Adventure World: Caravan session 1

Adventure World: Caravan session logs Session 1 Next

Summary

For the last few weeks, the Oglaf caravan has be encamped at the small dwarven village of Halidun on the northeast border of the realm of Metsämäki, just south of the Fyrnlac. Early in the month of Ater, the caravan members have labored alongside the villagers to bring in the wheat harvest, working long days and enjoying the cool autumn evenings.

The last of the harvest came in yesterday, and this evening the village is having a festival to celebrate. Preparations are underway, but the Oglafs (and associates) find themselves with less immediate work than the last month has seen, though there's always the usual chores to be done.

Early in the morning, Kirar wakes Frond to see if she wants to join him for sunrise medications, and they agree to get a little carried away before they are interrupted by [[Tsukaav Oglaf|Tsukaav] doing his morning exercises.

Tsukav finds his father Lubash and they talk about where the caravan is headed next.

Verex Oglaf takes a moment to check on with some of her grandkids and tell them variably that they are working too hard Aan and not hard enough Chlyde.

Chlyde wakes her cousin. Once she's (grudgingly) awake, Brauni's mother brings her to visit a local woman who has a water weird issue

Krusk asks Qog to help him shoe an oxen.

Whisper tells Varka about the importance of breakfast. Chlyde offers to help him check his snares if they can be back before her band practice.

That evening is the Halidun harvest Festival with various games and snack. Viscous Mockery gives a debut performance that is not well received, but their moms are very proud! Some of the local youths are curious though, and Qog checks on Aan after he runs off when the performance is over. Verex checks in with Whisper about his drinking (and fairy lights).

Brauni realizes that Caena and her wife missed the celebration, and the next morning her mother sends her to take people to go and check on them. After gathering a PC posse they find the house empty, signs of a struggle, and her skeleton familiar hiding in the rafters.

Session

Session date: 2023-07-09

In Game date: Early in Ater

The Best Part of Waking Up (And An Interruption)

Kirar: will gently shake Frond's shoulder just before dawn.

Frond: hmm?

Frond: rolls over to see what he wants

Kirar: Sorry to bother you, tagur ('darling'), but I was just going out for morning devotions. Care to join me?

Frond: oh... sure

Frond: (is this usual for us?)

Josh: (It's certainly usual for him, it's when he prays for his spells. Up to you whether it's usual for Frond 😉 )

Frond: (I'll say yeah, she probably does usually get up for morning prayers etc.)

Frond: gives him a kiss before we actually get up, though.

Kirar: smiles, holding the kiss for a moment for sitting up and beginning to get dressed.

Frond: anyway you aren't bothering me 🙂

Kirar: You looked really peaceful, I felt guilty disturbing you. It's been a busy couple of weeks.

Frond: chuckles at that

Frond: It has. We'll be moving along soon, I guess.

Kirar: nods companionably.

Kirar: Bit of a shame. Halidun's nice enough. Any word from Ohr or Keth? (One of your uncles and fathers respectively, though Keth was an uncle before he was one of your dads) Do we know where we're headed next?

Frond: (have I heard anything?)

Josh: (Not currently. You know they both headed east to scout and look for a good place to go next. They tend to range a fair bit from the caravan at any given time, doing that job.)

Frond: I'm not sure... Probably eastward, but other than that, no idea.

Kirar: nods.

Kirar: Northeast wouldn't be bad, to get to see my family for a little bit, though the weather's turning.

Frond: nods

Frond: Are you feeling homesick?

Kirar: smiles wistfully.

Kirar: Not especially. I like it out here on the road, with you.

Kirar: Shall we?

Frond: nods and will go with him

Josh: The morning air is crisp, with a light breeze blowing from the south. On the edge of the camp, Frond and Kirar get the closest thing they can really manage to quiet and solitude, saying their prayers as the sun rises over the hills and fields.

Kirar: smiles contentedly when you're finished.

Kirar: This is nice. I like the quiet. Wasn't a lot of that to go around back home, and I'm sure we won't have mornings to ourselves for too much longer.

Kirar: 's smile turns a little fragile.

Frond: nods hopefully

Frond: I hope that you're right.

Kirar: You serve the Great Mother. I'm sure she'll see fit to bless you soon.

Frond: I feel like I must be letting you down...

Kirar: Not at all. I feel like I'm letting you down. And your family, and my family, and...

Kirar: sighs and shakes his head.

Frond: looks saddened

Kirar: I'm sure everything will work out.

Frond: If anyone is giving you trouble, I'll kick their ass.

Kirar: I'm sure you would, and could, but I need to fight my own battles, at least in this regard.

Kirar: Save your saving me for when it's for more than my pride.

Kirar: leans in to give Frond a kiss on the cheek.

Frond: smiles a little at that

Josh: The sounds of the camp stirring reach the two of you, fires being stoked, animals clamoring for their morning feed, etc.

Frond: I guess we should probably get back...

Frond: says slightly reluctantly

Kirar: Work to be done, but this evening should be fun.

Frond: nods

Frond: I'm looking forward to it.

Kirar: Me too.

Kirar: grins.

Kirar: Work to be done for the time being, though.

Frond: Okay, okay... Here I was, thinking we could take a little longer to get back and no one would notice, but you're probably right 😉

Kirar: Well, I don't mind being a bit late to breakfast...

Frond: It's like... a KIND of veneration, right?

Kirar: Luthic is a goddess of fertility... 😉

Frond: right!

