TUW: The Outpost

[Waynan]

The book is very boring and difficult to read. It begins with commands from someone named Bishop Phillipe and then proceeds like a travel log. It discusses encounters with small clans of Kaalatala, Evipau, and Kinamin before printing commands to search the fishing villages for heretics and blighters. It also gives a command to recruit suitable flesh for new soldiers and female spies. The recruits are to be brought to the Cathedral of Light to begin Deprivation Training.

Raven Elk ponders the words of the journal Vittero helped him "read" and understand. He was taught by Ma the importance of the Cycle of Life and of its Connectivity, like a Web where everything connects to everything else. ~This new religion was a disease, a poison, a curse against that Cyclical Web.~ Whether he and his friends would be able to do more than what they had done to stop it (at least here), Raven Elk had no surety of what their future held; but if they came upon this cancerous sect again, he would do whatever he could to end, or curb, this Cathedral of Light's dark cause.

After he and the party have been there for awhile, he asks his friends as they are sitting at table, eating a filling if plain repast:
"So, my friends, I think we are nearly finished here. What do we do at this point? Stay and help longer, though I feel that this village is well on its feet? Return home? Or, check on this cult called The Cathedral of Light?"

He sets down his knife and fork, bows his head a little and finishes:
"I do not mean to seem unfeeling or uncaring about these people; but, Except for small projects and finishing touches, the homes, barns and meeting houses are done. The hurt are nearly, if not fully healed. The worse cases, the ones still in trauma over the attack of their village, need time; for Way heals the body, but only time, caring and love can heal the mind and the soul. What say you, my friends?"

 

[MacConnell]

Days 268 - 276: The Fishing Village

OOC: All characters receive 10 developmental points.

When the Outliers return with the rescued captives and the few soldiers, there are mixed responses from the villagers. The families whose children have been returned are tearful and joyous. One of the more outspoken villagers begins to complain loudly and criticize the existence of the soldiers. He begins to incite others into forming a lynch mob to kill them until Vittero gets involved. He steps forward toward the antagonistic man and raises his left hand until the other villagers quiet and listen.

"The Dawn is about rebirth, a renewing, a chance to begin again, perhaps on a different path. You cannot advocate the malevolence on other that you have received, for how would that make you any different? These soldiers have returned, at risk to themselves, to make reparations for the wrongs they have caused in their misguided mission. These soldiers were the tools of wonton destruction, but they were only the tools. They are now tools of renovation. I propose to you that not only are these men desirous of making amends, they can become viable members of this community."

Adisakti stares at Vittero, with his mouth agape. The uncharacteristic voice of wisdom muting his usual adolescent retort. Most of the villagers quickly adhere to his words, willing to forgive. A few will take longer. The main instigator may never see things a different way, but he grumbles under his breath and moves away.

If there are any comely women there Taylar will attempt to seduce them.

[sblock=Negotiate] 23(Negotiate) + 18(Clarity) + 50(d100) = 91[/sblock]

GM: The prettiest girls of the village, at least the prettiest faces, are the ones who were previously kidnaped. Taylar decides to leave these alone, as they may yet be too traumatized. They are really too skinny, anyway. Being part of a momentary group of heroes and a bit exotic as a Maldrog, Taylar finds other young woman of the village reception to his attentions, especially one, who at first glance is not expressly pretty and seems slightly thick. Her unclothed appearance, however, proves a deceptive improvement and her company pleasurable conclusion to the end of each day.

Taylar says, "... Would your father or anyone else have a book about places like the Keep of the Rising Sun? Perhaps we can be the first to write about it."

Vittero shrugs. "That I do not know. He only taught me to read and write Thisidan. We will have to ask."

Maka will pry the gemstone out of the statuette, and combine it with a leather cord, to make a crude bracelet for his left wrist.

[sblock=Bracelet]30(mercantile) + 22(clarity) + 50(d100) = 102[/sblock]

GM: Maka has no difficulty prying the stone loose and discarding its figurine. He fashions a simple bracelet from the leather cord. Admiring his handiwork, he is more pleased with his result than he expected.

Raven Elk ponders the words of the journal... "So, my friends, I think we are nearly finished here. What do we do at this point? Stay and help longer, though I feel that this village is well on its feet? Return home? Or, check on this cult called The Cathedral of Light?"

Vittero interrupts. "Hold up there. The Cathedral of Light is not a cult. It is a building. It is the center for the main religion of the land. The same religion these people here follow. The same religion the people of Outpost follow. My father is our Priest of the Dawn for a part of that religion. You ma follows the Dawn as part of the same religion."

