The Road to Discovery

Nalvis says, "Perhaps we should speak with them, attempt to find out what this is all about. Since they are encumbered by their boats we should still be able to outrun them if they chase us. Whomever wishes to speak with these men may stand with me, but the others should hide out of sight, ready to fight if they charge us."

Mekric looks around for a strategic place to make their stand.
OOC: Commerical roll: 67


Arbrine looks for a good place to hide where she can still see the river and help with the fighting.
 

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Prospecting Diplomacy

Kwargrow said:
Nalvis says, "Perhaps we should speak with them, attempt to find out what this is all about. Since they are encumbered by their boats we should still be able to outrun them if they chase us. Whomever wishes to speak with these men may stand with me, but the others should hide out of sight, ready to fight if they charge us."
Click to expand...
Vik shrugs and goes to stand with Nalvis. "Okay."

Kwargrow said:
Mekric looks around for a strategic place to make their stand.
OOC: Commerical roll: 67
Click to expand...
Veera frowns and moves to help Mekric.
GM: Looking at the beach area, the most strategic location for a small force to withstand an attack of a larger force would be in the opening of the narrow path that leads to the Orngaddrin Village. The tighter quarters bordered by boulders, and the definitive rise of the mountains bottleneck the ascending path. It would be extremely difficult for a larger force to attempt to surround a smaller one and the larger force would be forced to fight on one front.

Kwargrow said:
Arbrine looks for a good place to hide where she can still see the river and help with the fighting.
Click to expand...
Even though she is Hebrian, Quill moves up into the rocks in the direction of the path. She moves away from the river in opposition to Arbrine in order to cover the opposite flank.
GM: As the boats come into view around the bend, the some of the soldiers voices can be understood more clearly. They are apparently bragging and joking about the vulgar desire for slaughter and what to do with women and children.

The soldiers move to furl their sails and notice Nalvis and Rekyavik standing farther up on the beach with Mekric and Renyaveer behind them at the entrance to the intended walk path. The soldiers immediately cease speaking. Those not directly involved in furling the sails begins strapping on their weapons.

There are five boats with eight men per boat, making a total of 40 soldiers. One of each eight appears to be an archer. The boats continue to drift toward the beach, not having slowed much against the current, yet.

[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 0
bone arrows: 9
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Animals:
  • Lizard Skin: 60% & 40% cover
  • Peccary Hide: 50% & 20% cover
  • Sheep Hide: 10% & 30% cover
Minerals:
  • Slate: 1 rock: (sound x2)
  • Flint: 1 rock: (heat x2)
  • Heartstone: 1 stones: {+ Confluence}
  • Coal: 2 lumps: (Heat x3)
  • Lodestone: 1 stone: (Shock x3)
  • Slickstone: 1 stone: (-Heat x3)
  • Yellow rock (Sulfur): 1 lump: ?
  • bluish rock (Waterstone): 1 stone: ?
Ores:
  • Zinc: 18 ingots: {+ Health} (+Body x2)
  • Tin: 16 ingots: {+ Persona} (-Mind x2)
  • Lead: 4 ingots: (-Body x2)
  • Iron: 13 ingots: {+ Confluence} (+Body x2)
  • Copper: 1 ingot: {+ Persona} (Shock x2)
  • dark metal (Nickel): 1 ingot: ?
  • heavy metal (Manganese): 1 ingot: ?
  • yellowish metal (Molybdenum): 1 ingot: ?
  • dark metal (Palladium): 1 ingot: ?
Plants:
  • Muddle Leaves: 4 measures: (-Mind x2)
  • Soothe Leaves: 1 measures: (+Mind x2)
  • Rend Leaves: 1 measure: (-Body x2)
  • Mend: 1 measure: (+Body x2)
  • Muddle Flowers: 1 measure: (-Mind x3)
  • Soothe Flowers: 1 measure: (+Mind x3)
.[/sblock]
 
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Nalvis does his best to show he is not afraid of these men and says in a loud voice, "Why are you men here? And who is your leader?"

