to get the importance across, but also very patient through out the process if there were any questions. There were also berries she'd pluck and offer him to sample, so he'd know what was ripe for picking. The herbalist would instruct on how to harvest each type of plant once the area was cleared of the weeds she'd then identify for him pull. "Think you can handle this for me?"

Nature Check
(The best thing for a carnivore, herbs and berries. Adabra's watching.)

Task: Harvest herbs and berries
Roll Call: Kaemgen

West

Lead by a wolf, the group comfortably navigated along its side practically as if it were natural to them. They picked up every clue they were guided along. Mr. Dark fell into a natural stealth, picking up the most obscured tracks in the underbrush with their canine companion. There were definitely tracks, growing in number and frequency as you moved closer to the rocky hills. Xeno's eyes were peeled for sightings, and ensuring their cleric didn't stray too far out of view amongst the flora. Hansel had fair leeway to folic amongst the flowers and sunshine that danced along with them. He successfully harvested his favourite picks. All the while, Auric and Scott hovered, keeping you all on track for pace. Nothing got by them either, they'd see it all.

Survival Results
(To confirm for everyone:)

 Hansel
(You managed to harvest some flowers that could actually be used for tea, while others could be given, kept and dried for fragrance and beauty supplies, or any other preferred use.)

Auric:

”Hark, see up in the boughs of yon tree?  A pair of bear Cubs play above while the mother watcheth from below concealed in the entry of the cave,” says Auric quietly, pausing and pointing slowly in the directions he mentions.

Kaemgen Nature Check:  5

     "Lead on," Kaemgen said with a grin.  "I'll definitely enjoy the scenery as I follow..."  He took the basket happily enough and followed the woman through the field.  To him it had a look of land grown over, untended.  But as Adabra guided him, showed him the proper way to handle and harvest, Kaemgen realized he didn't know half as much about gardening as he had thought.

     Kaemgen followed along happily enough and was eager to handle whatever Adabra had on offer.  Still, his enthusiasm did falter when he discovered it was to be herbs and berries he would be plucking... Truth be told he had been expecting something a bit more physically exhaustive and less... delicate.  But as he moved and tended and harvested with this woman he thought that perhaps delicate has it's place after all...

Mr.Dark glanced up, just noticing the mother bear as Auric mentioned it. "Hmmm, not fond of huntin mothers. It'll mean the end to the two cubs. Let's keep movin on, maybe find a young buck to take down." 

“Agreed” Scott says simply. And continues looking for tracks. 

Kaemgen

Adabra knelt beside, watching closely to how Kaemgen handled the task, paying attention to how he adapted, worked with his hands and if he was willing to get dirty doing it. Having strength was one thing, but knowing how to control it was another. Same with dexterity, it was good to have, but even better to know how to apply it effectively. In this case, even the smallest and gentlest of acts speak louder than words. The healer would lend a guiding hand at the beginning, her demeanor softening along the way, but eventually she did trust the man to handle the rest of the task on his own. "So, what are you truly looking for McScáth?" She'd ask open endedly to engage in conversation while he filled his basket and she'd grab the hatchet to begin cutting away the brush and dead branches, lobbing them into a pile off to the side. They'd need to be cut down for kindling next.

Nature Check
(You succeed in harvesting some herbs, pleasing Adabra and her request.)

Soon enough, McScáth would have a basket filled and Adabra would have a bunch of brush. Straightening up her posture when he'd present his haul, the woman would dab the sheen of sweat from herself before giving him genuine praise. "Good work." She'd nod, a small twitch at the corner of her lips. Was she impressed? Her eyes would glance out to the sky, then out to towards the windmill. "They don't appear to be back just yet." The midwife would comment. She'd then bend to pick up the second basket and hoist the axe back onto her shoulder. Taking a step closer to stand before Kaemgen. "I'll let you pick the job you want to work this time." Adabra would smirk.

Hunting Party

The wolf stops chasing their tail long enough to catch the conversation topic. They'd plop their rump in the dirt for a moment while the group discusses their options. Mismatched eyes would blink as their head would tilt as if they were in deep thought. It did not take long for the majority of the group to decide that this was not the path they wanted to take to obtain their rations. Getting back to their paws, the wolf would nod to you all in deep respect. Then, they'd lead you safely away from the cave as to not disturb the mother bear. If the group wasn't going to be a threat, they needed to make sure it stayed that way.

This time the group was lead deeper into the thicket. The terrain became even more dense and difficult, but not quite a jungle. With all your senses on high alert, everyone was able to tag along and follow the high energy canine huffing it's way through the area. Fifteen minutes passed easily enough, but then as the moments ticked on, the wolf picked up the pace. Each of you would definitely work up a bit of a sweat trying to keep up, but by no means would become exhausted. As you continued hiking a long, those who were diligent enough to have seen momma bear in the cave, would be keen enough to see hoof prints and hear a gentle stream close by. Then after about another few minutes of listening to the wolf thrash around ahead, there'd be a pop and then a thump before it suddenly crashes to a stop.

