"The platform looks tight," Auger says. "Ednyss, perhaps you can go and secure the rope and then we should follow. I can jump down with Tama and her baby and untie the rope to bring with me as I can fall from a great height without any injury."
Varielky peeks downwards with the intention to wave to the others. Realising that she can't really see that far in the dark, and she's not really sure where they are now, Varielky searches for Granophyre's golden bird that was with them a moment ago. "Go," she whispers to the bird, "tell them they can climb. If something happened to them and they need me to go down, return immediately and tap my shoulder twice." She then stares at the bird, hoping that the thing understands her words.
Ednyss understands Auger's meaning and begins climbing the ladder. Once at the top, he pulls a coil of rope out from his pack and finds a place to secure it before letting the other end down outside the wall. After that, he whispers to Varielky and Benita, "You all should follow me down as soon as Granophyre climbs up. Auger will bring up the rear with Tama."
(OOC: This is the order of events the way I see it... (1) Ednyss climbs ladder (2) Ednyss secures one end of his rope (3) Ednyss climbs down the rope (3) Granophyre climbs up the ladder (5) Varielky climbs down the rope (5) Tama climbs up the ladder (6) Benita climbs down the rope (6) Auger climbs up the ladder (7) Granophyre climbs down the rope (8) Auger unties the rope and jumps down holding Tama... That way there is always one person on top of the tower to watch out for danger and keep holding the lantern and one person is climbing the ladder to get up, while another person is climbing the rope to get down.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
The Golden Bird cocks its tiny head, listening to Varielky’s instructions, then in a split second it grows its mercury wings and flits up and then cartwheels down to Granophyre and chirps softly in the sage’s ear.
”The way is safe!,” whispers Strewn. “We can climb the ladder.” He grunts, sighing for a moment. “Tamazaert, the magic which makes you invisible will soon lose its potency. Do not be surprised.”
Following Ednyss’ instructions, it takes only two minutes for you all to climb up and back down, Auger, last. As the warlock takes a final look from atop the guard tower, he sees large forms in the moonlight across in the plaza, and hears yipping. Hyenas.
At that moment, Tamazaert reappears, her baby in its shoulder-sling. Auger gathers her up in his arms and she stifles a scream as he leaps off. He quickly descends five feet, then, the cloak fluttering in the cool breeze, controls his descent and lands softly in the shadow of the palisade.
“Go!,” whispers Granophyre to the Golden Bird, which shoots up and away and is lost in the darkness in a flash. the scholar continues, “It is seeking the farm Izilmeddur spoke of. But let us not wait for it here!” And you start off at a jog across a sage-covered field.
Tamazaert is in good health, but carrying her baby she can barely keep up with the armored dwarves, and though the resulting pace is 2/3 as fast as Benita could run, it is the best you can do and stay together. It will take over twelve minutes to run a mile. Everyone please roll 10 CON saves vs DC3 and two DEX saves vs DC5 while running to avoid getting winded or taking a bad step in the dark. Also roll two Athletics saves vs DC 5: assorted difficulties in your path.
(OOC: How long has it been since we were in our fight? Much less than an hour I think. If that is the case just as fyi, Auger is still maintaining his concentration on Hex. Let me know if you need any concentration rolls.)
Thinking back on the events of the last few minutes Auger can scarcely believe how smoothly things have gone since they ran away from the Chief, even without Py to help and observe. They had Benita! And... Tamazaert... and her baby... . Briefly praying to Piya Auger hopes for good will and good luck as they make their way to find and then steal some reasonable transportation.
Con Saves: 12, 14, 11, 13, 11, 10, 11, 5, 16, 16 (Ednyss cannot roll lower than a 3 even with a natural 1... but I put them here just in case)
Dex Saves: 11, 17
Athletics Saves: 20, 13
As they run, Ednyss breathes a sigh of relief now that they are out of the Orc camp but continues to push himself onwards. With Benita safely with them and the risk of over a thousand orcs descending upon them at any moment having passed, Ednyss is confident that they could repel any sort of forwarding force that is sent by the Orcs and make their way to the farm.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
(Varielky cannot fail the Athletics DC nor the Con DC, so I'll just roll the Dex saves.)
Dex saves: 19, 15.
Varielky runs. She still feels bad about almost everything that happened, but two comforts are running with her. Three, maybe. They saved Benita, and they saved the woman and her baby. The price was heavy, but at least it wasn't for nothing.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
B 2015138146144410
2612 / 1123
G 221187131471576
94 / 26
T 121775937101820
716 / 175
THE FARM
You run, over slowly undulating plains, curving past fields and pastures of small farms, lonely candles glowing in windows of small wooden dwellings, as slave-farmers finish their chores and plain evening meals; or smoke trailing from the vents of a few large tents you pass; humans and a few orcs sitting at their doors, puffing on pipes, whittling on long roots, or staring hopelessly into the night. The land is lit by moonlight from the east, and witnessed by splashes of distant stars above you peering through patches of high, gauzy clouds in the near-black sky. You thread through jujube trees and palo verdes, skirt a slippery gully, and climb over low cattle barriers. In five minutes, the Golden Bird drops out of the sky as you pass through an open field, and Granophyre listens to its instructions and points you slightly northward.