Frond: see, it makes perfect sense...

Tsukaav: jogs by, sweaty and wearing only a single cloth around his waist.

Frond: Hey, watch where you're going, Tsukaav! :p

Kirar: Oh, jeez!

Kirar: kind of covers himself with his nearby jacket

Tsukaav: Ahh ... blessings on your morning, sister.

Frond: yeah well, we were TRYING :p

Tsukaav: shrugs.

Tsukaav: Best to get our exercise in early.

Frond: rolls her eyes

Kirar: manages to chuckle at that.

Frond: keep on jogging!

Tsukaav: smiles.

Tsukaav: Wise words. I need to focus both on strength and agility. Wouldn't want to get stiff.

Frond: oh my gods

Kirar: So to speak.

Frond: I will literally murder you

Tsukaav: As you say, sister.

Tsukaav: Well, I will see you back at camp, then.

Tsukaav Talks To Lubash

Josh: Tsukaav, you can continue your morning run, lets say literally around Halidun, likely getting a few stares (both appreciative and scandalized, sometimes both) as you do.

Josh: As you return to camp, you spot your father Lubash, sitting and sharpening one of his axes.

Lubash: Showing off the goods, ki? Little late in our stay to advertise, isn't it?

Tsukaav: It is never too early nor too late to glorify Rull, poch.

Tsukaav: If seeing me inspires one of these folk of Halidun to the same goal, then the greater good is served.

Tsukaav: Do you think we will be leaving today, or tomorrow?

Lubash: Definitely not today, probably not tomorrow, but soon, I'm sure. There was some talk of staying for guard duty, but I doubt Halidun can support us for too long. Might be some raiding to be done to the east.

Tsukaav: nods.

Tsukaav: I don't mind the farm work.

Tsukaav: But a change would be good too.

Lubash: nods.

Lubash: It's easy enough for us, and it's not dangerous. Still, I'd rather we get something to get the blood pumping wherever we head next.

Tsukaav: So you think it might be east next?

Tsukaav: No one tells me anything.

Lubash: Well, I have more of an in.

Lubash: Plenty of border stuff we could get into. Dracasholt or Guimaraes.

Lubash: Though, who knows? Maybe we end up in one of the internal disputes. Work's work.

Lubash: shrugs.

Tsukaav: Well. I should get back. Unless you need help here.

Lubash: No, don't let me keep you from your chores and such, but I wouldn't mind a bit of sparring before the party tonight, if you think you can stand up to it. 😉

Tsukaav: I shall not be the first to falter!

Tsukaav: Until then, father.

Tsukaav: adjusts his garment to ensure modesty on the run back to camp, then heads off.

Lubash: Best hope Rull is in a blessing mood if you want to beat me, kig ("little son").

Coffee Talk

Josh: For the last few weeks, the Oglaf caravan has be encamped at the small dwarven village of Halidun on the northeast border of the realm of Metsämäki, just south of the Fyrnlac. Early in the month of Ater, the caravan members have labored alongside the villagers to bring in the wheat harvest, working long days and enjoying the cool autumn evenings.

Josh: The last of the harvest came in yesterday, and this evening the village is having a festival to celebrate. Preparations are underway, but the Oglafs (and associates) find themselves with less immediate work than the last month has seen, though there's always the usual chores to be done.

Josh: (Heather, where do we find Aan this morning?)

Aan: is probably doing some camp chores like cleaning up after breakfast stuff

Josh: That is a pretty big task, likely left to Aan and the younger kids, though Aan is probably more conscientious about it than, say, his younger siblings Nil and Resh whose argument about...something has devolved into a wrestling match between the nine-year-old twins.

Verex: is sitting near one of the campfires watching the (mostly) organized chaos of her family beginning their day, smiling contentedly while smoking her pipe.

Aan: huffs at the kids and keeps working :p

Verex: smiles at Aan and pats the space next to her on the blanket on which she's sitting.

Aan: eyes her, then will put down the pot he was cleaning and go and sit with her :3

Chlyde: crawls out of the tent groggily and goes to look for coffee.

Verex: You can let the younger kids handle more of it this morning. It won't be your job for too much longer, I don't think.

Aan: eyes where they are wrestling, and makes a little dubious sound

Verex: How have you liked Halidun?

Aan: shrugs slowly, looking a little unsure

Verex: Better than the bigger towns, at least?

Aan: mmm.

Aan: nods

Aan: hugs his knees and wraps his tail around his feet

Verex: nods towards Chlyde.

Verex: You sister certainly has no trouble making nice with the locals.

Verex: favors Aan with a conspiratorial smirk.

Josh: (Sorry, cousin*)

Aan: looks over at Chlyde

Chlyde: strolls over with a cup of coffee in hand and ruffles Aan's hair.

Chlyde: Morning Shrimp. Morning kaur. Looks like I missed breakfast again.

Verex: So long as you don't miss chores, you're the only one losing out, uburug ('little daughter'/granddaughter)

Chlyde: Yeah, yeah. I'll be done before the festival. Are we gonna be hanging around here much longer?

Aan: checks his pockets and offers Chlyde a piece of dried cheese

Chlyde: smiles and takes it from him with a wink.

Verex: I'll be talking to Gossan (the village elder) about it later at the festival. Best to discuss such things when she's in a good mood and had a couple of pints, hmm.

Chlyde: Mmmm.

Chlyde: Brauni up yet?

Aan: (idk - Hazel?)

