IC [DW] From the Outside

[doghead]

There is no doubt that you would have died beneath the flashing knives, long spears and bloody axes of the men of Earl Tahnurson had it not been for the intervention of the Witching Troll. The last remnants of Earl Eogan's party, you escaped the slaughter of that night only to find yourself fleeing through the black forest hunted like animals by Tahnurson's hounds and men. Exhausted, wounded and out of ammunition and spells, it was only a matter of time before you were run to ground and killed.

The Witching Troll's offer was simple: a year and a day of service in return for the rest of your life. Exactly what happened next remains hard to recall. You remember clearly the touch of the night breeze, the feel of the cool moist soil and hard rocks under your feet, the refreshing draught of water drawn from deep within the ground. The braying hounds and men with torches flowed straight past you, unseeing, without stopping.

Then it was morning. The Witching Troll was gone. Only Khirynnax remained, crouching beside a small fire preparing a hot drink to start the day with. Khirynnax who had appeared some time after you escaped Earl Tahnurson's men and fled into the forest. Swift of foot and keen of eye, Khirynnax had lead you unerringly through the depths of the forest keeping you just out of reach of those chasing you, until you stumbled upon the Witching Troll, sitting by a small fire along in a small clearing.

As you eat breakfast you ponder the details of the deal you have struck. The first task seems easy enough. Go to Hengistead and keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground. Find out what is happening. The Witching Troll has been hearing stories and she wants to know what is happening. She could go herself, or send one of her own people. But for now she is not sure that it is important enough. And besides, she would rather others don't know of her interest. As you are neither important or known to associate with her, you are perfect for the job. You suspect she could have added that the job is also perfect for testing your worth. But she didn't.

Break-fast over, Khirynnax gathers up his things.

"Hengistead is a few days that way."

[sblock=OOC]Within the framework of above, you are all free to describe your character's encounter with the Witching Troll. They need not accord with each other. How much you reveal is up to you.

I have also left open the events leading up to the fight that sent you fleeing. We will get back to this when I have a moment.

Apologies to GlassEye for hijacking Khirynnax.[/sblock]

 

[Binder Fred]

"What about you, holy man?" asks Slice, a giant armored merc of a man with the hardened face of a professional boxer. "You have to report to your Earl?"

There's, somehow, something subtly mocking about the way he addresses the cleric.

To the side Needles, one of Slice's partners, looks up from cleaning up replacement arrows for his mighty carven fae bow but otherwise remains mute, expression, as always, completely hidden in the permanent gloom of his impressively patched-up green cloak...

 

[GlassEye]

"He's got a new boss now. Just like the rest of us. Let 'im get his his head wrapped 'round that a bit before you go upsetting the apple cart." Trickle grins and looks at Slice only meeting his eyes a moment before shifting his gaze aside to look at Artur, then to Needles, and finally to the elf, the one named Khirynnax who led them to the Witching Troll last night. Last night; Trickle wondered if the others had similar strange encounters with the Witching Troll in that strange cave that wasn't. He also wondered what might make her cry. Or him; Trickle wasn't exactly sure. He flicks a thick piece of pine bark at the elf and then rubs at the stickiness left on his fingers.

The words he spoke sounded strange to Khirynnax' ear, more accustomed now to the speech of the wild than the mocking speech of man after who knows how long roaming as a beast. He ignored the piece of bark flung at him in a childish attempt to annoy him or test his patience. He waited with head tilted slightly to one side as he listened to both the words of the men he shared camp with and the creatures around them hidden within the trees though there were few enough of the latter speaking with the intrusion of men in their land.

[sblock=Trickle][section]

Trickle
Human Thief (level 1; 0 xp)
Shifty Eyes, Cropped Hair, Fancy Clothes, Lithe Body

STR 9 DEX 16 (+2) CON 12 INT 15 (+1) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 18 Current hp: 18

Alignment: Neutral: Avoid detection or infiltrate a location.