Mekric and Arbrine stay silent and keep watch.
 

Attempting Diplomacy

Kwargrow said:
Nalvis does his best to show he is not afraid of these men and says in a loud voice, "Why are you men here? And who is your leader?"

Mekric and Arbrine stay silent and keep watch.
Click to expand...
GM: No one immediately responds. The boats beach and the soldiers disembark, the last two of each boat turning to pull the craft a bit further onto the beach so that the river's current will not take them away. Each boat's soldiers line up in a double columnar formation, as per their regular training, making five units of seven with each archer standing a bit to the column's right.

One soldier in the central formation seems a bit taller than the rest, a bit better dressed, a bit more handsome. A bit surprisingly, he is armed with a dancing sword scabbarded at his left hip. The thin metal sword is of such a particular design that it requires special training to learn to use. The friends know of the weapon from such talk as accompanies travelers, but have never seen one, as it is not given to regular soldiers.

While the other soldiers have armed themselves with short metal swords and wooden bucklers, at ready. The youthful figure with the dancing sword has not. He looks down and brushes some imaginary debris from the lower left edge of his Acrylon tunic, drawing his hand up slightly to rest upon the pommel of his sword. He looks over at Nalvis with a look of utter contempt and disdain.

"The words of our language coming from your lips sound profane. We, the soldiers of the future of the flooded valley, have succeeded in casting off the yoke of geriatric leadership and put to sea his foreign concubine and defiled seed. As the future of the flooded valley we shall see to its purification so that no blight shall interfere with our desire to have all things in common. If you kneel before me, I will offer you a quicker death than you deserve; but none the less, your blood shall rejuvenate the earth to speed its recovery from your presence having defiled it, then we shall march on to to the deformed kin that hide up in these rocks to wash the mountain with theirs."

Despite their obvious superiority in numbers, the young soldiers seem just a bit hesitant. Though their previous conversations of bravado were indicative of blood lust that infects many soldiers after battle, it seems they have yet to incur any resistance, and four people standing in a narrowed path has given them some pause.

[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 0
bone arrows: 9
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Animals:
  • Lizard Skin: 60% & 40% cover
  • Peccary Hide: 50% & 20% cover
  • Sheep Hide: 10% & 30% cover
Minerals:
  • Slate: 1 rock: (sound x2)
  • Flint: 1 rock: (heat x2)
  • Heartstone: 1 stones: {+ Confluence}
  • Coal: 2 lumps: (Heat x3)
  • Lodestone: 1 stone: (Shock x3)
  • Slickstone: 1 stone: (-Heat x3)
  • Yellow rock (Sulfur): 1 lump: ?
  • bluish rock (Waterstone): 1 stone: ?
Ores:
  • Zinc: 18 ingots: {+ Health} (+Body x2)
  • Tin: 16 ingots: {+ Persona} (-Mind x2)
  • Lead: 4 ingots: (-Body x2)
  • Iron: 13 ingots: {+ Confluence} (+Body x2)
  • Copper: 1 ingot: {+ Persona} (Shock x2)
  • dark metal (Nickel): 1 ingot: ?
  • heavy metal (Manganese): 1 ingot: ?
  • yellowish metal (Molybdenum): 1 ingot: ?
  • dark metal (Palladium): 1 ingot: ?
Plants:
  • Muddle Leaves: 4 measures: (-Mind x2)
  • Soothe Leaves: 1 measures: (+Mind x2)
  • Rend Leaves: 1 measure: (-Body x2)
  • Mend: 1 measure: (+Body x2)
  • Muddle Flowers: 1 measure: (-Mind x3)
  • Soothe Flowers: 1 measure: (+Mind x3)
.[/sblock]
 
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Nalvis stands his ground. This leader seems convinced of his cause, but perhaps some of the regular soldiers can be convinced that they are on a fool's bloody errand. If he can cause any dissent it might hinder their efforts. Nalvis says, "Life grows in many different forms, but spare me your well chosen words. The lie of your cause is back in the village we visited in the form of the dead village elder. Your task is not about purification or rejuvenation. You are merely soldiers travelling and killing because weak people with weak ideas need violence to make their voices heard. We shall see you at the next village." With that Nalvis turns and starts to run to the Orngaddrin village, followed quickly by Mekric and Arbrine.