Ednyss feels a stitch forming as he runs, but deepens his breathing and shifts his shield on his back and the sensation passes. Varielky slips on a rock which looked steady but turns under her weight, and she takes 1HP damage and her speed is reduced to 25’ until she long-rests.
Granophyre slips at the edge of the gulley, and plunges down on a broken branch, tearing the skin on his calf to the bone, but Varielky’s firm hand darts out and catches his arm, pulling him up, grunting, and he continues on, gritting his teeth.
Tamazaert keeps up, guarding her baby protectively, which seems to be lulled by the running and sleeps quietly, until she slips while climbing over a low fence and, clutching the child, spins and falls on her back, smashing the back of her head on a rock. Auger helps her up -- she can keep going -- but it takes a moment to soothe the baby, who soon falls asleep as you continue on.
You crest a rise, and see a farm compound on the other side. Granophyre says, “There. We have arrived. There are two horses and two camels, with saddles and bridles in the shed. There are as many as twenty human slaves in and about the compound. It will take time to saddle the mounts.”
Benita says, “I’ll get to work on that!,” and darts onwards towards the shed.
“She’ll need help,” continues the sage, “and we need to ensure the slaves do not raise an alarm.” He continues at a jog toward the compound, where several of its inhabitants have spotted you coming over the rise and are standing resolutely, observing your approach, and sending a few children indoors. In the center of the compound you see a tall whipping post, a chain with manacles dangling from its apex.
Auger runs forward, his eyes on the next bit of uneven terrain to traverse, his ears listening for any organized pursuit and his thoughts on getting the group into a cart and heading off, without more thought than that. Hearing mention of animals but no cart leaves him wondering how the ride is going to go (OOC: Can we assume Auger has some basic riding ability? He has no Animal Handling proficiency).
Seeing the whipping post and the chain leaves Auger's brain spinning with thoughts. Horse thievery was a bane to any town or farm. Animals are often the most valuable part of a farm's resources. He had already accepted that their need was going to require them to be thieves and perhaps need to knock out a couple of people in order to get away. In service to their needs (not to mention the Dowager's needs!) he felt this would be moral on balance. But the whipping post.
Out loud Auger says to the team, "We are about to steal a major part of these people's livelihoods and they will surely be punished if they do not attempt to stop us. How can we do right by them? And still escape -- alive."
(OOC: Have the sounds of Hyenas in the distance continued? Are there obvious signs that the Orc town is buzzing over something? If so is it obvious whether these humans can tell something is up? We have little time but do we have think we might have time to attempt to reason with people?)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The sounds of pursuit have diminished, and you have seen no hyena riders since the town’s palisade and towers fell out of view when you crested the last rise. At that time, you saw a group of riders leave through a southern gate. You observed none in direct pursuit of you heading westward.
The inhabitants of the compound, men and older women, observe you in wary silence. Even Ednyss needs a moment to be able to read them, and he senses that the party’s presence is an unexpected calamity. No doubt, among the daily unexpected calamities which define the lives of these unfortunate souls. In the Orcan Conquest, where Auger comes from in Great Basin, slavery at the hands of orcs was a defining factor of civilization for centuries, softened over time since the advent of the Jenghen Empire. But there are still many such compounds, in the mountains especially, within several day’s ride of the Dowager’s lake.
An old woman standing among those in the compound yells in Jenghen as you approach, seeing Benita heading to the shack and reading your intentions, “Them mounts fer mail and mess’ges. Dunno whatchu want’n’don’care. We seen nuttin. Get outta here leave us be.”
(OOC: All members of the party know how to ride a horse or pony. Benita knows camels and is experienced with animals, you have already learned. Dromedaries such as these, camels in general, are unfamiliar to Auger, but the learning curve is shallow. In terms of strength and speed, camels and horses are equal, and can easily carry two adults. Distributing the party’s weight among the mounts will ensure that all can move at the same pace. If a character does not have animal handling, nothing fancy can be done while mounted, but under ordinary circumstances the character will be able to ride and direct the beast as needed.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Con saves:
20.
4.
19.
5.
22.
8.
17.
13.
20.
18.
Athletics: 14. 9.
(Will proficiency with Vehicles (land) help Varielky here? I assume not, but some people do use this when riding horses so I figured it's worth asking.)