Brauni: (snores)

Aan: enn.

Aan: shrugs

Verex: (to Chlyde) Did she not spend the night in your undar ('wagon', but tends to be used colloquially to mean a family's wagon, tent(s), etc.)

Chlyde: Probably. I got back late. She's probably still snoring.

Verex: Why don't you go wake her? Plenty to do before tonight. I assume you'll all be performing?

Chlyde: I was hoping to. You up for it, Shrimp?

Aan: looks towards the village and nods.

Aan: aa.

Verex: pats Aan's knee affectionately.

Chlyde: Good kid.

Chlyde: takes a sip of coffee and sighs.

Chlyde: Alright, time to go kick her ass out of bed then.

Chlyde: will head off to do so.

Brauni: is snoring loudly

Josh: (I will nudge y'all towards ic3 🙂 )

Verex: (to Aan) Are you looking forward to performing tonight?

Aan: looks at her, then nods

Verex: smiles with approval and takes a puff of her pipe.

Verex: (in Infernal) Good boy.

Aan: smiles

Verex: Resh! You put that mug down right this instant! No weapons, and no breaking things!

Verex: sighs.

Verex: Best you go take that from him and set them to washing.

Aan: nods and hops up. he will stop to pat her on the head and then go sort out the kids :3

Chlyde and Yevelda Wake Up Brauni

Brauni: snores loudly

Chlyde: will go back into the tent

Chlyde: walks up to a large pile of snoring blankets and kicks it lightly.

Brauni: FUCK OFF

Brauni: 'm sleepin here

Chlyde: Oi. Get up. We got a gig tonight. You got chores.

Brauni: sits up, frowning

Brauni: I thought we were finished this gardening crap.

Chlyde: We are, but we'll probably be moving on soon. Need to break camp and all that.

Chlyde: And we should probably get a practice in.

Brauni: Yeah, always time for more practice...

Brauni: throws off the blanket and throws on some clothes

Chlyde: Well, if your giant fucking fingers could form a decent F chord maybe we wouldn't need to.

Chlyde: says with a grin.

Brauni: Look who's talking Miss Flat for Days

Chlyde: pauses for a moment.

Chlyde: I can't tell if that's a dig at my voice or my tits, but either way I don't hear anyone complaining.

Brauni: I'M COMPLAINING

Brauni: not about your tits though they're fine.

Chlyde: laughs.

Chlyde: Whatever, get done with your shit before lunch so we can practice.

Brauni: Yeah yeah yeah

Brauni: YOU'RE NOT MY MOM

Chlyde: Thank fuck for that.

Chlyde: will leave her cousin to get dressed.

Brauni: never gonna meet a decent man in these little backwaters, ugh

Brauni: mutters to herself while she gets ready

Yevelda: Never gonna meet a decent man if you're sleeping the day away, either.

Yevelda: says, entering the tent.

Josh: Despite the morning chill, your mother is bare-chested and painted in all manner of ritual designs, nonchalant in her (to the locals) bizarre appearance.

Brauni: Might as well sleep with the prospects around here

Brauni: grumbles

Yevelda: Have you seen my kurar agak (a type of medicinal/ritual plant) ?

Brauni: Uhhh... It was on the... thing

Brauni: scratches her head.

Brauni: By the big cook pot.

Yevelda: groans.

Yevelda: For the last time, people, my herbs and cooking herbs are not the same thing!

Yevelda: grumbles mostly to herself.

Yevelda: Your cousin got in pretty late. You didn't stay out with her?

Brauni: No. Like I said, no prospects.

Brauni: Uuuggghhhh I'm NEVER gonna find a MAN!!!

Brauni: Where ARE they all???

Chlyde: <From outside> Lower your standards!

Brauni: NEVER

Brauni: I do not settle

Brauni: huffs gruffly

Brauni: There's gotta be one out there... somewhere...

Yevelda: There's lots, but you do have pretty high standards...

Brauni: So I'm a romantic. So sue me.

Yevelda: Maybe think of your first husband as a trial run. You can always improve on the first one. 😉

Brauni: I want him to sweep me off my feet. Literally.

Brauni: Ugh, no thanks

Brauni: I don't want no fixer uppers

Brauni: I'm BUSY

Yevelda: With sleeping?

Brauni: with ART, MOTHER!!!

Brauni: and I need to REPLENISH my CREATIVE ENERGY!

Yevelda: Well, perhaps you can replenish your creative energy from the well I have to go cleanse. One of the outlying farms has a little water weird problem I need to take care of, and you can carry my things.

Brauni: SIGH

Brauni: FINE, I guess I'll just BE A MULE

Chlyde: <From outside> Haha! You got water weird duty!

Brauni: I'LL WEIRD YOUR WATER!

Yevelda: Don't be silly, dear. The mules are quieter.

Yevelda: grins and favors Brauni with a wink before heading back out.

Brauni: ARRGHHHH!!

Brauni: throws her beefy arms up in semi-exaggerated frustration

Brauni: straps on her breastplate and follows Yevelda out though.

Brauni and Her Mother Water a Weird

Yevelda: will, true to her word, engage her daughter's services to carry her ritual gear out to a farm on the edge of the stable territory around Halidun.

Josh: The farm is a little homestead nestled into the edge of a forest. A scarecrow made of straw, cloth, and bones stands sentinel over a small field, a single crow defiantly perched on its arm as Brauni and her mother approach.