OOC: reaction roll: Nalvis: 83, Mekric: 74, Arbrine: 54
 
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Road5.jpg​

Kwargrow said:
... Nalvis turns and starts to run to the Orngaddrin village, followed quickly by Mekric and Arbrine.
OOC: reaction roll: Nalvis: 83, Mekric: 74, Arbrine: 54
Click to expand...
Vik and Veera turn as quickly as they can to run along with the other three, but Quill stays in hidden in place, listening.

OOC: Reaction Time: Readiness + Impetus + Clarity + d100
Nalvis: 130
Mekric: 123
Arbrine: 104
Rekyavik: 110
Renyaveer: 119
Quill: 141
Infantry: 57
Archers: 93
Speaker: 31 + 24 + 17 + 69 = 141

GM: Reacting much more quickly than could be expected, as soon as Malvis and the others turn to run, the Speaker hollars, "Fire!"

The archers, however, are not nearly so quick to respond. They are so relatively slow that their targets have moved even farther away and acquired a greater benefit of cover from the narrowing trail. The parley began at a distance of about 10 paces.

OOC: Speed of Action: Reaction Time - Hindrance
Nalvis: 130 - 30 = 100
Mekric: 123 - 60 = 63
Arbrine: 104 - 60 = 44
Rekyavik: 110 - 30 = 80
Renyaveer: 119 - 48 = 71
Quill: 141 - 60 = 81
Infantry: delayed
Archers: 93 - 30(armor) - 200(bows) = -137
Speaker: delayed

GM: By the time that the archers are able to fire, Nalvis has move ahead of the others and covered 4 paces of distance. Rekyavik is closest behind, having moved 3 paces. Renyaveer and Mekric have also moved 3 paces and are on the heel of Rekyavik. Arbrine, having a bit of a later start has only completed 2 paces, though at the advantage of not having reached the trail and being protected by more cover.

The first volley of arrows are very poorly fired. So poorly fired that the Speaker screams at their incompetence, ordering the columns to move out. After a few seconds it becomes obvious that the soldiers will not catch their immediate quarry and the Speaker orders them to march. The columns are able to march two by two, but it is a tight shoulder to shoulder at some places.

Once the soldiers move out of sight, Quill moves back to the beach. Using an oar to assist her she frees the farthest downstream boat from its mooring, catching the lead rope as it begins to drift. She then enters the next boat, tying the first leader to the stern of the second boat. She continues this pattern. By the third boat, she no longer has to dig. The fourth boat pulls free all of it own due to the added drift weight of the other three tied to it. Quill leaves the fifth boat beached, thinking that she and her friends can use it if they survive this coming battle.

Having completed her desired tasks she runs up the trail after the long departed others.

GM: Renyaveer and Arbrine begin to slow before the others, though each has outlasted any possible pursuit by the soldiers. Everyone is eventually forced back to a walk. At one particular switchback, Rekyavik who is the tallest is able to see that the soldiers have been left far behind. He also sees that much farther behind them that Quill is carefully following.

By mid afternoon, the friends arrive at the wooden gate to the mountainous Orngaddrin city to find that it is closed. A sentry in the guard tower to the gate's right calls down in Orngaddrin then Eastabin, "What brings you here? We were warned of coming danger by signal fire."

Mekric and Renyaveer, the thinkers of the group, realize they have about an hour before the following soldiers will arrive.
 
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Nalvis says to the sentry, "There are soldiers from Eastaboga coming here to kill anyone not Hebrian. We came here to warn your people and help fight off this attack."

