Midway Mining Expedition (PbP)

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Character Status

Coldtree: hurt, impeded
Body: 10 - 3 = 7, Time: 3 hours, 59 minutes
Motility: 4 - 2 = 2, Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Harnin arrows: 17
Tunic: 60 - 2 - 2 = 56
Taka: hurt, impeded
Body: 10 - 2 = 8, Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Motility: 3 - 4 = -1, Time: 5 hours, 19 minutes
Boots: 20 - 7 = 14
Tehn: full health

Spoiler: Collectibles

Coins:
Standard Earnings: 360 shillings / 10 days
Shillings: 141

Animal Parts:
Ant Pinchers: 5, (Cohesion +1)
Ant Stingers: 6, {Toxin x2}
Beetle Elytra: 5 pair (deflect 4, soak 2)
Harvester Feather Talisman: 1, (Health +1)
Peccary Tusks: 1 pair, (Confluence +1)
Viper Skull: 1, ?
Viper Heart: 1, ?
Snakeskin: 20% coverage

Stone:
Bloodstone: 1, (Health +1)
Flint: 1, {Shock x2}
Slate: 1, {Sound x2}

Coldtree will immediately manipulate waylines to help T&T heal however they need.

Spoiler: Forage

Ecology + Clarity + d100
Ecology: Mind + Commercial + Knowledge
Taka: 12 + 17 + 45 = 74
Lunnaya: 26 + 19 + 84 = 129

Taka was not paralyzed by the snake bite, but he was very nearly crippled, at least temporarily. His movement is so slow it is in the group's best interests to make camp and wait for him and Coldtree to recover from their damage.

In the morning, the men head back to the road to pick back up their investigation of the missing caravan. Lunnaya decides to help Taka forage for useful plants.

It is not only plants that catch the attention of the two prospectors but minerals and ores, as well. Tehn garners a bit of luck in his searching. Taka locates a curious stone of a deep burgundy color, an ingot of a dark, shiny metal, and a handful of edible berries, which he consumes. Tehn finds a fist size chunk of a dull, gray rock that piques his curiosity, a fist sized chunk of a dull, white metal, and enough edible nuts for all three men.

Nearing the end of another day along the road brings the men into clear view of definitive evidence that the caravan was attacked just before beginning its true climb into the mountains. It appears that the responsible party approached and departed from north of the road, across the plains. The wagons are, surprisingly, intact but the pack animals, supplies, and women are missing. The beasts and fowls have already found and devoured the vitals of the Hebrian soldiers who had been slain in protection of the caravan. There is one dead enemy, a bit off in the grass. He has been dined upon by animals as well, but he is definitely not Hebrian. His appears to be Aedaman by his height and build. His skin is an, unfamiliar, deep burgundy color, almost like the curious stone that Taka located. He is obviously of some nomadic, uncivilized tribe.

 

[Kwargrow]

After taking in the attack site, Coldtree nods and a grim smile comes over his face. "A straight forward objective. Let us track these bandits and bring destruction to them."
Coldtree will help search the area and the dead bodies. Since this is a contract, he will collect what remains of the Hebrian uniforms, as well as some personal belonging of the dead tribal, for use as evidence of what happened. He will manipulate waylines to burn the corpses before they depart, but will leave the wagons in case someone wants to retrieve them.

Spoiler: Roll

90(+42)

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

"...Taka locates a curious stone of a deep burgundy color, an ingot of a dark, shiny metal, and a handful of edible berries..."

As the party moves on, Taka keeps the stone in his left hand, and the ingot in his right, concentrating on them, trying to feel out their proclivities as he travels.

Spoiler: Base Rolls

Stone = 60
Ingot = 84

"...There is one dead enemy, a bit off in the grass. He has been dined upon by animals as well, but he is definitely not Hebrian. His appears to be Aedaman by his height and build."

Taka watches as Coldtree searches the dead "tribal."

Taka asks, "Anything good?"

 

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Character Status

Coldtree: full health
Harnin arrows: 17
Tunic: 60 - 2 - 2 = 56
Taka: full health
Boots: 20 - 7 = 14
Tehn: full health

Spoiler: Collectibles

Coins:
Standard Earnings: 360 shillings / 10 days
Shillings: 141

Animal Parts:
Ant Pinchers: 5, (Cohesion +1)
Ant Stingers: 6, {Toxin x2}
Beetle Elytra: 5 pair (deflect 4, soak 2)
Harvester Feather Talisman: 1, (Health +1)
Peccary Tusks: 1 pair, (Confluence +1)
Viper Skull: 1, ?
Viper Heart: 1, ?
Snakeskin: 20% coverage

Stone:
Bloodstone: 1, (Health +1)
Flint: 1, {Shock x2}
Slate: 1, {Sound x2}

... Coldtree will help search... collect what remains of the Hebrian uniforms... personal belonging of the dead tribal... He will manipulate waylines to burn the corpses...