"I don't understand." Varielky claims. "Why do the people here, the people in the Orcs' camps... why don't you all fight? Why don't you struggle for your freedom? It's better to lose your life fighting for yourself than live as another's slave." Varielky also glances towards Benita. Why didn't she fight the Orcs' chief? Would she stand a chance against him? Maybe, maybe not. Still, Varielky simply cannot grasp how could one possibly just give themselves away for another's whims like that. "Anyway, the Orcs couldn't stop us, how could their slaves?" She then yells to the woman: "We're the Orcs' horses. If they give you any trouble because of that, tell them it was Varielky's doing. That will piss them off, but I doubt they'll punish you." Then, she goes to help Benita make the mounts ready for travel. Indeed, her leg hurt and she didn't wish to continue running at the moment, even though the pain was also welcomed, in a way. She has a lot to repent for.
Ednyss responds to Varielky somberly, "Slavery is about mental entrapment just as much as it is physical. A slave is broken mentally, told that they were meant to be subjugated and treated so poorly that eventually, they begin to believe it themselves. It may not be right, but it is the way it is." Ednyss doesn't elaborate more on the point and instead heads over to Granophyre to tend to his wounds. Ednyss is making the motions of a practiced battle healer, but his head isn't in it and he dwells on Varielky's words as he bandages and wraps Granophyre's cut with his sleeve to make sure the wound isn't infected. The bandaging is rough and hastily put together, but hopefully, it will hold until they can find a place to rest more permanently. Once Granophyre is tended to, he heads over and checks over Tama as well. If she appears to be injured in some way, Ednyss will use the last of the healing magic stored in his shield to close any of her wounds and ensure that she is going to be okay with riding. Ednyss performs all of these duties silently and passively as if his mind is somewhere else.
(OOC: Ednyss also has proficiency in Land Vehicles, but I was under the impression that Land Vehicles referred more to carriages and the sort... I could be mistaken though.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thinking on the plight of the slaves, Auger remembers his scattered bits of history of his own family. The family serves the Dowager without question and has for ages. The reasons are lost but the nature of the relationship had always been transactional. Had it been the Grey Lady's influence that had won them away from a life like these slaves face?
Auger pays close attention to the responses of the slaves to Varielky and Ednyss' words, wondering if he might need to charm them (OOC: Insight roll if needed: 8). If Auger judges the slaves are ready to raise an alarm or attempt to stop them then he will step forward to the slaves and use his Fey Presence to charm them as he speaks. (DC14 WIS to not be charmed - Auger's magical coat does not appear to augment this ability on D&D Beyond)
To the slaves Auger adds his own response. "My friends have the right of it. We steal from your masters. We steal from this retched place. We steal from Xurl. You cannot stand against us and so stand aside and forget we came. Our time right now is short but our memories are long. We cannot grant any boons today but if there is anything our group can do for yours in the future we would know it."(OOC: Persuasion if needed: 8 and here is the second roll if Advantage comes into play: 24.)
Seeing the others tending to the animals Auger stays put and will continue talking with the slaves if they would listen or need more convincing.
If a more conversational tone ensues Auger attempts to learn of the road ahead. Auger focuses his questions on the road to the west and only lightly on other directions. He wants to convince them that the team is seeking a way to the coast (and not towards Kalahata). (OOC: Deception if needed: 12 and here is the second roll if Advantage comes into play: 7), though he will inquire about all directions, as if the true destination has not been decided.
When Varielky jogs across the little pasture to the supply shack, favoring her turned ankle, Benita is busily at work, efficiently equipping the mounts. She stops what she’s doing for a moment when Varielky approaches, stares at her own feet, opens her mouth to say something, then changes her mind. “Grab that saddle and get it on the brown camel. Don’t look her in the eye, she might spit,” and in a few minutes, all four mounts are ready to ride. Varielky takes the two horses by the reins, and Benita, the camels, and the pair leads them to the others.
Granophyre thanks Ednyss, who does a good job of stopping the bleeding. It will heal. At the moment the war cleric turns to Tamazaert, she bends over and vomits. “Uhnnn...I feel so sleepy,” she says. “I just have to rest here for a minute…,” which, Ednyss thinks, would not be a good idea, for she likely has a concussion. His healing does wonders. She shakes her head, the color comes back into her cheeks, and she humbly thanks her benefactor.
Auger can’t read the weathered and grim veneer of the slaves, and uses his Fey Presence to overcome any reticence they might have had, his aspect seeming to heighten and glow with otherworldly power. Their leader, the old woman, scowls and hangs her head, and replies curtly to the warlock’s navigational inquiries, “We nu’ bin mor’ an five mile from here. Dunno ‘bout road t’the coas.”
She calls over the biggest man among them, with a shaggy mop of hair and a terrified scowl written in his features, and says, “Hit ‘im. So we kin say y’took th’mounts by force.”
Benita arrives at that moment, hands Auger the reins, and walks over to the hulking slave. On her tiptoes, she gives him a soft kiss on the cheek. Then she cracks his jaw with her fist and he spins once and topples, unconscious. The Indallian looks to the rest of you. “Ready?”