Mekric adds, "They will be here in hour. Let us in. We are not the threat."

Arbrine says to Vik and Veera, "Will Quill be ok? She will be trapped out here with those soldiers."
 
Last edited by a moderator:

The Orngaddrin

Kwargrow said:
Nalvis says to the sentry, "There are soldiers from Eastaboga coming here to kill anyone not Hebrian. We came here to warn your people and help fight off this attack."

Mekric adds, "They will be here in hour. Let us in. We are not the threat."
Click to expand...
GM: The sentry turns away and looks down, speaking something in his own tongue. The gate opens and the friends are ushered inside before the gate is once again closed. Seeing an Orngaddrin for the first time is a bit of a startle. Though they are built like Nalvis, their skin is alabaster white, like fine marble. Most of the adult men are completely bald, though they sport cropped white beards. There bodies are decorated in similar manners to that of Norikadians like Rekyavik and Renyaveer, though no dyes are applied to faces. Everyone is dressed in skins or wool and most carry tools appropriate for mining, even those who are obviously soldiers manning the gate.

Kwargrow said:
Arbrine says to Vik and Veera, "Will Quill be ok? She will be trapped out here with those soldiers."
Click to expand...

Veera shrugs with an expression of concern.
"I hope so. We have no idea what she is up to."

An elderly gentleman greets Nalvis and Rekyavik, who are the first inside.
"I am Marmeren. Spreek je onze taal?"

With the confused looks the man continues, "Ah, you all speak the Hebrian tongue, though. It will do. We will talk more later. The Hebrian village to our east lit their signal fire warning us of coming danger. We can not see that village from our high sentry, but the signal fire is easily seen. The high sentry can see the beach where the soldiers landed. We have a surprise for them."

He gestures backward to a large wooden machine of a completely alien concept. He calls it a 'catapult' and laughs. "We will discourage them first. The bucket is filled with many small rocks. When they are in range, we will launch them. We also saw that you have another friend out their. Clever that one. She set four of their boats loose on the current. We will keep an eye out if she appears to be in danger. We have another way to get down there other than opening this main gate."
[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 0
bone arrows: 9
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Animals:
  • Lizard Skin: 60% & 40% cover
  • Peccary Hide: 50% & 20% cover
  • Sheep Hide: 10% & 30% cover
Minerals:
  • Slate: 1 rock: (sound x2)
  • Flint: 1 rock: (heat x2)
  • Heartstone: 1 stones: {+ Confluence}
  • Coal: 2 lumps: (Heat x3)
  • Lodestone: 1 stone: (Shock x3)
  • Slickstone: 1 stone: (-Heat x3)
  • Yellow rock (Sulfur): 1 lump: ?
  • bluish rock (Waterstone): 1 stone: ?
Ores:
  • Zinc: 18 ingots: {+ Health} (+Body x2)
  • Tin: 16 ingots: {+ Persona} (-Mind x2)
  • Lead: 4 ingots: (-Body x2)
  • Iron: 13 ingots: {+ Confluence} (+Body x2)
  • Copper: 1 ingot: {+ Persona} (Shock x2)
  • dark metal (Nickel): 1 ingot: ?
  • heavy metal (Manganese): 1 ingot: ?
  • yellowish metal (Molybdenum): 1 ingot: ?
  • dark metal (Palladium): 1 ingot: ?
Plants:
  • Muddle Leaves: 4 measures: (-Mind x2)
  • Soothe Leaves: 1 measures: (+Mind x2)
  • Rend Leaves: 1 measure: (-Body x2)
  • Mend: 1 measure: (+Body x2)
  • Muddle Flowers: 1 measure: (-Mind x3)
  • Soothe Flowers: 1 measure: (+Mind x3)
.[/sblock]
 

After introductions are made, Nalvis says, "Marmeren, we have lost our homes, which is why we were in this area and decided to stand against this threat. Let us know how we can help and we will."

Mekric will look around the village and take note of significant things of interest.