Josh: A smiling dwarven woman looks up from where she's feeding chickens, squinting in the morning light under her broad-brimmed conical hat.

Ceana: Yevelda! Good morning. This must be...Brauni?

Josh: A small skeletal animal crawls up over the woman's shoulder, its empty eye sockets fixing you both with a silent stare.

Yevelda: Ceana, good to see you, and, yes, this is my eldest daughter herself. And where's your lovely wife this morning?

Ceana: Left early this morning to go pick mushrooms, leaving these little buggers to me.

Ceana: throws more feed to the chickens.

Brauni: waves

Ceana: (to Brauni) Your mother is a lifesaver, coming to take care of our little well problem. I don't know how the bugger got in there in the first place.

Brauni: What's in there?

Ceana: A water weird, just a bit bigger than I can handle. Do you know what they are?

Brauni: uh... I just thought she said the water was weird.

Yevelda: It's an elemental. Water is the most common, though there are all kinds. Like a snake, made of whatever substance it nests in.

Brauni: Oh, yeah, okay, sure.

Brauni: nods as though she completely understands

Yevelda: This is a good thing to know about, Brauni.

Ceana: I'm sure she has other important things on her mind, Yevelda. 😉

Ceana: Your mom tells me you're a musician?

Brauni: Yeah, I have a band with my cousin and little brother.

Brauni: We're Viscous Mockery.

Brauni: says proudly.

Brauni: We're playing at the festival tonight, you should come check it out. It's going to be sick.

Ceana: Looking forward to it. Floraigh does like to cut a rug.

Josh: (Floraidh, rather)

Yevelda: Well, that water isn't going to weird itself. Or, I guess, de-weird. It already weirded itself. Come help me lay out my things, Brauni.

Brauni: Yes'm.

Yevelda: will direct Brauni on how to do that, laying out a simple ritual banishing circle around the well's perimeter, chatting with Ceana as she does so.

Brauni: is being the good daughter :3

Josh: It's a relatively simple ritual, and Brauni watches the weird rise out of the water in the well as though charmed, ultimately fading away back to...wherever it goes, Brauni doesn't know.

Brauni: Huh. Well, that was weird, I guess

Yevelda: gives Brauni a -_- look

Ceana: Thanks so much, and I'll bring you those herbs everything else we owe this evening.

Yevelda: Sounds good, and happy to help, of course. Brauni and I should get out of your hair so you can get your own work done, I'm sure.

Brauni: waves jauntily

Ceana: Take care you two. Nice to meet you, Brauni, and I can't wait to hear you play.

Brauni: Yeah!! Get ready to have your brains rocked out!!

Ceana: gives a bit of a confused look at that, but smiles and waves anyway.

Qog and Krusk Shoe an Ox

Josh: (Matt, what would Qog be doing this morning?)

Qog: Checking on the oxen and just generally seeing where he can help out

Josh: Krusk, one of your grandfathers, and your mentor as a smith, will have asked for your help reshoeing one of the oxen.

Qog: Sure thing! What can I do?

Krusk: Well, I'll leave it up to you. You can hold him steady while I fit the shoe, or do you think you're up for taking a crack at it?

Qog: I'll hold him steady -- I don't want to mess this up and be down an ox.

Krusk: nods, but will give a look of concern when Qog isn't looking.

Josh: Qog has a good rapport with the oxen, and they're well-trained, so it's no problem for Qog to hold him steady while Krusk works.

Krusk: Luckily, we're mostly done with the repairs the villagers needed, though there's still a couple tools that need seeing to.

Qog: Anything I can do?

Krusk: Always work to be done, and I appreciate your help. Here and with the tools, and, well, everywhere.

Qog: Well, I just wanna make sure I'm doing my part, so thank you for showing me how to handle stuff around here.

If repairs are done, does that mean we'll be moving on soon?

Krusk: nods.

Krusk: Verex hasn't said just yet, but I get the feeling the village will want us moving on before too long.

Krusk: Not the worst place to spend some time, though, hmm?

Qog: Yeah, it's nice, but I try not to get too attached to places, just 'cause I know we'll be moving again.

What's the longest you've ever stayed in one place?

Krusk: has to actually take a moment to think.

Krusk: That's a good question...we spent six months guard duty in Harcourt once. That's probably it.

Krusk: Would you rather be staying in one spot, instead of moving around?

Qog: Sometimes staying put seems nice ... but then I wonder how boring that would get. I think I'd rather keep moving, seeing new stuff.

Krusk: Doesn't mean you shouldn't get attached, though. I've known Marl, Halidun's brewer, for years. He keeps a small keg aside for me for whenever we come through.

Qog: I guess. I just ... I'm not great at meeting new people, you know? And like you said, not everybody really wants us around. But I get what you're saying, Kúurgru.

Krusk: smiles and nods, bending to gently tap in the last nail.

Krusk: All right, you can let his foot down. Good boy, Har.

Krusk: pats the ox's flank affectionately.

Qog: I reach over to scratch the ox behind one ear.

Josh: Har leans into it a bit and waggles his ears in appreciation.

Krusk: smiles, looking at Qog.

Krusk: (mostly under his breath) Good boy.

Qog: If Qog hears that, he doesn't say anything, but he smiles a little.

Whisper Talks To Varka And Takes Chlyde To Check Traps

Josh: (Terry, what is Whisper up to this morning? Probably a good chance he was on watch last night while trancing, I would think?)