Gear: (Load 6/9) – Base Dmg: d8
Dagger (hand, 1 wt.) and Short sword (close, 1 wt.)
Ragged bow (near, 2 wt.) and bundle of arrows (3 ammo, 1 wt.)
Adventuring gear (1 wt.)
Bloodweed poison (touch, 3 uses): target deals -1d4 damage ongoing until cured

[sblock=Thief Moves]Human: When you spout lore or discern realities about criminal activities take +1

Trap Expert: When you spend a moment to survey a dangerous area, roll+Dex (2d6+2)
10+: hold 3
7-9: hold 1
Spend hold as you walk through area to ask questions:

• Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?
• What does the trap do when activated?
• What else is hidden here?

Tricks of the Trade: When you pick locks or disable traps, roll+Dex
10+: you do it, no problem
7-9: you do it, but GM offers two options between suspicion, danger, or cost.

Backstab: When you attack a surprised or defenseless enemy with a melee weapon, you can choose to roll your damage or roll+Dex
10+: choose two
7-9: choose one

• You don’t get into melee with them
• You deal your damage +1d6
• You create an advantage, +1 forward to you or an ally acting on it
• Reduce their armor by 1 until they repair it

Flexible Morals: When someone tries to detect your alignment you can tell them any alignment you like

Poisoner: Bloodweed (touch) is no longer dangerous for you to use. When you have time to gather materials and a safe place to brew you can make three uses of Bloodweed for free.
[/sblock][sblock=Bonds and Backgrounds]
I stole something from Needles.
Slice has my back when something goes wrong.
Artur knows incriminating details about me.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will teach Trickle the secret of Witch's Tears.

In the course of his work Trickle came across a poisoner’s tome (no longer in his possession) that described a potent poison called Witch’s Tears. The poisoner learned the formula for the poison (frustratingly not written down in the book) from a powerful unseelie sorcerer, a troll…
[/sblock]​

[/section][/sblock][sblock=Khirynnax][section]

Khirynnax Skinchanger, AKA Khir
Elven Druid (level 1; 0 xp)
Wild Eyes, Messy Hair, Practical Leathers

STR 15 (+1) DEX 12 CON 13 (+1) INT 9 WIS 16 (+2) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 19 Current hp: 19

Alignment: Neutral: Eliminate an unnatural menace.

Gear: (Load 3/7) – Base Dmg: d6
Token of the Mire: the Copper Coil, age-blackened armband in shape of snake
Hide armor (1 armor, 1 wt.)
Staff (close, two-handed, 1 wt.)
Poultices and herbs (2 uses, 1 wt.)

[sblock=Druid Moves]
Elf: In addition to any other attunements, the Great Forest is always considered your land.

Born of the Soil: Attuned to the Stinking Mire—when shapeshifting you may take the shape of any animal who might live in your land. Your tell (a crown of ivy) remains no matter what shape you take.

By Nature Sustained: You don’t need to eat or drink. If a move tells you to mark off a ration just ignore it.

Spirit Tongue: The grunts, barks, chirps, and calls of the creatures of the wild are as language to you. You can understand any animal native to your land or akin to one whose essence you have studied.

Shapeshifter: When you call upon the spirits to change your shape, roll+WIS.
10+ hold 3
7-9 hold 2
On a miss hold 1 in addition to whatever the GM says.
You may take on the physical form of any species whose essence you have studied or who lives in your land: you and your possessions meld into a perfect copy of the species’ form. You have any innate abilities and weaknesses of the form: claws, wings, gills, breathing water instead of air. You still use your normal stats but some moves may be harder to trigger. The GM will also tell you one or more moves associated with your new form. Spend 1 hold to make that move. Once you are out of hold you return to your natural form. At any time, you may spend all your hold and revert to your natural form.

Studied Essence: When you spend time in contemplation of an animal spirit, you may add its species to those you can assume using shapeshifting.
[/sblock]
[sblock=Bonds and Background]
Trickle smells more like prey than a hunter.
The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows Slice.
I have showed Needles a secret rite of the land.
Artur has tasted my blood and I theirs. We are bound by it.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will reveal a secret of the fae's primordial essence.