At that moment, you hear yipping at a distance, from the direction you came. You also see that clouds are coming in from the south, and you may be in for some rain.
Granophyre says, “We head west, then north when we hit a merchant’s path, which will take us to the Queen’s High Way. Let us not tarry.” His Golden Bird flaps up and away to scout ahead. Do you do anything else before departing?
Auger mounts the camel presented to him and steadies himself as best he can. The smell is... interesting. He looks around briefly for Tamazaert, intending to offer a hand to his saddle so the warriors can keep sword arms free if needed. If she does join him then he also helps her settle the baby as best as he can.
(OOC: We have 4 mounts and 6 people, who else is doubling up?)
Auger watches Benita down the man in one blow and feels for him and his plight. To their old woman leader Auger says, "Xurl himself is likely to follow after us. We came. You fought. We stole and ran. You could not stop us. Simple stories are better." Looking over towards Varielky, Auger continues, "Know this. If Xurl does follow we will end his life and his reign if we can. Perhaps this can help you. Fare well."
Finally set and hearing the hyenas in the distance, Auger joins the others and agrees with Granophyre saying loudly, "West then!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The Journey to Kalahata, Day 16 (18th of Beauty)(cont’d.)
You depart at a canter on the west-bound path: anonymous, tall, dark shapes in the night. The path winds around hills and small woods while clouds roll in, visibility worsens for your mounts, and it becomes harder to keep your bearings. You focus on keeping the hills on your right, for soon the rain comes and you fear getting lost. But within an hour the downpour passes just as quickly as it came in, and you push on as the nearly full moon breaks through the clouds and rides high in the heavens above you, lighting your path in pale monochromatics. The mounts are fresh and maintain a steady pace while you take turns sleeping in the saddle.
(19th of Beauty)
When dawn arrives and golden sunlight begins to warm your backs as you continue onwards, you arrive at a crossroads, where a merchant’s path heads northwards towards the snowy peaks you see edging just over the horizon. As you come closer, you hide behind a copse of palo verdes, out of view of a pair of riders who come cantering southwards on the road, then pass without noticing you.
Turning northward as the air becomes warm and dries out the moist, fragrant ground, you come soon to a stream which you follow for half a mile to a pond, away from the road, surrounded by palms and argan trees. In this restful place, where songbirds perch and chirp quietly, you sleep dreamlessly. Then, when the sun is high, you mount up again and continue northwards after noting a farm cart has come off the merchant’s path and turned onto the path you just left.
You follow the merchant’s road northward, and it becomes steadily more trafficked as you near the Bantu foothills. By nightfall, you have traversed fifteen miles, despite your late start, and you stop at a nameless Shian village of adobe houses built upon the hillside, hand-woven rugs for sale fluttering on taut lines beside the road. There, you rent rooms in a windblown saloon built upon the village’s single lonely street, where the keeper asks no questions and wordlessly supplies you with modest meals and beds, which you relish, not having slept in one since leaving Hyewush a week ago.
Either that night before Ednyss goes to sleep or early in the morning (well before the group had planned to leave), Ednyss would have approached Auger and asked if the warlock had a moment to spare. If Auger did have a moment, Ednyss would ask him quietly if he would bring his carving tools and meet him in the behind the saloon.
Varielky is not in a good mood during this journey. She rides close to Benita most of the time, yet she barely speaks at all. She stares forward most of the time, but although her eyes are open, she doesn't really look at anything. Whenever it is not holding the reins of a horse, her hand hovers near the empty frog where her handaxe used to be. As if making sure it is still not there. That her vow still stands, and that it didn't teleport back the way her sword does. During the nights, it takes her some time to fall asleep, and even then her sleep is rather restless. Her only comfort seems to be Tamazaert. Albeit barely, she speaks with the woman more than with the others and knowing that she saved her eases her mind the most.
Varielky hoped to get friendly with Tamazaert, even just a little. She might ask her about her life prior to being taken by the Orcs, but mostly she is interested in how are those who live under the Orcs. How do the Orcs treat them? Would she consider life good there, if their babies weren't taken away? Did Tamazaert want a baby? Could she choose who the father would be? Stuff like that. On the other hand, Varielky doesn't share much about herself. If Tamazaert asks, she'll say that she originally lived in the north, but then the gods sent her south to Orraca u Shia where she served in the brigades for a few years. That's about it.
"The platform looks tight," Auger says. "Ednyss, perhaps you can go and secure the rope and then we should follow. I can jump down with Tama and her baby and untie the rope to bring with me as I can fall from a great height without any injury."
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky peeks downwards with the intention to wave to the others. Realising that she can't really see that far in the dark, and she's not really sure where they are now, Varielky searches for Granophyre's golden bird that was with them a moment ago. "Go," she whispers to the bird, "tell them they can climb. If something happened to them and they need me to go down, return immediately and tap my shoulder twice." She then stares at the bird, hoping that the thing understands her words.