Whisper: (that would be typical of him. Probably doing some morning rituals (eating/cleaning) and honoring the fey spirits)

Whisper: sits eating his morning meal. In his place setting is a small dish with a portion set aside. He also places two small obsidian figures next to the dish.

Whisper: finishes thier meal without a word, and gathers the dishes up. He places the two obsidian figures in a belt pouch after giving them each an affectionate rub between his fingers

Varka: What are those?

Whisper: (how old is Varka?)

Josh: (8 🙂 )

Whisper: They are tokens... reminders.

Whisper: says quietly in an even tone

Whisper: will pull them out

Whisper: This is Kiri and this is La'in. They are no longer with me, so I carry these to always remember.

Whisper: They both loved breakfast dearly, which I hope you do to.

Varka: nods solemnly.

Varka: Mom says it's the most important.

Whisper: Your mother is wise to say so. It makes you strong for the day. I hope you fed well and feel strong.

Varka: nods again with all the seriousness an eight-year-old can muster.

Varka: What happened to them?

Whisper: closes his eye

Whisper: They are with their mother. It is a sad story, and one not for a child's ears, until you have proven yourself strong and wise.

Whisper: When you do, I will tell you.

Whisper: Do you know how to become strong and wise?

Varka: Honor the gods and our family?

Varka: looks as though she is receiving the wisdom of the ages.

Whisper: There are no secrets from you. Remember having a map is not the same as finding your way.

Whisper: It is in the doing that we reach our goal.

Varka: 's eyes get big as she considers that and nods.

Whisper: What will you do today on your journey to being strong and wise?

Varka: thinks for a moment.

Varka: I'm not sure, but...finding the goal is...the first step?

Varka: Did you want me to wash your plate and cup?

Varka: says after a beat.

Whisper: You may, and afterward, you can seek out your mother to help find todays goal.

Whisper: smiles and hands her the dishes

Varka: smiles at that, and will take the dishes with an enthiastic nod.

Chlyde: will watch Varka take the dishes and then slide over into a seat near Whisper.

Chlyde: Masterfully done. I wish I could con the kids into doing dishes for me that easy.

Chlyde: grins.

Whisper: chuckles softly

Whisper: I've had a few years of practice.

Whisper: works on adjusting the buckles on his left leg

Chlyde: She's a good kid. Reminds me of our big sister sometimes.

Chlyde: What do you got planned for today?

Whisper: Check my snares, see if my offerings were good enough to give us some final blessing before we part this land.

Chlyde: Need a hand?

Chlyde: Oh... shit...

Chlyde: I didn't mean...

Chlyde: I meant do you want company?

Chlyde: Sorry.

Whisper: shows no sign of offence

Whisper: It is a long walk. The choice is yours.

Whisper: stands up, and starts to check his gear

Chlyde: I could use a walk. Clear my head a bit. See the area a bit before we go. But I know you usually like to go alone. Just thought I'd offer.

Chlyde: Are you planning to be back before lunch?

Whisper: looks at the sun

Whisper: You need to be somewhere at lunch?

Chlyde: shrugs.

Chlyde: We're supposed to practice afterwards.

Whisper: nods

Whisper: We can dash to the farthest snares and walk back. You would be back by lunch.

Chlyde: Alright! Let's do it then.

Josh: (Terry, out of curiosity, roll me Survival)

Whisper: (20)

Josh: The two of you can rush off to spend the morning checking Whisper's snares, which prove to have been blessed with several rabbits and a squirrel.

The Harvest Festival (And The Debut of Viscous Mockery)

Josh: The caravan settles into its daily routine, helping finishing up the last of the threshing and winnowing, moving grain to storage, and getting ready to be on their way in the next few days. Soon enough, evening comes, and with it Halidun's harvest festival, held on top of the fortified village hill, in the village center. Straw and stick effigies abound, along with carved turnips and pumpkins, and a few 'spirits' made of old sheets with ash faces.

Josh: There's lots of food and drinks, music and dancing, and a multitude of games for people to partake in as they like, with the villagers happy to share the bounty with their temporary neighbors.

Josh: Tsukaav, there are several contests of strength, from tug of war to boulder throwing to a game the locals call "torras", which seems to consist of people holding shields and taking turns running at one another to try to knock the other down.

Josh: The have a game called Banshee's Wail, which is like hide and seek, but if the "banshee" calls your name, you have to scream and give away your position.

Josh: For those of a more dexterous bent, there's a game that kind of like a pinata, but it's a carved pumpkin filled with sweets (mostly like dried fruit and such) and you throw rocks at it to knock it down or the sweets out.

Brauni: (I do love screaming)

Josh: (I'm sure you'll be doing the first part of this more later, but why don't you roll me a Performance check and a Dex save?)

Brauni: (21 and 14 respectively)

Tsukaav: will participate in any games of strength and will put himself up against the local burly folk who want to play torras

Josh: Brauni proves very popular at Banshee's Wail, reasonably good at avoiding being caught, but truly fantastic at the screaming part, much to the many kids' delight.

Brauni: will also go and check out the strength games just on the off chance there is a very large man there.

Josh: (Steve, roll me an Athletics check)

Tsukaav: (19, not too shabby)

Aan: will find somewhere to observe the chaos from afar until its time for the band to play

Whisper: starts drinking... heavily

Josh: While it's perhaps closer than Tsukaav would like, he manages to stand firm and come out on top in torras, toppling all comers, including knocking your father Lubash ass over teakettle, prompting gales of laughter, most especially from the man himself.

