Midway Mining Expedition (PbP)

[Kwargrow]

Coldtree sees the songbirds and wonders how they taste. He will manipulate waylines to attempt to reach out in friendship to these birds to get close enough so he can knock them over the head.

Spoiler: Rolls

09, 27

 

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Character Status

Coldtree: full health
Harnin arrows: 17
Taka: full health
Boots: 20 - 7 = 14
Tehn: full health

Taka takes notice of the songbirds, and for some reason, gets a feeling that there is something special about them...

Coldtree sees the songbirds and wonders how they taste. He will manipulate waylines to attempt to reach out in friendship...

Spoiler: Reaction Time

Coldtree: 15(readiness) + 15(speed) + 26(tranquility) + 9(d100) = 65
Taka: 22(readiness) + 12(speed) + 17(clarity) + 68(d100) = 119
Tehn: 14 + 23 + 15 + 39(d100) = 91
Mourners: 5(readiness) + 30(speed) + 50(tranquility) + 44(d100) = 129

Spoiler: Speed of Action

Coldtree: 100(muddle) - 65 = 35
Mourners: 200(song) - 129 = 71

Spoiler: Mystical Assault

Mourners: 30(bending) + 40(song) + 44(d100) = 114
Coldtree: 18(bending) + 24(muddle) + 27(d100) = 69

Spoiler: Mystical Resistance

Mourners: 40(skepticism) + 50(tranquility) + 44(d100) > 69
Coldtree: 18(skepticism) + 26(tranquility) + 27(d100) = 71
damage: 114 - 71 = 43% * 20 = 9
Will: 3 - 9 = -6, Mind: 10 - 6 = 4, dazed.
Taka: 16(skepticism) + 17(clarity) + 133(d100) > 114
Tehn: 26(skepticism) + 15(clarity) + 39(d100) = 80
damage: 114 - 80 = 34% * 20 = 7
Will: 3 - 7 = -4, Mind: 10 - 4 = 6, dazed.

The beautiful singing is a lie. The cheerful sound is a ruse. These birds are fully malevolent and likely the cause of the demise of the previous miners. By complete stroke of luck, Taka is completely unaffected by the song but confirms, in no uncertain terms, that these avians can indeed manipulate waylines. Coldtree by newly acquired mystical affinity and Tehn from skepticism are both able to somewhat resist the urge to jump from the cliff, but both are moderately dazed.

The location of the birds is part of their malevolence. They are aware that they are just out of reach. Their singing continues unabated. Even with the mental fog, Coldtree and Tehn realize that if something is not done to silence these birds, they will soon lose their drive for life.

Spoiler: Collectibles

Coins:

• Shillings: 377

Animal Parts:

• Ant Pinchers: 2, (Cohesion +1)
• Ant Stingers: 7, {Toxin x2}
• Beetle Elytra: 5 pair (deflect 4, soak 2)
• Harvester Feather Talisman: 1, (Health +1)
• Peccary Tusks: 1 pair, ??

Stone:

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

 

[Kwargrow]

Embarrassed at being bamboozled by a couple of birds, Coldtree reaches out to manipulate waylines and Heat the scrub brush that the birds sit on.
In Hebrian he says, "Let's turn that song to screeches, shall we?"

Spoiler: Rolls

95+22, 25

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Taka picks up a stone, and holds it in his hand; he begins to concentrate on the surrounding waylines, manipulating them, in an effort to turn the stone into his own, personal messenger. He attempts to imbue the stone with sonic force, just before throwing it at the birds!

Spoiler: A Few Base Die Rolls

71, 80, 83

 

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Character Status

Coldtree: full health
Harnin arrows: 17
Taka: full health
Boots: 20 - 7 = 14
Tehn: full health

... Coldtree reaches out to manipulate waylines and Heat the scrub brush that the birds sit on...

Taka picks up a stone... manipulating... sonic force, just before throwing it at the birds!

Spoiler: A Few Base Die Rolls

71, 80, 83

Spoiler: Reaction Time

Coldtree: 15(readiness) + 15(speed) + 26(tranquility) + 9(d100) = 65
Taka: 22(readiness) + 12(speed) + 17(clarity) + 68(d100) = 119
Tehn: 14 + 23 + 15 + 39(d100) = 91
Mourners: 5(readiness) + 30(speed) + 50(tranquility) + 44(d100) = 129

Spoiler: Speed of Action

Coldtree: 35 + 60(dazed) + 100(manipulate) = 195
Taka: 100(manipulate) - 119 ~ 0
Tehn: 100(manipulate) - 129 + 40(dazed) = 11
Mourners: 71 + 200(song) = 271

Spoiler: Mystical Assault

Mourners: 30(bending) + 40(song) + 89(d100) = 159
Coldtree: 18(bending) + 24(muddle) + 117(d100) = 159
Taka: 16(bending) + 16(thump) + 71(d100) = 103
Tehn: 26(bending) + 15(heat) + 94(d100) = 135

Spoiler: Mystical Resistance

Mourners: 40(skepticism) + 50(tranquility) + 89(d100) = 179
Coldtree: Will: 3 - 9 = -6, Mind: 10 - 6 = 4, dazed.
Tehn: Will: 3 - 7 = -4, Mind: 10 - 4 = 6, dazed.