Varielky
Ednyss understands Auger's meaning and begins climbing the ladder. Once at the top, he pulls a coil of rope out from his pack and finds a place to secure it before letting the other end down outside the wall. After that, he whispers to Varielky and Benita, "You all should follow me down as soon as Granophyre climbs up. Auger will bring up the rear with Tama."
(OOC: This is the order of events the way I see it... (1) Ednyss climbs ladder (2) Ednyss secures one end of his rope (3) Ednyss climbs down the rope (3) Granophyre climbs up the ladder (5) Varielky climbs down the rope (5) Tama climbs up the ladder (6) Benita climbs down the rope (6) Auger climbs up the ladder (7) Granophyre climbs down the rope (8) Auger unties the rope and jumps down holding Tama... That way there is always one person on top of the tower to watch out for danger and keep holding the lantern and one person is climbing the ladder to get up, while another person is climbing the rope to get down.)
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
(OOC: That order of events works for me)
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The Golden Bird cocks its tiny head, listening to Varielky’s instructions, then in a split second it grows its mercury wings and flits up and then cartwheels down to Granophyre and chirps softly in the sage’s ear.
”The way is safe!,” whispers Strewn. “We can climb the ladder.” He grunts, sighing for a moment. “Tamazaert, the magic which makes you invisible will soon lose its potency. Do not be surprised.”
Following Ednyss’ instructions, it takes only two minutes for you all to climb up and back down, Auger, last. As the warlock takes a final look from atop the guard tower, he sees large forms in the moonlight across in the plaza, and hears yipping. Hyenas.
At that moment, Tamazaert reappears, her baby in its shoulder-sling. Auger gathers her up in his arms and she stifles a scream as he leaps off. He quickly descends five feet, then, the cloak fluttering in the cool breeze, controls his descent and lands softly in the shadow of the palisade.
“Go!,” whispers Granophyre to the Golden Bird, which shoots up and away and is lost in the darkness in a flash. the scholar continues, “It is seeking the farm Izilmeddur spoke of. But let us not wait for it here!” And you start off at a jog across a sage-covered field.
Tamazaert is in good health, but carrying her baby she can barely keep up with the armored dwarves, and though the resulting pace is 2/3 as fast as Benita could run, it is the best you can do and stay together. It will take over twelve minutes to run a mile. Everyone please roll 10 CON saves vs DC3 and two DEX saves vs DC5 while running to avoid getting winded or taking a bad step in the dark. Also roll two Athletics saves vs DC 5: assorted difficulties in your path.
The sound of hyenas does not diminish as you run.
Is there anything you wish to do along the way?
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
CON saves @DC3. 1: 13. 2: 12. 3: 6. 4: 9. 5: 16. 6: 6. 7: 10. 8: 22. 9: 15. 10: 11.
DEX saves @DC5. 1: 9. 2: 17.
Athletics saves @DC5. 1: 14. 2: 18.
(OOC: How long has it been since we were in our fight? Much less than an hour I think. If that is the case just as fyi, Auger is still maintaining his concentration on Hex. Let me know if you need any concentration rolls.)
Thinking back on the events of the last few minutes Auger can scarcely believe how smoothly things have gone since they ran away from the Chief, even without Py to help and observe. They had Benita! And... Tamazaert... and her baby... . Briefly praying to Piya Auger hopes for good will and good luck as they make their way to find and then steal some reasonable transportation.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Con Saves: 12, 14, 11, 13, 11, 10, 11, 5, 16, 16 (Ednyss cannot roll lower than a 3 even with a natural 1... but I put them here just in case)
Dex Saves: 11, 17
Athletics Saves: 20, 13
As they run, Ednyss breathes a sigh of relief now that they are out of the Orc camp but continues to push himself onwards. With Benita safely with them and the risk of over a thousand orcs descending upon them at any moment having passed, Ednyss is confident that they could repel any sort of forwarding force that is sent by the Orcs and make their way to the farm.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
(Varielky cannot fail the Athletics DC nor the Con DC, so I'll just roll the Dex saves.)
Dex saves: 19, 15.
Varielky runs. She still feels bad about almost everything that happened, but two comforts are running with her. Three, maybe. They saved Benita, and they saved the woman and her baby. The price was heavy, but at least it wasn't for nothing.