Khirynnax was an outsider, too fey for the humans, too unseelie for the elves. He didn’t care because he sensed a deeper essence, pure and powerful, that he needed to understand. When a halfling told him there was one who could put him on the path that might lead to his understanding Khirynnax didn’t hesitate. He made his way to the Witching Troll and readily accepted the bargain of service that the troll required as payment.
[/sblock]​

[/section][/sblock]

 

[Binder Fred]

how about this to get us started again?

Slice paused a breath or two... but the cleric might as well have been deaf AND mute!

"Too good to speak to us, uh?" snarled the hulking warrior, advancing on the 'man of god' with balled fists the size of small hams...

But then Trickle physically blocked him midway to his intended target, shaking his head: no. <That alright with you, GE? Change as needed please.>

If still appropriate:
Slice glared down at Artur, teeth grinding... then violently tore free and then off, brusquely waving Khirynnax ahead of them with a grunt: he was the one that knew the way out of these forsaken woods, wasn't he?

"The gods haven't been kind to us," whispered young Needles towards Artur. Then he stood and kicked dirt into their smokeless fire, playfully stomping it to death.

His voice, as always, was hoarse... scratchy. And not one inch of bare skin showed through his tightly-buckled brown leathers.

 

[GlassEye]

Trickle remained standing where he was a moment after Slice stalked off. His hand was shaking and so he stuffed it in his pocket trying to still it and give the impression of nonchalance at the same time. He hated getting in between Slice and whatever got him riled. It didn't happen often but the last time he got his nose broken for his effort. But maybe that was part of why they knew they could count on one another in a pinch; they each had necessary skills and in their recent line of work Slice's skill at arms had been absolutely essential.

Trickle looked over at Artur. "Just hang back a bit, stay out of Slice's line of sight. He'll cool off eventually then you can join us. Ok?" He nods, satisfied the priest would do as he suggested, and followed after Slice. As he passed Needles he spoke, "Think you killed it good, Needles."

Khirynnax impassively watched the byplay between the humans then moved off through the woods at Slice's direction. He knew these woods no better than anyone else but he felt at home in the forest and the Witching Troll had told them the direction they needed to go the last night.

[sblock=Trickle][section]

Trickle
Human Thief (level 1; 0 xp)
Shifty Eyes, Cropped Hair, Fancy Clothes, Lithe Body

STR 9 DEX 16 (+2) CON 12 INT 15 (+1) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 18 Current hp: 18

Alignment: Neutral: Avoid detection or infiltrate a location.

Gear: (Load 6/9) – Base Dmg: d8
Dagger (hand, 1 wt.) and Short sword (close, 1 wt.)
Ragged bow (near, 2 wt.) and bundle of arrows (3 ammo, 1 wt.)
Adventuring gear (1 wt.)
Bloodweed poison (touch, 3 uses): target deals -1d4 damage ongoing until cured

[sblock=Thief Moves]Human: When you spout lore or discern realities about criminal activities take +1

Trap Expert: When you spend a moment to survey a dangerous area, roll+Dex (2d6+2)
10+: hold 3
7-9: hold 1
Spend hold as you walk through area to ask questions:

• Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?
• What does the trap do when activated?
• What else is hidden here?

Tricks of the Trade: When you pick locks or disable traps, roll+Dex
10+: you do it, no problem
7-9: you do it, but GM offers two options between suspicion, danger, or cost.

Backstab: When you attack a surprised or defenseless enemy with a melee weapon, you can choose to roll your damage or roll+Dex
10+: choose two
7-9: choose one

• You don’t get into melee with them
• You deal your damage +1d6
• You create an advantage, +1 forward to you or an ally acting on it
• Reduce their armor by 1 until they repair it

Flexible Morals: When someone tries to detect your alignment you can tell them any alignment you like

Poisoner: Bloodweed (touch) is no longer dangerous for you to use. When you have time to gather materials and a safe place to brew you can make three uses of Bloodweed for free.
[/sblock][sblock=Bonds and Backgrounds]
I stole something from Needles.
Slice has my back when something goes wrong.
Artur knows incriminating details about me.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will teach Trickle the secret of Witch's Tears.