"The religion is benevolent. Most religions are. The religion of Maka's people is very similar, mostly the names are different. It is definitely something I think we should look into. Someone has apparently risen to power with the religion and is abusing that power for their own gains. I think we need to be looking for a who, not a what."

GM: The crew spends a week helping the villagers repair the previous damage and recover from losses. The children recover quickly and seem to show no sign of their previous ordeal. The soldiers are eventually accepted into the community, though the one surly individual continues to grumble, apparently he is a complainer. The villagers are friendly and grateful for the assistance of the Outliers, and everyone feels that they have accomplished what they set out to do.

(Raven Elk) sets down his knife and fork, bows his head a little... "... except for small projects and finishing touches, the homes, barns and meeting houses are done... What say you, my friends?"

OOC: I will wait for the other players to respond for their characters before I directly answer this from Vittero or Adisakti.

[sblock=Journal]Acolyte Avery reports to and receives his orders from Bishop Phillipe, but ultimately everything comes from the Divine Praetor, and that the priesthood has begun to proclaim prophetic visions which are dictating the current actions of the church and as a result, the soldiers.[/sblock]
[sblock=Inventory]

OOC: Current Inventory: 4-Wheeled Cart pulled by 2 donkeys Coins: chest of various coins francs: 121 Animal Parts: Beetle Carapaces: 31 Large Beetle Carapaces: 11 Fisher Hides: 30% cover Grizzly Hide: 360% cover Dove Feathers: 10 sets: {Health +1} Rock Pigeon Feathers: 3 sets: {Health +1} Boar Tusk: 2 pair: {Confluence +1} Running Bird Tail Feathers: 6 sets: {Confluence +1} Mourning Bird Tail Feathers: 1 set: {Persona +2}(-Persona x2) Grizzly Skull Minerals: Slate: 64: {Thump x2} Flint: 10 {Heat x2} Bloodstone: 2: {Confluence +1} Sunstone: 9: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Heartstone: 5: {Confluence +1} Lodestone: 2 {shock x2} Ores: Zinc Ingots: 19: {Health +1, Mend x2} Tin Ingot: 13: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Lead Ingot: 13: {Rend x2} Iron Ingot: 20 {Confluence +1, Mend x2} Chromium Ingot: 1: {Strength +1} Calcium Ingot: 1: {Cohesion +1, Restore x2} Plants: Mend Leaves: 1 measure {Mend x2} Muddle Leaves: 2 measure {Muddle x2} Soothe Leaf: 1 measure {Soothe x2} Unknown Items: Angry Spirit Dust: Grizzly Claws: 20: .

[/sblock]
[sblock=Character Data]

OOC: Vittero: hurt Body: 10 - 4 = 6 Bracers: 20 - 1 = 19 harnin arrows: 21 Taylar: hurt Body: 10 - 13 = -3 + 7 = 4 + 4 = 8 Bracers: 20 - 14 - 14 = -8, ruined Spaulders: 20 - 6 - 6 = 8 Tunic: 60 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 54 Maka: injured Body: 10 - 1 - 4 = 5 Tunic: 50 - 6 - 6 = 37 harnin arrows: 23 Raven Elk: injured Body: 10 - 9 = 1 + 3 = 4 Buckler: 20 - 1 = 19 Tunic 60 - 2 - 2 = 56 Adisakti: hurt Body: 10 - 6 = 4 + 4 = 8 Tunic: 60 - 2 = 58% javelins: 1

[/sblock]
[sblock=Party Discovers]Acolyte Avery's Ledger
Slate Boulder: 76 stones worth, East Pass
Tin Vein: 43 stones worth, East Pass
Zinc Vein: 61 ingots worth, 7 days north East Pass
Keep of the Rising Sun[/sblock]

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Maka seems thoughtful for several moments before speaking, "I think you're right. This village is well on the road to recovery. We should move on, and try to find out more about the one they call Bishop Phillipe. He is the closest link to what happens locally. I suspect that the Bishop may have more acolytes under his tutelage than just Avery. We should think about ways to discover the extent of the network of these extremists, so that we can figure out a way to disrupt it. If we take out the soldiers first, the organization will weaken, leaving the leaders vulnerable."

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar says, "We should return to Outpost and check on things there. Perhaps our town priest has more information about this malevolent group and their doings."

Going through the inventory he adds, "We should talk about what we want to do with these hides. Perhaps we can all get a piece of armor made from the grizzly hide, a set unique to our group. I would like to get a tunic or tabbard made from the one of the fisher hides. I'm still wearing wool right now."

 

[MacConnell]

Days 277 - 284: Returning to Outpost

Maka seems thoughtful for several moments before speaking, "... We should move on, and try to find out more about the one they call Bishop Phillipe..."