Varielky
B 20 15 13 8 14 6 14 4 4 10
26 12 / 11 23
G 22 11 8 7 13 14 7 15 7 6
9 4 / 2 6
T 12 17 7 5 9 3 7 10 18 20
7 16 / 17 5
THE FARM
You run, over slowly undulating plains, curving past fields and pastures of small farms, lonely candles glowing in windows of small wooden dwellings, as slave-farmers finish their chores and plain evening meals; or smoke trailing from the vents of a few large tents you pass; humans and a few orcs sitting at their doors, puffing on pipes, whittling on long roots, or staring hopelessly into the night. The land is lit by moonlight from the east, and witnessed by splashes of distant stars above you peering through patches of high, gauzy clouds in the near-black sky. You thread through jujube trees and palo verdes, skirt a slippery gully, and climb over low cattle barriers. In five minutes, the Golden Bird drops out of the sky as you pass through an open field, and Granophyre listens to its instructions and points you slightly northward.
Ednyss feels a stitch forming as he runs, but deepens his breathing and shifts his shield on his back and the sensation passes. Varielky slips on a rock which looked steady but turns under her weight, and she takes 1HP damage and her speed is reduced to 25’ until she long-rests.
Granophyre slips at the edge of the gulley, and plunges down on a broken branch, tearing the skin on his calf to the bone, but Varielky’s firm hand darts out and catches his arm, pulling him up, grunting, and he continues on, gritting his teeth.
Tamazaert keeps up, guarding her baby protectively, which seems to be lulled by the running and sleeps quietly, until she slips while climbing over a low fence and, clutching the child, spins and falls on her back, smashing the back of her head on a rock. Auger helps her up -- she can keep going -- but it takes a moment to soothe the baby, who soon falls asleep as you continue on.
You crest a rise, and see a farm compound on the other side. Granophyre says, “There. We have arrived. There are two horses and two camels, with saddles and bridles in the shed. There are as many as twenty human slaves in and about the compound. It will take time to saddle the mounts.”
Benita says, “I’ll get to work on that!,” and darts onwards towards the shed.
“She’ll need help,” continues the sage, “and we need to ensure the slaves do not raise an alarm.” He continues at a jog toward the compound, where several of its inhabitants have spotted you coming over the rise and are standing resolutely, observing your approach, and sending a few children indoors. In the center of the compound you see a tall whipping post, a chain with manacles dangling from its apex.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger runs forward, his eyes on the next bit of uneven terrain to traverse, his ears listening for any organized pursuit and his thoughts on getting the group into a cart and heading off, without more thought than that. Hearing mention of animals but no cart leaves him wondering how the ride is going to go (OOC: Can we assume Auger has some basic riding ability? He has no Animal Handling proficiency).
Seeing the whipping post and the chain leaves Auger's brain spinning with thoughts. Horse thievery was a bane to any town or farm. Animals are often the most valuable part of a farm's resources. He had already accepted that their need was going to require them to be thieves and perhaps need to knock out a couple of people in order to get away. In service to their needs (not to mention the Dowager's needs!) he felt this would be moral on balance. But the whipping post.
Out loud Auger says to the team, "We are about to steal a major part of these people's livelihoods and they will surely be punished if they do not attempt to stop us. How can we do right by them? And still escape -- alive."
(OOC: Have the sounds of Hyenas in the distance continued? Are there obvious signs that the Orc town is buzzing over something? If so is it obvious whether these humans can tell something is up? We have little time but do we have think we might have time to attempt to reason with people?)
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The sounds of pursuit have diminished, and you have seen no hyena riders since the town’s palisade and towers fell out of view when you crested the last rise. At that time, you saw a group of riders leave through a southern gate. You observed none in direct pursuit of you heading westward.
The inhabitants of the compound, men and older women, observe you in wary silence. Even Ednyss needs a moment to be able to read them, and he senses that the party’s presence is an unexpected calamity. No doubt, among the daily unexpected calamities which define the lives of these unfortunate souls. In the Orcan Conquest, where Auger comes from in Great Basin, slavery at the hands of orcs was a defining factor of civilization for centuries, softened over time since the advent of the Jenghen Empire. But there are still many such compounds, in the mountains especially, within several day’s ride of the Dowager’s lake.
An old woman standing among those in the compound yells in Jenghen as you approach, seeing Benita heading to the shack and reading your intentions, “Them mounts fer mail and mess’ges. Dunno whatchu want’n’don’care. We seen nuttin. Get outta here leave us be.”
(OOC: All members of the party know how to ride a horse or pony. Benita knows camels and is experienced with animals, you have already learned. Dromedaries such as these, camels in general, are unfamiliar to Auger, but the learning curve is shallow. In terms of strength and speed, camels and horses are equal, and can easily carry two adults. Distributing the party’s weight among the mounts will ensure that all can move at the same pace. If a character does not have animal handling, nothing fancy can be done while mounted, but under ordinary circumstances the character will be able to ride and direct the beast as needed.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Con saves:
Athletics:
14.
9.
(Will proficiency with Vehicles (land) help Varielky here? I assume not, but some people do use this when riding horses so I figured it's worth asking.)