In the course of his work Trickle came across a poisoner’s tome (no longer in his possession) that described a potent poison called Witch’s Tears. The poisoner learned the formula for the poison (frustratingly not written down in the book) from a powerful unseelie sorcerer, a troll…
[/sblock]​

[/section][/sblock][sblock=Khirynnax][section]

Khirynnax Skinchanger, AKA Khir
Elven Druid (level 1; 0 xp)
Wild Eyes, Messy Hair, Practical Leathers

STR 15 (+1) DEX 12 CON 13 (+1) INT 9 WIS 16 (+2) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 19 Current hp: 19

Alignment: Neutral: Eliminate an unnatural menace.

Gear: (Load 3/7) – Base Dmg: d6
Token of the Mire: the Copper Coil, age-blackened armband in shape of snake
Hide armor (1 armor, 1 wt.)
Staff (close, two-handed, 1 wt.)
Poultices and herbs (2 uses, 1 wt.)

[sblock=Druid Moves]
Elf: In addition to any other attunements, the Great Forest is always considered your land.

Born of the Soil: Attuned to the Stinking Mire—when shapeshifting you may take the shape of any animal who might live in your land. Your tell (a crown of ivy) remains no matter what shape you take.

By Nature Sustained: You don’t need to eat or drink. If a move tells you to mark off a ration just ignore it.

Spirit Tongue: The grunts, barks, chirps, and calls of the creatures of the wild are as language to you. You can understand any animal native to your land or akin to one whose essence you have studied.

Shapeshifter: When you call upon the spirits to change your shape, roll+WIS.
10+ hold 3
7-9 hold 2
On a miss hold 1 in addition to whatever the GM says.
You may take on the physical form of any species whose essence you have studied or who lives in your land: you and your possessions meld into a perfect copy of the species’ form. You have any innate abilities and weaknesses of the form: claws, wings, gills, breathing water instead of air. You still use your normal stats but some moves may be harder to trigger. The GM will also tell you one or more moves associated with your new form. Spend 1 hold to make that move. Once you are out of hold you return to your natural form. At any time, you may spend all your hold and revert to your natural form.

Studied Essence: When you spend time in contemplation of an animal spirit, you may add its species to those you can assume using shapeshifting.
[/sblock]
[sblock=Bonds and Background]
Trickle smells more like prey than a hunter.
The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows Slice.
I have showed Needles a secret rite of the land.
Artur has tasted my blood and I theirs. We are bound by it.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will reveal a secret of the fae's primordial essence.

Khirynnax was an outsider, too fey for the humans, too unseelie for the elves. He didn’t care because he sensed a deeper essence, pure and powerful, that he needed to understand. When a halfling told him there was one who could put him on the path that might lead to his understanding Khirynnax didn’t hesitate. He made his way to the Witching Troll and readily accepted the bargain of service that the troll required as payment.
[/sblock]​

[/section][/sblock]

 

[Binder Fred]

Needles - also known as Brier, also known as Notch - somehow gave the impression of smiling wide without any part of his shadowed face actually showing...

He then patted Artur's shoulder, as one would a hurt pet, then, without another word, silently glided off into the woods himself.

* * *​

"Troll knows exactly what he wants done in Hengistad," growled Slice once they all got moving through the light underbrush, spiting to the side for added emphasis. "Wants to see if we're clever enough to find it for ourselves."

Following that line of thought, his hard blue eyes narrowed as they swiveled towards Khirynnax. And he didn't bother to hide any of his thoughts either... Did HE know?

"Cleaver enough?" deformed Brier from his side, in that nonsensical way he had sometimes.

 

[GlassEye]

Trickle treads along a few steps behind Slice. He pastes a slight smile on his face, more of a smirk, really, though he isn't wholly aware of that. The journey would be so much more pleasant once Slice got his anger out of his system but he wouldn't begrudge the man his expression of frustration; they all dealt with things in their own way. In fact, his own fingers were feeling a little twitchy, a sure sign he needed to let off a little steam of his own.

Trickle chuckled when Needles made his joke and he flicked his gaze over at his strange, enshrouded friend.