Taylar says, "We should return to Outpost and check on things there. Perhaps our town priest has more information about this malevolent group and their doings."

[sblock=Passive Search]Raven Elk: 17(obscure) + 23(analysis) = 40
Maka: 30 + 19 = 49
Vittero: 23 + 23 = 46
Adisakti: 28 + 15 = 43
Taylar: 24 + 18 = 42[/sblock]
The trip from this particular fishing village on the Windy Coast back to The Outpost is a ten day journey. The Outliers take their newly acquired wagon and pair of donkeys to pull it and begin following the mildly winding path at a leisurely pace. No one is specifically searching for danger or game, but the natural attentiveness of the group misses little activity.

Only one day into the trip, the party is ambushed by a gang of assassin spiders. Though formidable to the average traveler and to common game, they pose no real threat and 8 of them are killed before the remaining 2 flee. The minor hurts and effects from the venom are easily rectified and travel is not delayed.

Nothing of particular note is encountered over the next four days, except two different pods of large beetles.

On the sixth day of travel, a group of Kaalatala youths are seen and, having encounter some of the sociopathic psychotics before, trouble is expected. The Faethrins see the party almost as quickly as they, themselves, are noticed. With only a couple of seconds needed to assess the situation, the Kaalatalans run, heading northward through the trees.

On the seventh day of travel, moving from east to west ahead of the crew, an unfamiliar group of Faethrins is seen at about 100 paces. Their direction of travel does not put them on a specific path to meet, but they seem much more seasoned and wary than the Kaalatala. These Faethrins are fairly tall, having smoke gray skin that has been dyed in various patterns with dark blues, purples, and blacks and long, inky black hair. They are all dressed in shirts, skirts, and boots made from skins and are all carrying bows, at the ready.

OOC: It had been determined that everyone can acquire a tunic or some such piece of armor from the single bear hide. This will be handled when the party returns.

[sblock=Journal]Acolyte Avery reports to and receives his orders from Bishop Phillipe, but ultimately everything comes from the Divine Praetor, and that the priesthood has begun to proclaim prophetic visions which are dictating the current actions of the church and as a result, the soldiers.[/sblock]
[sblock=Inventory]

OOC: Current Inventory: 4-Wheeled Cart pulled by 2 donkeys Coins: chest of various coins francs: 121 Animal Parts: Beetle Carapaces: 31 Large Beetle Carapaces: 11 Fisher Hides: 30% cover Grizzly Hide: 360% cover Dove Feathers: 10 sets: {Health +1} Rock Pigeon Feathers: 3 sets: {Health +1} Boar Tusk: 2 pair: {Confluence +1} Running Bird Tail Feathers: 6 sets: {Confluence +1} Mourning Bird Tail Feathers: 1 set: {Persona +2}(-Persona x2) Grizzly Skull Minerals: Slate: 64: {Thump x2} Flint: 10 {Heat x2} Bloodstone: 2: {Confluence +1} Sunstone: 9: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Heartstone: 5: {Confluence +1} Lodestone: 2 {shock x2} Ores: Zinc Ingots: 19: {Health +1, Mend x2} Tin Ingot: 13: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Lead Ingot: 13: {Rend x2} Iron Ingot: 20 {Confluence +1, Mend x2} Chromium Ingot: 1: {Strength +1} Calcium Ingot: 1: {Cohesion +1, Restore x2} Plants: Mend Leaves: 1 measure {Mend x2} Muddle Leaves: 2 measure {Muddle x2} Soothe Leaf: 1 measure {Soothe x2} Unknown Items: Angry Spirit Dust: Grizzly Claws: 20: .

[/sblock]
[sblock=Character Data]

OOC: Vittero: full health Bracers: 20 - 1 = 19 harnin arrows: 21 Taylar: full health Bracers: 20 - 14 - 14 = -8, ruined Spaulders: 20 - 6 - 6 = 8 Tunic: 60 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 54 Maka: full health Tunic: 50 - 6 - 6 = 37 harnin arrows: 23 Raven Elk: full health Buckler: 20 - 1 = 19 Tunic 60 - 2 - 2 = 56 Adisakti: full health Tunic: 60 - 2 = 58% javelins: 1

[/sblock]
[sblock=Party Discovers]Acolyte Avery's Ledger
Slate Boulder: 76 stones worth, East Pass
Tin Vein: 43 stones worth, East Pass
Zinc Vein: 61 ingots worth, 7 days north East Pass
Keep of the Rising Sun[/sblock]

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Maka kneels in place, and motions for the others to do the same. In a quiet voice, he says:

Maka: "Don't make any sudden moves. Maybe they'll pass us by. I have a bad feeling about them, and I'm not sure we should do anything to attract their attention."