Though he has never before seen it nor had any instruction or guidance in such, the inherent talent to manipulate waylines requires no such teaching. Going on instinct alone, Taka, who had been unaffected by the song, reaches down, picks up a small stone, and tosses it at the birds. The stone strike the shrub which vibrates, reverberantly, but the malevolent birds seem unaffected as they continue to emanate their song.

Tehn, slower to act because he is slightly dazed, also instinctively throws a stone. Choosing heat over sound, the stone strikes the brush a mere 11 tics after the one Taka threw, too fast for a mind to recognize the difference. The brush does not ignite, but its leaves instantly curl and die, as if infected with some blight.

Coldtree, being even a bit slower to act a second time due to the haze upon his cognition, has no need to throw a stone, for he manipulates the waylines running through the shrub, themselves, not directly attacking the sentient birds. Having already been heated once, the once green bush ignites in flame a little more than half a second before the birds can formulate a new assault.

The tiny tree is in such a location so that its flame is not a risk to spreading to anything else, except the birds, who panic and fly as their beautiful plumage begins to singe. Being clear of thought, Taka throws a second stone after the departing birds, just for good measure. Coldtree and Tehn will require several more minutes for their heads to clear, but neither is at risk of launching himself from the cliff.

Spoiler: Collectibles

Coins:
Shillings: 377

Animal Parts:
Ant Pinchers: 2, (Cohesion +1)
Ant Stingers: 7, {Toxin x2}
Beetle Elytra: 5 pair (deflect 4, soak 2)
Harvester Feather Talisman: 1, (Health +1)
Peccary Tusks: 1 pair, ??

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

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP and those not fluent in Hebrian increase proficiency by 1%.

 

[Kwargrow]

Coldtree shakes his head and says, "Nasty little critters. Next time we'll know what they are and kill them before they can manipulate Way."
Carefully Coldtree will look down the side of the cliff closest to the nest and try to find the missing miners.

Spoiler: Rolls

36, 52

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Taka will aid Coldtree in his search, by looking around for any possible (safe) ways down to the bottom of the ravine (narrow switch-backs, etc.)

Spoiler: Random Rolls

79,76

 

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Character Status

Coldtree: full health
Harnin arrows: 17
Taka: full health
Boots: 20 - 7 = 14
Tehn: full health

... Carefully Coldtree will look down the side of the cliff closest to the nest and try to find the missing miners.

Taka will aid Coldtree in his search, by looking around for any possible (safe) ways down to the bottom of the ravine (narrow switch-backs, etc.)

Having the presence of mind to look over the ledge for the missing miners, Coldtree is rewarded with their discovery. Taka and Tehn both look over the edge, as well. Taka moves back down the path in the direction of arrival to look for a suitable decent route. Tehn offers some expressive profanity in the Amiradthan tongue.

Taka returns to express his disappointment that they may have to backtrack some considerable distance to find a way to get down below. Hoping for a faster option, the three decide to see what supplies may be inside the shaft. Finding a suitable length of sturdy rope, it is anchored to a nearby tree. Taka agrees to be the base and belay the line to allow Coldtree and Tehn, who are much smaller, to be lowered into the ravine.

Once at the bottom, the two confirm the identities of the other three miners. It is also noted that their eyes are missing and presumed eaten by the mourners. Additionally, the eyeless remains of a wildcat are found. The cat has apparently been dead for some time longer than the men.

Spoiler: Collectibles

Coins:
Shillings: 377

Animal Parts:
Ant Pinchers: 2, (Cohesion +1)
Ant Stingers: 7, {Toxin x2}
Beetle Elytra: 5 pair (deflect 4, soak 2)
Harvester Feather Talisman: 1, (Health +1)
Peccary Tusks: 1 pair, ??

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

OOC: Each character receives 2 DP and those not fluent in Amiradtha increase proficiency by 1%.

 

[Kwargrow]

Staring at the corpses of the miners, Coldtree says in Hebrian, "Those are dangerous-ass birds. Who knows how many they could have lured to their deaths if we had not taken this mission?"
Coldtree will search the corpses and the area around where they fell to see if any valuables fell out. An idea strikes him and as he searches he attempts to determine if any of the corpses of the miners and the cat have any parts that show Way proclivity. Anything of personal value to the miners he will set aside to be returned to the families.
With a sly grin to his partners he says in Orngaddrin, "Returning the possessions will buy us more goodwill with the town than the coin is worth. Since we were able to drive the birds off, we can request to handle all the strange activity around town. No more menial labor for us. We would need a name for our group. What should we call ourselves?"

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Taka thinks for a moment, and suddenly, a grin spreads across his face.

Taka says, "Let's name ourselves in honor of what we did. Let's call ourselves the Birds of Prey."

Spoiler: Pardon the Pun, Gentlemen.

It's really not a reference to my old Amtgard fighting company. But I realized that you both might think that, once I said it out loud to myself, lol. I was thinking more along the lines of the fact that our first, significant kill was a pair of birds who were trying to prey upon us; but they themselves became OUR prey.