Josh: (Heather, roll me Stealth)

Chlyde: will set up a little table for some low-stakes card gambling. (Fair, not rigged, since these people seem to have been good to us.)

Josh: (And, why not, Terry, roll me a Con save)

Whisper: (damn....21)

Aan: (23)

Josh: (Tuck, roll me a check with either Dex, Int, or Cha, your choice, including your proficiency bonus)

Chlyde: (Bahaha 11)

Josh: Whisper, you've built up a fair tolerance of late, so it takes some time for you to get well and truly drunk, not really accomplished until Marl breaks out his reserve fortified mead.

Josh: Aan, you manage to avoid to many stares or even interaction, though you see some of the town children give you curious looks on occasion.

Josh: Chlyde, you manage to only lose a couple copper pieces over the course of playing; these bumpkins prove a bit cannier than you thought. 😉

Chlyde: (No worries, good feelings are worth a few copper 😉 )

Tsukaav: will celebrate his victory by drinking with the fine folk of Halidun who he bested, remembering Rull's edict to revel in triumph.

Chlyde: will congratulate the winners and then head off to get ready to play on stage.

Josh: "Stage" in this instance being either a clear space of ground or on a table. 😉

Kirar: will indulge fully in the festivities. Though he's not particularly proficient in any of the games, he's a good sport and probably more than a little drunk as various people hand him drinks.

Frond: is also just here to have a fun time, not especially competitive

Verex: spends a lot of the festival sitting with the village elder Gossan, clearly having a good time but also discussing business.

Josh: Eventually the local musicians take a break and give Viscous Mockery a chance to shine.

Brauni: (YESSSSSS)

Josh: (Why don't the three of you roll me Performance checks?)

Aan: (oof. 9 -_-)

Chlyde: (Oh ffs... 7)

Brauni: (6. lmao)

Aan: (I think that was a nat one 😅

Brauni: (SURE WAS)

Josh: To be fair, you all perform what you intended exactly as intended. Unfortunately, you performance is met with truly thunderous and somewhat confused silence afterwards, though Kirar will cheer after a beat and you get some awkward, polite half-hearted applause.

Brauni: Nobody appreciates art...

Chlyde: THANK YOU HALIDUN!!!!!

Chlyde: WE ARE VISCOUS MOCKERY!!!!

Yevelda: I thought you all did very well.

Aan: just seems uncertain and will immediately go hide again

Yevelda: will have brought food and drinks for all of you.

Yevelda: Aan, you don't need to...

Yevelda: frowns as he runs off.

Aan: will accept mom snacks though

Josh: (Okay, I choose to interpret that as him grabbing the snack and bolting 😉 )

Aan: (yes)

Frond: It's just not the style here. I though you sounded just like in your practices.

Brauni: We need to play bigger cities. Where people have CULTURE

Brauni: Thanks Frond.

Chlyde: Forget it, Cous. We rocked.

Kirar: I thought it was fantasmic. Uh, fantastic.

Brauni: Fantasmic... I LIKE that

Qog: If I see Aan leaving, I'll follow him.

Brauni: that gives me an idea for a song...

Whisper: gets another drink

Chlyde: Maybe we need more volume...

Brauni: You can never go wrong with loud.

Brauni: agrees

Tsukaav: It was very loud and forceful.

Chlyde: Thanks!

Josh: (Matt, why don't you and Heather head to ic2 if you want to talk to Aan?)

Yevelda: Yes, I think maybe this just wasn't what people were expecting.

Chlyde: Just wait, in a few years, it's gonna be everywhere.

Brauni: YEAH!!

Brauni: 's mood improves with food and drinks

Josh: You do probably get a few of the younger folks asking about your music over the course of the evening.

Brauni: is ALWAYS happy to talk about it

Brauni: (loudly)

Whisper: has three dark blue glowing fairies dancing around his mug as he continues to get drunker as the night goes on

Chlyde: will mostly just hang out and drink and hit on anyone who seems interested and reasonably hot.

Josh: Brauni, you do happen to notice, also over the course of the evening, that you haven't seen Ceana anywhere.

Josh: (Terry, is that a thing he's done/has happened before?)

Brauni: Hey, wasn't whatserface supposed to be here?

Brauni: The one with the weird well?

Yevelda: More of a well weird, but, yes, now that you mention it. Strange. Maybe she or Floraidh weren't feeling well?

Whisper: (probably not, hasnt gotten drunk often - its just my interpretation for him of dancing lights)

Brauni: Seemed fine before. But I guess.

Yevelda: frowns.

Yevelda: I might send you to go check on her tomorrow; I would like to get those herbs, and of course the produce she promised.

Brauni: Yeah, sure thing.

Yevelda: nods and smiles, patting Brauni's arm and returning to a conversation with her sisters.

Josh: (Anything in particular people want to do/resolve before the evening's over?)

Brauni: (I'm good)

Chlyde: (Good here)

Frond: (as long as I can do the reasonable equivalent of, idk, winning a stuffed animal for my boy, I'm happy. or failing that, at least buy him some treats 😉

Tsukaav: (all good)

Josh: (Hee, I'm sure you can manage something similar. 🙂 )

Aan: (all good!)

Josh: You all spend the evening among the villagers and your family, celebrating well into the evening before eventually making your way back to your camp as the night wears on.

Aan: might just sleep in this tree if he gets comfy :3

Qog Talks to a Dejected Aan

Qog: Where does Aan run to?