Perception Check

Roll Call: Anyone or everyone!

Despite the others' guidance, Hansel couldn't make out the bears in the tree, and certainly not the momma bear... or perhaps he was too distracted by his own reflection in his shiny shield...  but he tried to take more notice of things afterwards...

Hansel Perception: 19

Mr.Dark continued to move forward, a professional soldier, a bit of hard work didn't bother him as he tried to stay alert. 

Perception: 12

Despite all that, he did start to get a bit distracted.  Was hunting some meat for some random animals hero's work? Was this what he'd been expecting? Was this why he left the military? What was that noise?

"So, what are you truly looking for McScáth?"

     Kaemgen McScáth, kneeling and dutifully plucking berries, sighs and rocks back on his heals a bit as he takes a moment to consider how best to answer that question.  "Big picture?" he asks rhetorically.  "Gold.  Lots of it.  Scads and gobs and mounds of it..."

     He brushes his hands against each other to rid them of most of the dirt and then stands, further wiping them off on the sides of his legs as he does.  "I know how it sounds, but I'm not greedy...  Oh sure, I'd rather be rich than poor but who wouldn't?  But the gold I am looking for is for the family...  Actually, for the title.  The land and those on it who really make up..."

     "Look, House McScáth is a minor holding on the far outskirts of nowhere.  We're relatively new nobility, just four generations in, and not respected enough to get invited to all but the most mandatory of parties.  My great grandfather won some big battle and was granted the title, the land and the responsibility to keep the border secure.  He thought it was a great honor.  He didn't realize just how expensive being a fancy lord was..." Kaemgen explained. 

     "With the title came expectations.  With the land came people.  Both take money to keep satisfied.  My grandfather more or less kept House McScáth afloat.  My father was able to fill the coffers a bit.  My brother...  Micael...  The first born..." Kaemgen sighs again and scans the skies, more for a delay than to actually look for a returning monster.  "I shouldn't complain too much, I was more than happy to ignore the responsibilities and just benefit from the title...The benefit of not being the heir, eh?"

     Kaemgen looks back at Adabra with earnestness in his eyes.  "The loiter-sack fopdoodle could lose it all and I wouldn't care a whit for it myself...  I enjoy leisure but I am not afraid of hard work...  But there are people, families, that depend on the machinations of that little fiefdom and the trapping that go with it.  People whose livelihoods are so entangled with the running of House McScáth that they'd be eating dirt shortly after my brother mismanaged it to nothingness..."

     "A man provides," Kaemgen says after a long minute of quiet just looking at her.  "A man provides protection and and food and comfort to those he is responsible for.  If he fails... worse, if he refuses to provide...  Well then he's not really a man at all, is he?  Just a grown up boy who isn't even all that good at playing at being an adult.  So yeah, I am looking for gold... And lots of it.  To put into the coffers of House McScáth.  Enough such that even that fool of my brother cannot waste it all and run it all to ruin.  I need enough to provide for those who depend on my name..."

     There is a moment of silence again, and then a humorless laugh.  Kaemgen trying to break the moment...  "But yeah, if you meant less big picture...For the moment I am truly looking for some fragrant herbs...  Some delicious berries..."  With a grunt Kaemgen got back down to his haunches and started looking once more.  "Later on I'm truly looking for a way to deal with this manticore situation."

     Pausing to look back at Adabra, Kaemgen smiled and added "In between the two...  I guess I'll wait and see what comes up."

     Later, with the basket filled with herb and berries and the work done, for the moment at least, Kaemgen rose to his feet once more and just soaked in the warmth of the sun and the fulfillment of a job done.  

"They don't appear to be back just yet." The midwife would comment. She'd then bend to pick up the second basket and hoist the axe back onto her shoulder. Taking a step closer to stand before Kaemgen. "I'll let you pick the job you want to work this time." Adabra would smirk.

     Kaemgen is silent and looks to Adabra, drinking in the sight of her.  He allows a different warmth to wash over him.  He takes his basket in one hand and Adabra's from her with the other and sets them both off to the side.  Out of the way.  He returns and places a hand upon the axe she still carries.  He tilts his head as if to ask permission, and then takes that and sets it atop the baskets.  When he returns to her again he reaches out and moves a stray strand of hair back behind her ear, leave a small smudge of dirt from his fingers upon her forehead as he does.

     "They'll be a while yet," he says, agreeing to what she had said minutes before.  "Plenty of time..."  His hand remains entwined in her hair behind her ear and he resists the urge to pull her closer.  "You're a strong, intelligent, beautiful and independent woman, Adabra...  Not everything need be work."

Auric:

Perception:  19

Perception:12