Arbrine finds a place where she can help keep watch for the approaching soldiers, especially if Quill needs their help.
 

The Orngaddrin: Marmeren

Kwargrow said:
After introductions are made, Nalvis says, "Marmeren, we have lost our homes, which is why we were in this area and decided to stand against this threat. Let us know how we can help and we will."
Click to expand...
Marmeren -
"Hmm, so it is more than just the nearest village. I do not understand what has happened in Eastaboga. We have had peaceable trade with them for years. We heard rumor from the other villagers who come to trade that some war was happening in the city, but attacking the villages at the river heads is a far-reaching expedition. We have a bit of time before those troops arrive. I will be glad to enlist your assistance."

Kwargrow said:
Mekric will look around the village and take note of significant things of interest.
Click to expand...
Seeing Mekric observing the workings and structures of the small village, Marmeren names all the places and people for her. The village is more of a shire or hamlet for one clan. Marmeren points to his dwelling and the one of the other village elders. The other eldest man has since 'expired'.

There are dwellings for his two sons, who are mated to the daughters of the other elders and another dwelling for his daughter, who is mated to a separate Orngaddrin, whose brother and mate have yet another dwelling. The third generation of Orngaddrin range in age from that of the six friends to small children. Whether male or female all older children and adults look quite able-bodied.

The tallest peak within the village proper has a crow's nest observation point that is currently manned. The two gates that allow access to the lower reaches of the mountains are closed and their sentry post manned. There are two catapults, one at each gate. The smithy occupies a western corner of the village where the flow of the river can be utilized.

The upper paths to the mining operations are still open, though it appears that all members of the clan are currently present due to the impending threat. Various rocks are being carried and piled near each catapult. Mekric notices that there is another signal fire burning far up in the crow's nest.

Marmeren tells the crew to join in wherever they fell suited to assist.

Kwargrow said:
Arbrine finds a place where she can help keep watch for the approaching soldiers, especially if Quill needs their help.
Click to expand...
GM: Arbrine can see fairly well from the top of the sentry post at the gate where she and the others entered.

Marmeren -
"We can pepper them with stones and hit them with larger boulders. It will at least cause them to alter their approach tactics. At best we will hurt several of them and possibly injure. If we want to capture are eliminate them, we will necessarily have to physically engage. How would you youngsters like to assist?"
[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 0
bone arrows: 9
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Animals:
  • Lizard Skin: 60% & 40% cover
  • Peccary Hide: 50% & 20% cover
  • Sheep Hide: 10% & 30% cover
Minerals:
  • Slate: 1 rock: (sound x2)
  • Flint: 1 rock: (heat x2)
  • Heartstone: 1 stones: {+ Confluence}
  • Coal: 2 lumps: (Heat x3)
  • Lodestone: 1 stone: (Shock x3)
  • Slickstone: 1 stone: (-Heat x3)
  • Yellow rock (Sulfur): 1 lump: ?
  • bluish rock (Waterstone): 1 stone: ?
Ores:
  • Zinc: 18 ingots: {+ Health} (+Body x2)
  • Tin: 16 ingots: {+ Persona} (-Mind x2)
  • Lead: 4 ingots: (-Body x2)
  • Iron: 13 ingots: {+ Confluence} (+Body x2)
  • Copper: 1 ingot: {+ Persona} (Shock x2)
  • dark metal (Nickel): 1 ingot: ?
  • heavy metal (Manganese): 1 ingot: ?
  • yellowish metal (Molybdenum): 1 ingot: ?
  • dark metal (Palladium): 1 ingot: ?
Plants:
  • Muddle Leaves: 4 measures: (-Mind x2)
  • Soothe Leaves: 1 measures: (+Mind x2)
  • Rend Leaves: 1 measure: (-Body x2)
  • Mend: 1 measure: (+Body x2)
  • Muddle Flowers: 1 measure: (-Mind x3)
  • Soothe Flowers: 1 measure: (+Mind x3)
.[/sblock]
 
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