Spoiler: Roll

90(+42)

... Taka keeps the stone in his left hand, and the ingot in his right, concentrating on them...

GM: NOTE: Two active mystical tasks cannot be performed simultaneously. You must do one then the other.

Tehn will analyze the two chunks of rock, later, at some point when the party makes camp.

Spoiler: Alchemical Sensitivity

Ecology + Analysis + d100
This may not be performed while engaged in any other active tasks, but it can be performed during any leisure activity including sleeping, in which the Bender will dream about the function of the item.
Taka: 12 + 16 + 60 = 88, 12 + 16 + 84 = 112
Time: 10 days / 88 = 2 hours, 44 minutes, success
Time: 10 days/ 112 = 2 hours, 9 minutes, success
Lunnaya: 26 + 18 + 72 = 116
Time: 10 days / 116 = 2 hours, 5 minutes

The Hebrian Regulars do not seem to have worn any specific uniform, but through the searching, an emblem is discovered bearing what should be an insignia that will more than suffice.

Searching the dead enemy reveals that his weaponry has been reclaimed, but on or still near the body, having been, inadvertently, pulled away by animals are several indicative trinkets. There is a set of three feathers that appears to have come from some type of waterfowl. There is a string of canine teeth, and the jaw bone of a goat. Coldtree indicates that he thinks these items belonged to the savage.

Lunnaya helps move the bodies and clear a sufficient enough area so that in burning them the entire Eastern Prairie is not set ablaze. He says in Amiradthan, "zachem szhigat' mertvetsov? Ya ne vizhu v etom smysia. pust' oni u zhivotnykh."

He then makes a gesture of dismissal and says in Orngaddrin, "Why do you want to burn them. I do not understand this practice."

Afterward, there remains enough daylight for the three to move away from the road and follow a little distance in the direction of the departed enemy, before making camp.

OOC: Alchemical Sensitivity: Heartstone: 1: (Confluence +1) Tin: 1: (Persona +1), {- Mind x2} Slate: 7: {Sound x2} Zinc: 8: (Health +1), {+ Body x2} Each character receives 6 DP and improves in Amiradthan by 1%.

 

[Kwargrow]

"Why do you want to burn them? I do not understand this practice."

Coldtree shrugs and replies, "Unburied bodies bring sickness. You did not know this?"

Coldtree says, "These women have been in captivity with those tribals for a while, and we have no idea how they're being treated. We may need to accept that this is not a rescue mission, but a dispensing of justice for the lost." At camp he will analyze the trinkets from the dead tribal to determine way proclivity.

Spoiler: Roll

86

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting on behalf of Tellerian Hawke, per message notification, as he is out of pocket for an extended week.

Nodding at the logic from Coldtree, Taka clasps his big hands in front of him and replies in Hebrian, "I think your assessment correct. They were several days gone before we were informed. I cannot see them remaining alive, unless they are being used as slaves."

He spits.

"Anyway, I know a little of this terrain though I have not traveled it. These savages appear to be headed more directly for the middle of the marsh that dominates much of the Eastern River Valley."

 

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Character Status

Coldtree: full health
Harnin arrows: 17
Tunic: 60 - 2 - 2 = 56
Taka: full health
Boots: 20 - 7 = 14
Tehn: full health

Spoiler: Collectibles

Coins:
Standard Earnings: 360 shillings / 10 days
Shillings: 141

Animal Parts:
Ant Pinchers: 5, (Cohesion +1)
Ant Stingers: 6, {Toxin x2}
Beetle Elytra: 5 pair (deflect 4, soak 2)
Harvester Feather Talisman: 1, (Health +1)
Peccary Tusks: 1 pair, (Confluence +1)
Viper Skull: 1, ?
Viper Heart: 1, ?
Snakeskin: 20% coverage

Ores:
Tin: 1, (Persona +1), {- Mind x 2}
Zinc: 8, (Health +1), {+ Body x 2}

Stone:
Bloodstone: 1, (Health +1)
Flint: 1, {Shock x2}
Heartstone: 1 (Confluence +1)
Slate: 8, {Sound x2}

Oddities:
Hebrian Regular Insignia (fabric)

Spoiler: Alchemical Sensitivity

Ecology + Analysis + d100
Coldtree: 16 + 25 + 86 = 127
Time: 10 days / 127 = 1 hour, 54 minutes
Taka: 12 + 16 + 86 = 114
Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Lunnaya: 26 + 18 + 86 = 130
Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

Coldtree shrugs and replies, "Unburied bodies bring sickness. You did not know this?..."