Aan: will maybe go and find a tree to climb and hide in

Qog: Qog leans against the tree but doesn't look up at Aan

Tough crowd.

Aan: Aa.

Aan: mumbles with his mouth full of whatever snack his mom gave him

Qog: Well, I thought you all sounded great. Mind if I sit here a little bit?

Aan: looks down at Qog

Aan: ...okay.

Qog: Qog takes a seat under the tree and digs a snack of his own out of a pocket.

Qog: Sounds like we'll be moving on soon. Wonder where we're headed next ...

Aan: just nods

Qog: Finishes his snack

I'm gonna see if there's a petting zoo or something like that. You can tag along if you want, but you don't have to. Just don't wander off too far, OK?

Aan: will stay put

Qog: Qog nods as he stands up and brushes off his clothes. He looks up at Aan and smiles.

Fair enough. I'll see you later, kerask. And hey -- you did good tonight, no matter what that crowd thinks.

Aan: aa.  :3

Qog: I give Aan a wave and walk off towards the main festival area

Aan: waves back

Verex Talks to a Dejected and Drunk Whisper

Verex: will approach Whisper and take a seat.

Verex: That's a new trick, isn't it?

Whisper: They're friends.

Whisper: says quietly

Verex: Well, pleased to meet you.

Verex: Do they have names, or is this a drow thing I should leave well enough alone?

Whisper: whispers in sylvan to them

Whisper: They don't talk much. Are they bothering you?

Whisper: the fae stop dancing around the mug and sit on it

Verex: Not at all, they're delightful. Didn't mean to cause concern.

Verex: Thought you might like some company, but it seems like you already have some.

Verex: Do you mind if I just sit and get some relative quiet? These youngsters, and the kids' 'music'...

Verex: takes a long sip of her drink, then takes out her pipe.

Whisper: nods

Verex: Much obliged.

Verex: will pack her pipe and light it, taking a few puffs, after a beat offering it to Whisper.

Whisper: I'm not that old for a drow, if you were not aware.

Whisper: the fae slip back under his cloak, their glow snuffed out

Verex: I was, but I'd wager you're still older than all of us.

Whisper: nods

Whisper: Nights like this... all this life...

Whisper: looks at his mug

Whisper: Sometimes I just need a little help.

Verex: It's tough to lose people. Even when you have practice.

Verex: touches a necklace she wears that used to belong to her daughter Korga.

Verex: Just know, as long as you're with us, you have help.

Whisper: nods

Whisper: sits quietly and drinks

The Group Goes to Check On Caena and Finds Trouble Afoot

Josh: It's a nice clear morning the next day, no clouds in the sky, just a hint of chill. Some of you may still be nursing hangovers, but life goes on and chores wait for no one.

Chlyde: will stumble home probably just before dawn.

Whisper: eventually stopped drinking, went back to the caravan and tranced to watch the sun rise

Brauni: has gotta go check on the well lady.

Volda: will come find Frond at breakfast.

Aan: just goes about his usual morning things quietly

Frond: looks up to see what her mother wants

Volda: Your aunt has a job for you.

Frond: Okay. What is it?

Volda: Yevelda helped out a local woman with a magic problem yesterday, and the woman was supposed to bring payment to the festival last night, but she never showed. She's sending Brauni to check on her, but part of the payment is bulk produce, so it might take a couple people. Just in case its something untoward, we'd prefer she didn't go alone, so I need you to gather up some of your dathak ("kin") and see to it.

Frond: Sure.

Frond: will look around to find Tsukaav and Chlyde, for starters (start with siblings, move outwards if we need more than that ;)

Chlyde: is absolutely sleeping.

Josh: (Tuck, roll me a Con save, please)

Tsukaav: is just back from his daily exercises.

Chlyde: (16)

Josh: (Okay, you manage to avoid a level of exhaustion for lack of sleep 😉 )

Josh: (The wonders of youth 🙂 )

Frond: will explain the task to them.

Frond: Maybe we need a few others?

Chlyde: ...seriously...

Chlyde: says blearily.

Frond: sorry if YOU overindulged last night but there's still work to do

Chlyde: slowly raises a middle finger but can't even be bothered to do it with any spite.

Frond: was it at least worthwhile? 😉

Chlyde: Meh.

Frond: Too bad. Maybe there'll be some better pickings at our next stop.

Chlyde: Hopefully taller ones at least.

Tsukaav: The beer is good in Halidun. You complain too much.

Chlyde: I complain exactly the right amount.

Frond: will go look around to see who else is up and available (i.e. if any other PCs can be roped into this ;)

Brauni: is waiting for you guys, assuming I was told you were coming... otherwise I've already left :v

Aan: is certainly around

Josh: (Presumably, you can gather all the PCs. If necessary, we can say there were snares out this direction for Whisper (and possibly Elafir, she is a druid) to check. I imagine Aan and Qog mostly just do as they're told. 😉 )

Elafir: will be around doing things

Qog: Qog would definitely be happy to tag along if he knows this is happening.

Josh: (Yeah, Hazel, we'll say you were told they would be accompanying you)

Brauni: YOU GUYS NEED TO HURRY UP I'M BORED AS SHIT OVER HERE

Brauni: How many people does it take to check on one old lady anyway.

Frond: we're coming, hold onto your ass.

Chlyde: Please don't take this the wrong way, but I desperately need all of you to shut the fuck up until things stop spinning.