Khirynnax was as annoyed as Slice; he just hadn't shown it yet. He moved ahead finding the best possible trail through the woods and yet the fools behind stormed through the forest like enraged bulls. He had to relent somewhat, though: Trickle and Needles, at least, moved with some quiet grace. He stopped and turned. "If you don't move quieter every cunning-man and creature within five miles will know we're coming long before we arrive."

[sblock=Trickle][section]

Trickle
Human Thief (level 1; 0 xp)
Shifty Eyes, Cropped Hair, Fancy Clothes, Lithe Body

STR 9 DEX 16 (+2) CON 12 INT 15 (+1) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 18 Current hp: 18

Alignment: Neutral: Avoid detection or infiltrate a location.

Gear: (Load 6/9) – Base Dmg: d8
Dagger (hand, 1 wt.) and Short sword (close, 1 wt.)
Ragged bow (near, 2 wt.) and bundle of arrows (3 ammo, 1 wt.)
Adventuring gear (1 wt.)
Bloodweed poison (touch, 3 uses): target deals -1d4 damage ongoing until cured

[sblock=Thief Moves]Human: When you spout lore or discern realities about criminal activities take +1

Trap Expert: When you spend a moment to survey a dangerous area, roll+Dex (2d6+2)
10+: hold 3
7-9: hold 1
Spend hold as you walk through area to ask questions:

• Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?
• What does the trap do when activated?
• What else is hidden here?

Tricks of the Trade: When you pick locks or disable traps, roll+Dex
10+: you do it, no problem
7-9: you do it, but GM offers two options between suspicion, danger, or cost.

Backstab: When you attack a surprised or defenseless enemy with a melee weapon, you can choose to roll your damage or roll+Dex
10+: choose two
7-9: choose one

• You don’t get into melee with them
• You deal your damage +1d6
• You create an advantage, +1 forward to you or an ally acting on it
• Reduce their armor by 1 until they repair it

Flexible Morals: When someone tries to detect your alignment you can tell them any alignment you like

Poisoner: Bloodweed (touch) is no longer dangerous for you to use. When you have time to gather materials and a safe place to brew you can make three uses of Bloodweed for free.
[/sblock][sblock=Bonds and Backgrounds]
I stole something from Needles.
Slice has my back when something goes wrong.
Artur knows incriminating details about me.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will teach Trickle the secret of Witch's Tears.

In the course of his work Trickle came across a poisoner’s tome (no longer in his possession) that described a potent poison called Witch’s Tears. The poisoner learned the formula for the poison (frustratingly not written down in the book) from a powerful unseelie sorcerer, a troll…
[/sblock]​

[/section][/sblock][sblock=Khirynnax][section]

Khirynnax Skinchanger, AKA Khir
Elven Druid (level 1; 0 xp)
Wild Eyes, Messy Hair, Practical Leathers

STR 15 (+1) DEX 12 CON 13 (+1) INT 9 WIS 16 (+2) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 19 Current hp: 19

Alignment: Neutral: Eliminate an unnatural menace.

Gear: (Load 3/7) – Base Dmg: d6
Token of the Mire: the Copper Coil, age-blackened armband in shape of snake
Hide armor (1 armor, 1 wt.)
Staff (close, two-handed, 1 wt.)
Poultices and herbs (2 uses, 1 wt.)

[sblock=Druid Moves]
Elf: In addition to any other attunements, the Great Forest is always considered your land.

Born of the Soil: Attuned to the Stinking Mire—when shapeshifting you may take the shape of any animal who might live in your land. Your tell (a crown of ivy) remains no matter what shape you take.

By Nature Sustained: You don’t need to eat or drink. If a move tells you to mark off a ration just ignore it.

Spirit Tongue: The grunts, barks, chirps, and calls of the creatures of the wild are as language to you. You can understand any animal native to your land or akin to one whose essence you have studied.

Shapeshifter: When you call upon the spirits to change your shape, roll+WIS.
10+ hold 3
7-9 hold 2
On a miss hold 1 in addition to whatever the GM says.
You may take on the physical form of any species whose essence you have studied or who lives in your land: you and your possessions meld into a perfect copy of the species’ form. You have any innate abilities and weaknesses of the form: claws, wings, gills, breathing water instead of air. You still use your normal stats but some moves may be harder to trigger. The GM will also tell you one or more moves associated with your new form. Spend 1 hold to make that move. Once you are out of hold you return to your natural form. At any time, you may spend all your hold and revert to your natural form.