"I don't understand." Varielky claims. "Why do the people here, the people in the Orcs' camps... why don't you all fight? Why don't you struggle for your freedom? It's better to lose your life fighting for yourself than live as another's slave." Varielky also glances towards Benita. Why didn't she fight the Orcs' chief? Would she stand a chance against him? Maybe, maybe not. Still, Varielky simply cannot grasp how could one possibly just give themselves away for another's whims like that. "Anyway, the Orcs couldn't stop us, how could their slaves?" She then yells to the woman: "We're the Orcs' horses. If they give you any trouble because of that, tell them it was Varielky's doing. That will piss them off, but I doubt they'll punish you." Then, she goes to help Benita make the mounts ready for travel. Indeed, her leg hurt and she didn't wish to continue running at the moment, even though the pain was also welcomed, in a way. She has a lot to repent for.
Varielky
Ednyss responds to Varielky somberly, "Slavery is about mental entrapment just as much as it is physical. A slave is broken mentally, told that they were meant to be subjugated and treated so poorly that eventually, they begin to believe it themselves. It may not be right, but it is the way it is." Ednyss doesn't elaborate more on the point and instead heads over to Granophyre to tend to his wounds. Ednyss is making the motions of a practiced battle healer, but his head isn't in it and he dwells on Varielky's words as he bandages and wraps Granophyre's cut with his sleeve to make sure the wound isn't infected. The bandaging is rough and hastily put together, but hopefully, it will hold until they can find a place to rest more permanently. Once Granophyre is tended to, he heads over and checks over Tama as well. If she appears to be injured in some way, Ednyss will use the last of the healing magic stored in his shield to close any of her wounds and ensure that she is going to be okay with riding. Ednyss performs all of these duties silently and passively as if his mind is somewhere else.
(OOC: Ednyss also has proficiency in Land Vehicles, but I was under the impression that Land Vehicles referred more to carriages and the sort... I could be mistaken though.)
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Thinking on the plight of the slaves, Auger remembers his scattered bits of history of his own family. The family serves the Dowager without question and has for ages. The reasons are lost but the nature of the relationship had always been transactional. Had it been the Grey Lady's influence that had won them away from a life like these slaves face?
Auger pays close attention to the responses of the slaves to Varielky and Ednyss' words, wondering if he might need to charm them (OOC: Insight roll if needed: 8). If Auger judges the slaves are ready to raise an alarm or attempt to stop them then he will step forward to the slaves and use his Fey Presence to charm them as he speaks. (DC14 WIS to not be charmed - Auger's magical coat does not appear to augment this ability on D&D Beyond)
To the slaves Auger adds his own response. "My friends have the right of it. We steal from your masters. We steal from this retched place. We steal from Xurl. You cannot stand against us and so stand aside and forget we came. Our time right now is short but our memories are long. We cannot grant any boons today but if there is anything our group can do for yours in the future we would know it." (OOC: Persuasion if needed: 8 and here is the second roll if Advantage comes into play: 24.)
Seeing the others tending to the animals Auger stays put and will continue talking with the slaves if they would listen or need more convincing.
If a more conversational tone ensues Auger attempts to learn of the road ahead. Auger focuses his questions on the road to the west and only lightly on other directions. He wants to convince them that the team is seeking a way to the coast (and not towards Kalahata). (OOC: Deception if needed: 12 and here is the second roll if Advantage comes into play: 7), though he will inquire about all directions, as if the true destination has not been decided.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
When Varielky jogs across the little pasture to the supply shack, favoring her turned ankle, Benita is busily at work, efficiently equipping the mounts. She stops what she’s doing for a moment when Varielky approaches, stares at her own feet, opens her mouth to say something, then changes her mind. “Grab that saddle and get it on the brown camel. Don’t look her in the eye, she might spit,” and in a few minutes, all four mounts are ready to ride. Varielky takes the two horses by the reins, and Benita, the camels, and the pair leads them to the others.
Granophyre thanks Ednyss, who does a good job of stopping the bleeding. It will heal. At the moment the war cleric turns to Tamazaert, she bends over and vomits. “Uhnnn...I feel so sleepy,” she says. “I just have to rest here for a minute…,” which, Ednyss thinks, would not be a good idea, for she likely has a concussion. His healing does wonders. She shakes her head, the color comes back into her cheeks, and she humbly thanks her benefactor.
Auger can’t read the weathered and grim veneer of the slaves, and uses his Fey Presence to overcome any reticence they might have had, his aspect seeming to heighten and glow with otherworldly power. Their leader, the old woman, scowls and hangs her head, and replies curtly to the warlock’s navigational inquiries, “We nu’ bin mor’ an five mile from here. Dunno ‘bout road t’the coas.”
She calls over the biggest man among them, with a shaggy mop of hair and a terrified scowl written in his features, and says, “Hit ‘im. So we kin say y’took th’mounts by force.”