Josh: It's a nice morning walk to the farm, perhaps a mile or so from town. The woods begin just before you get to the farmstead, though there are various charms and chimes in the trees for few hundred feet out.

Brauni: Oh does poor little sensitive baby have a HEADACHE? :D :D

Elafir: will hand Chlyde some sort of root

Elafir: Chew for spinning.

Chlyde: will chew it and attempt not to puke.

Tsukaav: You need to sweat it out. Run more, your problem will go away.

Aan: will walk with Qog

Brauni: Or she'll shit herself

Chlyde: I will murder all of you. Except Aan. And Elafir. And Whisper is at least quiet.

Qog: What did I do?

Brauni: Ya'd have to catch us first. Which would require running :v :v

Qog: Qog covers his mouth as he laughs

Josh: (Can I get folks to roll me Perception checks?)

Frond: (21, since I got a nat 20, lol)

Chlyde: (I'm gonna go ahead and take an auto-fail on this one XD )

Elafir: (16)

Brauni: (13)

Aan: (19)

Tsukaav: (11)

Whisper: (22)

Qog: Been a while since I've used Roll20. How do I roll?

Aan: (open your sheet, and click on the name of whatever you want to roll)

Josh: (You should be able to just click on the skill in your character sheet)

Qog: (18)

Josh: Frond, Elafir, Aan, Whisper, and Qog, you do notice that the area is strangely quiet. As you approach, you can see the gate of the animal pen is open, as is the door of the cottage. Brauni, you notice randomly that the scarecrow you saw yesterday isn't in the field anymore. Frond and Whisper, you see the scarecrow laying in the dirt among the plants, an arrow sticking out of it.

Frond: This seems bad...

Brauni: Yeah, somebody stole her scarecrow

Brauni: Who does that?

Frond: Everyone stay back and let a few of us go look.

Whisper: crouches low and approaches the scarecrow, eyes peeled for foes

Tsukaav: looks around for any sign of trouble, while heeding Frond's request to stay back.

Qog: I pull up my shield, just in case

Frond: will go up carefully to the door and look inside

Josh: The place looks ransacked, furniture thrown around and smashed, and there's a smear of blood on the ground.

Frond: Someone attacked them...

Frond: will call back to the others

Brauni: well, shit.

Frond: (I don't see any bodies or anything?)

Brauni: Must have been last night I guess?

Tsukaav: draws his greatsword.

Josh: You do not, no

Aan: is on alert, sticking close to everyone else

Qog: Any animals still in the pen?

Frond: They're gone. So either someone took them away, or they ran when they got attacked.

Brauni: WHere'd they go?

Chlyde: Who the hell wants spices and vegetables this bad?

Frond: (do I see any traces of tracks or indication what way they might have gone?)

Josh: (Roll Investigation)

Josh: (There are no animals in the pen, fte)

Frond: (lol I'm not qualified for this, but sure... someone better than me should also roll though 😉

Frond: (oh well, ok, if I roll another nat 20 I can try 😉

Josh: (Dang, Frond is on it today)

Frond: (19)

Aan: is not on it :V

Josh: Frond, you spot footprints and drag marks headed away to the north.

Whisper: (2 on investigation to figure out which way the arrows came from)

Josh: The footprints are spaced too far apart to be dwarven, you're pretty sure.

Whisper: is puzzled looking over the fallen scarecrow, unable to determine which way it was initially standing

Aan: (whisper's just having a flashback ;p)

Frond: they went this way... north. I think they took them as prisoners? there's drag marks, anyway. the footprints are too far apart to be dwarves.

Josh: Whisper, the scarecrow's pole was broken off, so you have know way of knowing which direction it originally faced, making it difficult to determine which direction the arrows came from.

Josh: (Is it just Frond having gone into the house at this point?)

Brauni: But why??

Chlyde: Vengeful crows?

Brauni: They're just... boring farmers.

Frond: (since it's clear there's no dead bodies or super gross things, I'm not stopping the others from going in - I just didn't want Aan to see like dead people if they were in there.)

Josh: (Was anyone else going in?)

Chlyde: (Noooope)

Qog: At least one of us should stand lookout, just in case.

Tsukaav: I can do so.

Elafir: (I'll go in)

Whisper: (which way is north on the map?)

Josh: (Okie doke. Roll me a Dex save, Alicia 😉 )

Josh: (Up, just to make it simple)

Elafir: (16)

Brauni: (I'm hanging outside ftr, keeping an eye on things)

Chlyde: will also stay outside and keep an eye on Aan.

Josh: There is a rattling noise and something drops down from the rafters onto you, Elafir, but you manage to swat it aside and there's a clatter as a small animal skeleton clambers to its feet and arches its back as menacingly as a, well, a small animal skeleton can manage.

Elafir: will call out to the others

Brauni: (call out what)

Whisper: circles around the building while the others aid Elafir

Qog: To the group outside

Do we go in?

Brauni: Uhh... I guess?

Chlyde: Awww shit...

Elafir: (Help?)

Brauni: will go inside.

Brauni: Oh, it's just her little guy.

Brauni: It's like.. a pet or something

Josh: The skeleton sees Brauni and will run to her and kind of curl around one of her legs.

Brauni: Hey little guy... Where's yer mom?

Josh: It can't make noises, but it scratches at her boot plaintively.

Brauni: will pick it up, carefully, 'cause she's not sure how to handle a skeleton

Chlyde: What. The. Fuck.

Brauni: It's just a little guy, don't be such a pussy