Studied Essence: When you spend time in contemplation of an animal spirit, you may add its species to those you can assume using shapeshifting.
[/sblock]
[sblock=Bonds and Background]
Trickle smells more like prey than a hunter.
The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows Slice.
I have showed Needles a secret rite of the land.
Artur has tasted my blood and I theirs. We are bound by it.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will reveal a secret of the fae's primordial essence.

Khirynnax was an outsider, too fey for the humans, too unseelie for the elves. He didn’t care because he sensed a deeper essence, pure and powerful, that he needed to understand. When a halfling told him there was one who could put him on the path that might lead to his understanding Khirynnax didn’t hesitate. He made his way to the Witching Troll and readily accepted the bargain of service that the troll required as payment.
[/sblock]​

[/section][/sblock]

 

[Binder Fred]

The armored man's gaze narrowed even further at that total lack of answers, teeth beginning to peel back: hitting something would do him GOOD! So much good...

He wasn't so far gone that he couldn't hear sense though -- not with the memory of the Earl's hunting squads still so fresh in all their minds. So he got hold of his temper, twisting the fat gold ring on his right hand against the metal of his armored glove with his thumb, around and around, its bright signet face deliberately smothered under black long ago...

"Next break," he relented and countered at the same time, dark clouds still rumbling everywhere around him, drawing him towards confrontation. And in case that wasn't clear enough: "You're going to tell us everything you know about the Troll."



[sblock=OOC]

Trickle chuckled when Needles made his joke and he flicked his gaze over at his strange, enshrouded friend. Does he know it was me?

Not sure what you mean here, GE?[/sblock]

 

[GlassEye]

Khirynnax stops and turns to face Slice. His wild eyes meet Slice's own eyes, "Now is as good a time as any for a break." The elf climbs up onto a shelf of rock and sits so he can look down at the others. He scoops up a bit of standing water from a mossy indentation in the rock and trickles it into his mouth before he begins. "The Witching Troll is an incredibly old, incredibly powerful fey creature. For reasons that are mine, and mine alone, I entered into the Witching Troll's service. He immediately sent me through the Ways and into that mad flight of last night with the instruction to bring you to him. Somehow I was able to track the spoor of his magic and lead you to him. I couldn't do it again unless he wanted me to."

He wipes his palms on his thighs and stands up. "I hope that satisfies, because that's all there is."

Trickle, leaning a forearm up against a tree, sighs. Too much to ask for for the elf to have answers, or to freely give them if he had them, he supposed.

[sblock=Trickle][section]

Trickle
Human Thief (level 1; 0 xp)
Shifty Eyes, Cropped Hair, Fancy Clothes, Lithe Body

STR 9 DEX 16 (+2) CON 12 INT 15 (+1) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 18 Current hp: 18

Alignment: Neutral: Avoid detection or infiltrate a location.

Gear: (Load 6/9) – Base Dmg: d8
Dagger (hand, 1 wt.) and Short sword (close, 1 wt.)
Ragged bow (near, 2 wt.) and bundle of arrows (3 ammo, 1 wt.)
Adventuring gear (1 wt.)
Bloodweed poison (touch, 3 uses): target deals -1d4 damage ongoing until cured

[sblock=Thief Moves]Human: When you spout lore or discern realities about criminal activities take +1

Trap Expert: When you spend a moment to survey a dangerous area, roll+Dex (2d6+2)
10+: hold 3
7-9: hold 1
Spend hold as you walk through area to ask questions:

• Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?
• What does the trap do when activated?
• What else is hidden here?

Tricks of the Trade: When you pick locks or disable traps, roll+Dex
10+: you do it, no problem
7-9: you do it, but GM offers two options between suspicion, danger, or cost.

