TUW: The Outpost

[Kwargrow]

Maybe not yours, but this carapace is as wide as my torso.

Taylar helps clean and clear the bodies. He holds up the pieces they intend to keep to his chest and says, "I wonder if we could mount this on leather backing and use them for a breastplate then, or maybe to protect our legs?" He holds the pieces over his thighs. He takes another pair of mandibles and says, "I'll attach these with the others. They should distract from any scrutiny of my more useful items."

After helping to secure the herbs he says to Raven Elk, "Why doesn't your Ma take some of these and plant them closer to her house? Not that I don't enjoy coming out here to squash some bugs, but it seems like it would be easier on her."

When all the chores are complete. Taylar says, "Let's head home immediately and tell the others about our success. Oh, and when we come back out this club will have an iron head on it." He holds up his baton and grins at it.

 

[Waynan]

After helping to secure the herbs he says to Raven Elk, "Why doesn't your Ma take some of these and plant them closer to her house? Not that I don't enjoy coming out here to squash some bugs, but it seems like it would be easier on her."

Raven Elk, still inspecting the plants, hears Taylar's comment and replies:

"I recall Ma saying that these medicinal plants have never survived transplanting efforts of any kind. However, as I look at these plants, there are a few seeds still attached to the stamen. I will gather a fair sampling of the them, and then, I will put some of the soil...", Raven Elk then recalls he used his pouch for the grub that is still squirming about inside of it. He turns to Maka, "Maka, can I use your sack to bring some of this soil back to Ma? I will buy you another when we get home."

 

[MacConnell]

Y 0: D 160: Doldrums 40: The Compost Pile

Raven Elk, grabs his small leather sack out of his carry-all/satchel and picks one of the 3' grubs, dropping it into the sack while thinking to himself: "I'll take this back to Ma. She may find it useful in her work/studies. Ma will know."

OOC: As GM, I am going to take some liberty here, since these grubs are bigger than Raven Elk's leg.

He then kills the rest and heads back to the battle site, informs the others of his find, helps clean and prep at least one of the beetle's elitra and mandibles, then goes over to the remaining plants to see if there is hope for a quick recovery of the plant(s) to fill up the area as it once was. Observing the plants' level of growth, seeding, etc to take the information back to Ma, so they can come up with a plan to protect them --- if they can.

GM: Shaking his head wondering what he could have been thinking, Raven Elk can tell by the green head on the grubs that these monster things will pupate into the very cutter beetles that the crew just dispatched, which would reek further havoc on the naturally growing herbs, so he stabs them all with his spear. The dead grubs will now, likely, feed some traveling group of pigs. The herbs naturally grow on the shadier side of of this particular hill, and despite the loss incurred due to the hungry insects, there is enough remaining to collect 3 measures without risk to eliminating the crop. As he gathers the leaves, Raven Elk suddenly realizes that he can since the particular flux of the Way that vibrates within each leaf. Just by touching them, he can tell they have a medicinal use.

Party Inventory

GM: The new sensation compels Raven Elk to mold a leaf over in his hand for several minutes remembering back to the concoctions prepared by his Ma. OOC: Identify Medicinal Plant: Range: Touch Effectiveness: Essence + Adhesion + Mind + Knowledge + Will + Collegiate Time = 1 day * complexity / (Effectiveness + d100) This active tasks is used to determine the exact benefit of a medicinal plant. This is, also, applied as a passive technique to the Commercial task of Herbalism. Herbalism: Identify Plant (Collegiate Task) + Mind + Knowledge + Commercial This active task is applied to identifying usable plants, whether medicinal or edible or toxic. The result of the effectiveness of this task is determined by the rarity of the plant as translated by the GM. Generally for common plants, the effectiveness + d100 must be greater than 100. Raven Elk: 23(Identify) + 12(Herbalism) = 35 Time: 1 day / (35 + 83(d100)) = 12 minutes Though Raven Elk seems to have tranced, momentarily, he comes to the realization that he can since the Mind effecting benefit of this particular leaf, just by holding it for a bit.

Taylar helps clean and clear the bodies. He holds up the pieces they intend to keep to his chest and says, "I wonder if we could mount this on leather backing and use them for a breastplate then, or maybe to protect our legs?" He holds the pieces over his thighs. He takes another pair of mandibles and says, "I'll attach these with the others. They should distract from any scrutiny of my more useful items."

GM: Taylar notices that while they are not suited to making a breastplate, having the crease in exactly the wrong place, they would be well suited to providing protection for thighs, shins, or shoulders and could easily be attached to existing clothing or leather.