Benita arrives at that moment, hands Auger the reins, and walks over to the hulking slave. On her tiptoes, she gives him a soft kiss on the cheek. Then she cracks his jaw with her fist and he spins once and topples, unconscious. The Indallian looks to the rest of you. “Ready?”
At that moment, you hear yipping at a distance, from the direction you came. You also see that clouds are coming in from the south, and you may be in for some rain.
Granophyre says, “We head west, then north when we hit a merchant’s path, which will take us to the Queen’s High Way. Let us not tarry.” His Golden Bird flaps up and away to scout ahead. Do you do anything else before departing?
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Ednyss mounts up and nods to the others. "Ready when you are."
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Auger mounts the camel presented to him and steadies himself as best he can. The smell is... interesting. He looks around briefly for Tamazaert, intending to offer a hand to his saddle so the warriors can keep sword arms free if needed. If she does join him then he also helps her settle the baby as best as he can.
(OOC: We have 4 mounts and 6 people, who else is doubling up?)
Auger watches Benita down the man in one blow and feels for him and his plight. To their old woman leader Auger says, "Xurl himself is likely to follow after us. We came. You fought. We stole and ran. You could not stop us. Simple stories are better." Looking over towards Varielky, Auger continues, "Know this. If Xurl does follow we will end his life and his reign if we can. Perhaps this can help you. Fare well."
Finally set and hearing the hyenas in the distance, Auger joins the others and agrees with Granophyre saying loudly, "West then!"
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
POST #8
The Journey to Kalahata, Day 16 (18th of Beauty)(cont’d.)
You depart at a canter on the west-bound path: anonymous, tall, dark shapes in the night. The path winds around hills and small woods while clouds roll in, visibility worsens for your mounts, and it becomes harder to keep your bearings. You focus on keeping the hills on your right, for soon the rain comes and you fear getting lost. But within an hour the downpour passes just as quickly as it came in, and you push on as the nearly full moon breaks through the clouds and rides high in the heavens above you, lighting your path in pale monochromatics. The mounts are fresh and maintain a steady pace while you take turns sleeping in the saddle.
(19th of Beauty)
When dawn arrives and golden sunlight begins to warm your backs as you continue onwards, you arrive at a crossroads, where a merchant’s path heads northwards towards the snowy peaks you see edging just over the horizon. As you come closer, you hide behind a copse of palo verdes, out of view of a pair of riders who come cantering southwards on the road, then pass without noticing you.
Turning northward as the air becomes warm and dries out the moist, fragrant ground, you come soon to a stream which you follow for half a mile to a pond, away from the road, surrounded by palms and argan trees. In this restful place, where songbirds perch and chirp quietly, you sleep dreamlessly. Then, when the sun is high, you mount up again and continue northwards after noting a farm cart has come off the merchant’s path and turned onto the path you just left.
You follow the merchant’s road northward, and it becomes steadily more trafficked as you near the Bantu foothills. By nightfall, you have traversed fifteen miles, despite your late start, and you stop at a nameless Shian village of adobe houses built upon the hillside, hand-woven rugs for sale fluttering on taut lines beside the road. There, you rent rooms in a windblown saloon built upon the village’s single lonely street, where the keeper asks no questions and wordlessly supplies you with modest meals and beds, which you relish, not having slept in one since leaving Hyewush a week ago.
(OOC: When you awaken, you have Leveled Up!)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Either that night before Ednyss goes to sleep or early in the morning (well before the group had planned to leave), Ednyss would have approached Auger and asked if the warlock had a moment to spare. If Auger did have a moment, Ednyss would ask him quietly if he would bring his carving tools and meet him in the behind the saloon.
(OOC: Before he sleeps that night, he will replenish his shield with Enhance Ability x1 and Healing Word x3)
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Varielky is not in a good mood during this journey. She rides close to Benita most of the time, yet she barely speaks at all. She stares forward most of the time, but although her eyes are open, she doesn't really look at anything. Whenever it is not holding the reins of a horse, her hand hovers near the empty frog where her handaxe used to be. As if making sure it is still not there. That her vow still stands, and that it didn't teleport back the way her sword does. During the nights, it takes her some time to fall asleep, and even then her sleep is rather restless. Her only comfort seems to be Tamazaert. Albeit barely, she speaks with the woman more than with the others and knowing that she saved her eases her mind the most.
Varielky hoped to get friendly with Tamazaert, even just a little. She might ask her about her life prior to being taken by the Orcs, but mostly she is interested in how are those who live under the Orcs. How do the Orcs treat them? Would she consider life good there, if their babies weren't taken away? Did Tamazaert want a baby? Could she choose who the father would be? Stuff like that. On the other hand, Varielky doesn't share much about herself. If Tamazaert asks, she'll say that she originally lived in the north, but then the gods sent her south to Orraca u Shia where she served in the brigades for a few years. That's about it.
Varielky