Backstab: When you attack a surprised or defenseless enemy with a melee weapon, you can choose to roll your damage or roll+Dex
10+: choose two
7-9: choose one

• You don’t get into melee with them
• You deal your damage +1d6
• You create an advantage, +1 forward to you or an ally acting on it
• Reduce their armor by 1 until they repair it

Flexible Morals: When someone tries to detect your alignment you can tell them any alignment you like

Poisoner: Bloodweed (touch) is no longer dangerous for you to use. When you have time to gather materials and a safe place to brew you can make three uses of Bloodweed for free.
[/sblock][sblock=Bonds and Backgrounds]
I stole something from Needles.
Slice has my back when something goes wrong.
Artur knows incriminating details about me.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will teach Trickle the secret of Witch's Tears.

In the course of his work Trickle came across a poisoner’s tome (no longer in his possession) that described a potent poison called Witch’s Tears. The poisoner learned the formula for the poison (frustratingly not written down in the book) from a powerful unseelie sorcerer, a troll…
[/sblock]​

[/section][/sblock][sblock=Khirynnax][section]

Khirynnax Skinchanger, AKA Khir
Elven Druid (level 1; 0 xp)
Wild Eyes, Messy Hair, Practical Leathers

STR 15 (+1) DEX 12 CON 13 (+1) INT 9 WIS 16 (+2) CHA 8 (-1)
Max. hp: 19 Current hp: 19

Alignment: Neutral: Eliminate an unnatural menace.

Gear: (Load 3/7) – Base Dmg: d6
Token of the Mire: the Copper Coil, age-blackened armband in shape of snake
Hide armor (1 armor, 1 wt.)
Staff (close, two-handed, 1 wt.)
Poultices and herbs (2 uses, 1 wt.)

[sblock=Druid Moves]
Elf: In addition to any other attunements, the Great Forest is always considered your land.

Born of the Soil: Attuned to the Stinking Mire—when shapeshifting you may take the shape of any animal who might live in your land. Your tell (a crown of ivy) remains no matter what shape you take.

By Nature Sustained: You don’t need to eat or drink. If a move tells you to mark off a ration just ignore it.

Spirit Tongue: The grunts, barks, chirps, and calls of the creatures of the wild are as language to you. You can understand any animal native to your land or akin to one whose essence you have studied.

Shapeshifter: When you call upon the spirits to change your shape, roll+WIS.
10+ hold 3
7-9 hold 2
On a miss hold 1 in addition to whatever the GM says.
You may take on the physical form of any species whose essence you have studied or who lives in your land: you and your possessions meld into a perfect copy of the species’ form. You have any innate abilities and weaknesses of the form: claws, wings, gills, breathing water instead of air. You still use your normal stats but some moves may be harder to trigger. The GM will also tell you one or more moves associated with your new form. Spend 1 hold to make that move. Once you are out of hold you return to your natural form. At any time, you may spend all your hold and revert to your natural form.

Studied Essence: When you spend time in contemplation of an animal spirit, you may add its species to those you can assume using shapeshifting.
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Trickle smells more like prey than a hunter.
The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows Slice.
I have showed Needles a secret rite of the land.
Artur has tasted my blood and I theirs. We are bound by it.

After a year and a day of service the Witching Troll will reveal a secret of the fae's primordial essence.

Khirynnax was an outsider, too fey for the humans, too unseelie for the elves. He didn’t care because he sensed a deeper essence, pure and powerful, that he needed to understand. When a halfling told him there was one who could put him on the path that might lead to his understanding Khirynnax didn’t hesitate. He made his way to the Witching Troll and readily accepted the bargain of service that the troll required as payment.
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[Binder Fred]

"Hu," grunted the big man, obviously far, FAR from 'satisfied'. "Don't remember asking for your life story." Slice pointed up at the druid (or whatever he was), one armored boot now up on mossy rock near the bottom of the pile: "YOU entered his service. YOU knew something about Him from before. So what - does - He - want? What's are WE aiming at?"

"She," softly corrected Brier, although most of his attention was turned towards the outside woods, fae bow in his left hand.

"What?!" frowned Slice with an annoyed twitch his way: "What part of THAT looked like a woman to you, Notch?"