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar makes an effort to stay out of sight, but his body language shows his desire to confront these Faethrins. "I will not initiate a fight the rest of you wish to avoid, but this group might be looking for us."

 

[Waynan]

Raven Elk stays with Taylar. He reaches a what he hopes to be a calming hand upon his friend's shoulder.

"My good friend," Raven Elk says to Taylar, "Let us be patient and trust our friends in this, I think I see a plan Maka, and probably Vittero, have in mind. Let's watch a bit before we confront these Faethrin. After all, with their bows, these Faethrin have the advantage before you or I could ever get close enough to do them serious harm."

 

[MacConnell]

Day 284: Unknown Faethrins

Maka kneels in place, and motions for the others to do the same. In a quiet voice, he says...

Vittero does not kneel. He eases to the right side of the path planning to conceal himself within the shadows, his bow is at ready. Adisakti follows Maka's lead, using the wagon as cover.

Taylar makes an effort to stay out of sight, but his body language shows his desire to confront these Faethrins...

Raven Elk stays with Taylar...

The Faethrins move in a nondescript line across the path and very quietly back into the trees. They continue to weave away to the left of the party's facing, edging ever closer as they go.

One of the donkeys suddenly whinnies, nervously. The two closest of the others immediately take aim through the trees but do not fire. They can apparently see the, seemingly, unattended donkeys and wagon. They speak a few quick, quiet words in an unfamiliar language and then begin to fan out, approaching the wagon cautiously.

They are currently at a distance of about 50 paces, moving closer through the forest of large pines with very little undergrowth.

OOC: Think, length of a football field

OOC: It had been determined that everyone can acquire a tunic or some such piece of armor from the single bear hide. This will be handled when the party returns.

[sblock=Journal]Acolyte Avery reports to and receives his orders from Bishop Phillipe, but ultimately everything comes from the Divine Praetor, and that the priesthood has begun to proclaim prophetic visions which are dictating the current actions of the church and as a result, the soldiers.[/sblock]
[sblock=Inventory]

OOC: Current Inventory: 4-Wheeled Cart pulled by 2 donkeys Coins: chest of various coins francs: 121 Animal Parts: Beetle Carapaces: 31 Large Beetle Carapaces: 11 Fisher Hides: 30% cover Grizzly Hide: 360% cover Dove Feathers: 10 sets: {Health +1} Rock Pigeon Feathers: 3 sets: {Health +1} Boar Tusk: 2 pair: {Confluence +1} Running Bird Tail Feathers: 6 sets: {Confluence +1} Mourning Bird Tail Feathers: 1 set: {Persona +2}(-Persona x2) Grizzly Skull Minerals: Slate: 64: {Thump x2} Flint: 10 {Heat x2} Bloodstone: 2: {Confluence +1} Sunstone: 9: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Heartstone: 5: {Confluence +1} Lodestone: 2 {shock x2} Ores: Zinc Ingots: 19: {Health +1, Mend x2} Tin Ingot: 13: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Lead Ingot: 13: {Rend x2} Iron Ingot: 20 {Confluence +1, Mend x2} Chromium Ingot: 1: {Strength +1} Calcium Ingot: 1: {Cohesion +1, Restore x2} Plants: Mend Leaves: 1 measure {Mend x2} Muddle Leaves: 2 measure {Muddle x2} Soothe Leaf: 1 measure {Soothe x2} Unknown Items: Angry Spirit Dust: Grizzly Claws: 20: .

[/sblock]
[sblock=Character Data]

OOC: Vittero: full health Bracers: 20 - 1 = 19 harnin arrows: 21 Taylar: full health Bracers: 20 - 14 - 14 = -8, ruined Spaulders: 20 - 6 - 6 = 8 Tunic: 60 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 54 Maka: full health Tunic: 50 - 6 - 6 = 37 harnin arrows: 23 Raven Elk: full health Buckler: 20 - 1 = 19 Tunic 60 - 2 - 2 = 56 Adisakti: full health Tunic: 60 - 2 = 58% javelins: 1

[/sblock]
[sblock=Party Discovers]Acolyte Avery's Ledger
Slate Boulder: 76 stones worth, East Pass
Tin Vein: 43 stones worth, East Pass
Zinc Vein: 61 ingots worth, 7 days north East Pass
Keep of the Rising Sun[/sblock]

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar intends to sneak to a large pine and hide in the shadow, keeping his sword and shield up in case any of the Faethrin fire at him. Once he is in position, he will manipulate Way to darken the shadows around him.

OOC: Roll: 84