After helping to secure the herbs he says to Raven Elk, "Why doesn't your Ma take some of these and plant them closer to her house? Not that I don't enjoy coming out here to squash some bugs, but it seems like it would be easier on her."

GM: Vittero looks around after Raven Elk answers Taylar's question and realizes that Raven Elk has disappeared over the hill.

Vittero says,
"I may be able to give a better answer to that for you. I spoke with my father about Richelle and her herbalism one time. He explained that keeping some mystery to her work increases the need for her direct involvement with the aid and improves her rapport with the miners.

If she just grew the plants in her yard, some might take to collecting them on their own and trying to use them. A mistake that could prove fatal if the wrong amount were mixed or applied in the wrong manner."

When all the chores are complete. Taylar says, "Let's head home immediately and tell the others about our success. Oh, and when we come back out this club will have an iron head on it." He holds up his baton and grins at it.

Vittero agrees.
"I concur. We should be able to squeeze a few coins out of this excursion, too, not to mention thanks from Raven Elk's Ma. Maybe she will reward us with some food. Her cooking is awesome!"

 

[Sylvar B.]

Adisakti replies,
"I like that idea, Taylar. Maybe I could convince you father, the blacksmith, to make me some iron caps to fit on the end of my staff."

 

[Waynan]

Raven Elk did want to study one of the grubs. It was one of the best parts of being under Ma's tutelage...learning about plants, animals and minerals...all the things used by an "herbalist", a rather misnamed occupation, Raven Elk always thought. So, maybe, if they were heading home, he and Ma could study the grub's head for any potential benefits to her craft; and, eventually, his own understanding. Thinking on these things, and remembering the sensation of molding the leaf in his hand and how it brought a wave of understanding in a manner Raven Elk was unused to but found very gratifying and fulfilling, he felt suddenly sure that the concepts and uses of Way had finally, and effectively, channeled through, and within, him.

More news to tell Ma.

Finishing his musings and gatherings, Raven Elk then slung the chitinous grub head over his shoulder and strolled back over the hill toward his friends, a wisp of a smile on his lips.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

”...Oh, and when we come back out this club will have an iron head on it.”

Maka nods, adding, “I have been thinking of adding either spikes, or perhaps a blade, to my bow. It will be good to have a more versatile weapon.”

 

[MacConnell]

Y 0: D 160: Doldrums 40: The Return Trip

Adisakti replies,

"I like that idea, Taylar. Maybe I could convince you father, the blacksmith, to make me some iron caps to fit on the end of my staff."

Raven Elk ponders.

Finishing his musings and gatherings, Raven Elk then slung the chitinous grub head over his shoulder and strolled back over the hill toward his friends, a wisp of a smile on his lips.

Maka nods, adding,

“I have been thinking of adding either spikes, or perhaps a blade, to my bow. It will be good to have a more versatile weapon.”

Vittero makes an overt huffing noise.
"This is a lot of stuff to carry. I want a horse."

GM: The seven hour return trip is uneventful. There is no breeze, no rain, and the temperature is hot. Only common insects, reptiles, and birds are seen, with an occasional varmint. Late that afternoon when the crew returns, Richelle greets them all with a hug, (She is like that.) and listens as they relate the tale of the insects. She conveys a particular pride when Raven Elk shows her the grub head and explains about finding the compost pile. She offers to prepare the boys supper while the others greet their own folks and tend to whatever other business they might have about town.

OOC: Everyone reiterate or initiate town task desires.

Party Inventory.

 

[Waynan]

Raven Elk sequesters himself with his Ma, Richelle, to learn more about the Soothe Leaf, the Green Cutter Beetle's head, and more importantly, the sudden sense of what can only be Way.
Raven Elk asks Ma numerous questions and offers many observations about all these things.

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar works with his father to design and forge a suitable head for his new war-hammer. He attempts to include a spike opposite the hammer end for piercing and a spike on the tip for thrusting.

He also helps with attaching the carapace pieces to leather backing for any of his friends that wants it. He experiments with different ways to buckle and tie the armor pieces on to learn about different body types and how to suitably protect them in battle.

He tells the village people about their adventure, exaggerating the size of the insects to ridiculous levels and comically portraying the effect the bug spray had on him.

 

[Sylvar B.]

Adisakti runs home and tells his mom and dad about his latest adventure. He tells his tale and works on getting two days worth of chores finished. Adi will then go to the black smith and ask him to put iron caps on his quarter staff, he'll ask his father for a blood tub (40L) of ale to exchange for the blacksmiths time and effort. He sees Taylar's crapace armor and accepts any armor Taylar is willing to make for him.