Tehn shakes his head. "No. No one in my former clan was ever ill. Maybe less nomadic tribes are more prone to this or if too many bodies are left in one place. The Amiradthae leave the bodies where they lie. Sometimes we would wait for the ravens and crows to come for the eyes, just so we could shoot the devious beasts. Usually just the beetles would come before we moved on. I do not see how the bugs could find the dead so quickly. It often takes days for the vultures."

At camp he will analyze the trinkets...

Spoiler: Roll

86

To make more efficient use of the time necessary for analysis, Taka and Tehn, each, offer to help with one of the other pieces so that all may be done simultaneously.

OOC: Alchemical Analysis: Duck Feathers: 1 set, (Cohesion +1) Canine Teeth: 1 set, (Strength +1) Goat Jawbone: 1, (Will +1)

Taka's assessment is agreed and the DWAC begin a method of predictive tracking rather than directly attempting to follow. The decision is sound for by meridian, luck or coincidence provides evidence of the missing women and stolen grain. The excessive scattering of songbirds triggered the more in depth investigation. The birds were feeding upon the wasted, spilled rice. Some Hebrian style clothing is discovered, having obviously been discarded. No serious signs of struggle are noted upon the ground. It is obvious that the quarry is traveling rather slowly and could possibly be overtaken in another day.

Tehn picks up the discarded shirt and drops it. "The women may still be alive after all. Being professionals, perhaps they are less resistant to the certainty of that act, which has prevented them from being killed and protected them from excess harm."

OOC: Each character receives 3 DP.

 

[Kwargrow]

Being professionals, perhaps they are less resistant to the certainty of that act

Coldtree's lip curls in disgust and he says, "I have a special distaste for rape. Any man that would use his member as a weapon against a woman should have his member removed while he is still alive, so that he will know what he is missing in the next life."

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Taka looks at the tracks thoughtfully. Taka says, "I doubt their destination is the marsh itself. No peoples live there. They are likely to be simply passing THROUGH it, and their village is likely just on the other side. The marsh is a strong deterrent, and a good defensive obstacle. We should cross the marsh quickly, and then start looking for the village."

 

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Character Status

Coldtree: full health
Harnin arrows: 17
Tunic: 60 - 2 - 2 = 56
Taka: full health
Boots: 20 - 7 = 14
Tehn: full health

Spoiler: Collectibles

Coins:
Standard Earnings: 360 shillings / 10 days
Shillings: 141

Animal Parts:
Ant Pinchers: 5, (Cohesion +1)
Ant Stingers: 6, {Toxin x2}
Beetle Elytra: 5 pair (deflect 4, soak 2)
Canine Teeth: 1 set, (Strength +1)
Duck Feathers: 1 set, (Cohesion +1)
Goat Jawbone: 1, (Will +1)
Harvester Feather Talisman: 1, (Health +1)
Peccary Tusks: 1 pair, (Confluence +1)
Viper Skull: 1, ?
Viper Heart: 1, ?
Snakeskin: 20% coverage

Ores:
Tin: 1, (Persona +1), {- Mind x 2}
Zinc: 8, (Health +1), {+ Body x 2}

Stone:
Bloodstone: 1, (Health +1)
Flint: 1, {Shock x2}
Heartstone: 1 (Confluence +1)
Slate: 8, {Sound x2}

Oddities:
Hebrian Regular Insignia (fabric)

Spoiler: Alchemical Sensitivity

Ecology + Analysis + d100
Coldtree: 16 + 25 + 86 = 127
Time: 10 days / 127 = 1 hour, 54 minutes
Taka: 12 + 16 + 86 = 114
Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Lunnaya: 26 + 18 + 86 = 130
Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

... Taka says, "I doubt their destination is the marsh itself..."

Lunnaya shakes his head. "At the risk of sounding contentious, you should know that people do live in the marsh, quite a few. It is not all wet and mushy. There are hillocks, some large enough to support trees. These foes may have an encampment on a hillock. It would be rather defensible against a rival clan, but for just three of us, irrelevant."

With the word irrelevant hanging from the end of the conversation, it seems to apply to any opposing point, as the three men hear by the sound of voices that they have caught the raiders before entering the swamp. The rolling grassland provides brief glimpses of them and Taka instinctively ducks, due to his excessive height.

Lunnaya whispers, "Even with the big guy, I do not think we have been noticed yet. We could catch them in under and hour. I am going to estimate eight men, based on what we have glimpsed. How do you want to handle it?"

OOC: Each character receives 3 DP. Provide at least two random rolls if action is suggested.