Upward from Land's End

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 1

Cormorant suggests they go ahead with usual labor, despite its unpleasantness. He is in no special hurry to draw undue attention to their travels. When able to leave the Flats, he wants to be forgotten by its residents. Since he felt compelled to keep it, he toys with the rat skull, during the day, to see if he can determine why.

OOC: 99+30

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 2

Antapkos agrees with the logic and suggests that, after collection, the two stick to the inlets for fishing and trapping. Liking the mottled pattern of the marsh hen feathers, he thinks little of his desire to keep them; but like Cormorant, he is curious as to why he wanted the skull and feet.

OOC: 76

 

[MacConnell]

Cormorant suggests... toys with the rat skull...

Antapkos agrees... the skull and feet.

Spoiler: Alchemical Analysis

Cormorant: 12(alchemy) + 10(analysis) + 129(d100) = 151, success
Time: 10 days / 151 = 2 hours, fail
Anatapkos: 18 + 11 + 76 = 105, success
Time: 10 days / 105 = 3 hours, fail

GM: Each young man feels an affinity for the item he holds, but neither is yet able to determine the nature of the desire.

Collection is routine. With the vigor of youth, it is always routine. It is after such routine that offers any interest. The Flats are a myriad of inlets and cuts laid out through the grasses and reeds. It is not really possible to get lost, but it can be possible to lose someone or feel lost. With years of exposure, much of the marsh can be memorized, until an undue flood changes the face of it.

Poling farther than most care to venture, the two young men hope to continue to be successful with the placement of snares. More time is afforded to pay attention to the trinkets after the completion of the day's labor.

The evening proves much more peaceable than the previous one, but then the return on the snares has a marked incident of bad luck. A skunk is roped in one of the snares. Both young men are sprayed before Cormorant is able to cut the snare, and the skunk flees. Instinctively, both men realize that they can manipulate chemical waylines to negate the stench. It surprises them both and comforts their knowledge base.

This normal pattern of life continues for the next 10 days. During this time, each man collects his day's wage, a total of 5 rats and 2 hens are captured, and 6 more piggy perch are trapped. This accumulates 8 clams, after trading the hides. Still feeling the same compulsions about various parts of the game animals, Cormorant and Antapkos keep a rat and hen skull each, a pair of rat front and hen feet each, and a set of hen tail feathers each. Cleaning their own game also allows them to make more snares and small pouches. A few locals comment on the collection of game but demonstrate no special interest. It is more of an elderly congratulation for the successful effort of youths.

GM: When the Mind of each character reaches 10, the Will ability can be increased to allow the identification of the proclivity of the collected items. Re-evaluation of behavior can be assessed at this time or the current pattern can be continued, relying on luck to provide a change, but the mundaneness of normal life does wear on the psyche of the characters.

Spoiler: Collections

8 clams: currency

Marsh Hen Feathers: 2 sets: ??
Marsh Hen Feet: 2 pair: ??
Marsh Hen Skulls: 2: ??
Marsh Rat Feet: 2 pars: ??
Marsh Rat Skulls: 2: ??

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP.

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 2

Of a morning, some morning, Antapkos says to Cormorant, "I am tired of this monotony, but I have no idea how to change it in any way that might stick. I sure don't want to be branded on my face and remanded back to this mud pit. We need some luck. I don't trust paying homage to the gods. They are hateful, as far as I can see."

"We can sneak into the Highlands, but how do we get people to believe we are from there?"

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 1

Cormorant cracks his knuckles. Something he does when he is thinking. "I do not know, either. I have been thinking about getting a bigger fish trap and going out into the surf. Maybe we can catch some crabs; but other than a couple of extra coins, I do not see it getting us anywhere. Honestly, we have nothing to lose, really. Instead of homage, let's try some luck. I hear that some sailors will toss a coin instead of offering sacrifice, when they want a little luck. I don't know who answers, but I do not think it is the Maelstrom."

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 2

Antapkos rubs his thumbs against his two forefingers of each hand. It is what he does when he is thinking. "It is worth a toss. I was hoping that mouthy girl would show up with her crew again, but it has been a tenday, now."

 

[MacConnell]

Cormorant... "... a bigger fish trap... surf... toss a coin..."

Antapkos... "It is worth a toss...."

It was possible for either of the young men to make a fish trap. The materials are readily available in the marsh, but it would take several days to do so. Buying one would use half of their money, but impatience is harder to satiate at such a young age. Four clams were given for a new trap, and the day's labor was skipped for the two to pole out into the shallows of the ocean. Instead of trying to make it out passed the western break water, it is quicker to carry the skiff over the artificial stone barrier and set it on the other side. Atop the jetty, each throws a single coin into the channel, hoping for luck, then sets the skiff out to look for floating grass mats.

Unknown to either, the fishing is better during the current time of the cycle, would would be the Chilling season for the rest of the land, temperature not varying much in Asylim. Fish are less active, near shore, during the hottest time of the cycle when the turtles crawl ashore to lay their eggs. The water is much more clear than either youth expected, having only been exposed to the muddy waters of the Flats. The very first grass mat seemed as good of a place as any, and both traps are dropped over the side, having been baited with the vital organs of the last animals caught in snares.

Grabbing some of the seaweed and hauling it into the boat, tiny crabs and shrimp are discovered in abundance. Throwing the spent bundle back into the sea, the process is repeated several times until enough of the small crustaceans have been collected to crush into chum. Taking turns standing while the other stabilizes the craft, some chum is tossed into the water to see if it might draw some fish that may be lurking under the mat. As the chum sinks, flashes of silver dart from the shadow of the mat out to the bait. Several throws with the rudimentary fishing spears are needed before acquiring some payout. Four small mackerel are captured.

The small trap does not yield anything, but the new one sufaces with two crabs and the remains of a fish that the crabs have obviously killed. The. mutilated fish can be saved for bait. Not a bad return for a day's adventure; but as the skiff is being poled back toward the jetty, two other skiffs are seen on the beach, along with four people around a small fire. It seems unbelievable that someone could ignite a fire. No one had the materials, which is why everyone went to the pavilion. Nearing enough to see the people, it is none other than the mouthy girl and her entourage of three groupies.

Spoiler: Collections

2 clams: currency

Marsh Hen Feathers: 2 sets: ??
Marsh Hen Feet: 2 pair: ??
Marsh Hen Skulls: 2: ??
Marsh Rat Feet: 2 pars: ??
Marsh Rat Skulls: 2: ??

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP. State intentions and provide 2 random rolls.

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 2

Antapkos looks back at Cormorant and nods toward the beach, hoping his friend is in agreement and drives the skiff pole to turn the boat that direction.

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 1

Cormorant nods affirmatively and lays hard on his own skiff pole. He reassures himself that this time will be different. He feels badly for about half a second about what he intends to do; but had he not been able to disarm the girl, she was out for blood.

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Posting for Player 2

Getting the affirmation he desired, Antapkos yells at the girl as the skiff is being beached. "Hey Mala'kio, looks like we found you. Seems like you have been hiding after making that empty threat."

Antapkos points. "He found your knife. What do you say he returns it to you?"

He intends to leave the girls for Cormorant and go after the two Shimadow. Having previously discovered an effective combat tactic, he will take on the two, empty handed, using his talent to move air to knock them away.

OOC: 51, 52