Some Stories Are True

[MacConnell]

Wrenn will... says...

Askari will say... will then go... gazes... rubs... mumbles...

Being close enough to Askari where he is lying on the ground, Oorvid gives a faint whisper. Faint, but Askari can hear it. "Ask about the stick figures?"

The four Shimadow, who are physically able to do so, retreat. The least injured who Askari had knocked down is able to run and does so. The other two, more near, back away cautiously, by instinct. The one by the fallen Hiroshi quickly disappears from view. Registering the significance of the question, Askari asks in Shimadow.

The running man hollers back as he runs. "They are not ours."

The other two offer, "Truly, they are not ours, though we hung some of them. Our elders told us to put them out and leave them alone. As a people we do not make such things. We harbor no such superstitions. We do not know the purpose or who made them."

The lack of information is a curious thing, but the Shimadows have no reason to lie about it.

Fortune favors the prepared warrior, as they saying goes. It seems for the eight remaining Shimadow who lie upon the ground, their luck has run out. As is the nature of the party members, the fallen die very quickly and mercifully. To be left to recover would not be a benevolent act for local denizens of the forests would devour them while they yet lived.

Even with the aid of Askari, it will be more than a day before everyone will be back ready to travel. Eight Shimadows litter the forest floor. Astrid begins to complain to the point of babbling. "I am the wrath of the storm. My spark has no sting. I should be able to..."

Oorvid asks Askari to help him sit up and lean against a tree. He admonishes his friend. He speaks in Spiofthest. Wrenn quietly translates, as it seems important. "Look at us. You are not the only one to have fallen in that battle. So you are the wrath of the storm! I am the strength of the mountain! Hiroshi is the shadow in the wood, and yet here we three lie like sacks of grain. We lost. We will recover. We must learn to be better."

"You need to be more than the wrath of the storm. You need to be its impetus. A storm is short lived. It rages about aimlessly destroying what it can until it is spent and no more. You need a focus. If the Norikadian people can sail at night guided by instinct and stars. You can navigate your life and sail the wind of Destiny. A focus will give you purpose. Do not be led by your emotions."

Spoiler: Render Aid

Askari: 22(medicine) + 25(restore) + 27(d100) = 74

Spoiler: Character Data

Askari: Body: 10 - 6 = 4, injured.
Time: 60 days / 74 = 20 hours
Shirt: 40 - 1 = 39 - 1 = 38 - 1 = 37.
Astrid: Body: 5 - 11 = -6, incapacitated.
Time: 110 days / 74 = 1 day, 12 hours.
Mantle: 30 - 2 = 28 - 1 - 1 = 26.
Stones: 20
Hiroshi: Body: 7 - 7 = 0, incapacitated.
Time: 100 days / 74 = 1 day, 9 hours
Tunic: 60 - 2 = 58 - 1 - 1 = 56.
Javelins: 3, stone: 3 - 1 = 2 - 1 = 1, ularin
Oorvid: Body: -2 - 1 = -3 + 3 = 0, incapacitated.
Time: 100 days / 74 = 1 day, 9 hours
Tunic: 68 - 1 = 67 - 1 = 66 - 1 = 65
Volki: Body: 9 - 3 = 6, hurt.
Time: 40 days / 74 = 13 hours
Tunic: 50 - 2 = 48 - 1 = 47 - 1 = 46
Wrenn: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Arrows: 13 - 1 = 12 - 1 = 11 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9

Spoiler: Collections

41 marks: currency
Aluminum: 5 ingots, {shock x3}

Ant Stingers: 4, {toxicity x2}
Bandy Skull Talisman: 1, ??
Bat Guano: 12 measures, {heat x2}
Rodent Tooth Necklace: 1, (Health +1)
Songbird Talisman: 1, ??
Spider Claws: 3 sets, (Cohesion +1), {toxicity x2}
Spider Fangs: 3 sets, (Cohesion +1)

Coal: 5 bricks, ??
Dull, Gray Stone: 1, ??
Livestone: 1, (Strength +2)
Emberstone: 1, ??

Dried Leaves: 1 measure, ??
Flowers: 2 measures, ??

Spoiler: Discoveries

Bat Colony: 2
Rheini Village

OOC: Everyone receives 5 DP and improves in Spiofthest by 2% and by 10% in Shimadow. State intentions and provide a random roll.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Wrenn renders aid, and when Hiroshi is sufficiently stable, he does so as well. Once this is done, the pair will search the belongings of the fallen Shimadow, to see if anything shows signs of proclivities. Wrenn pauses, as if lost in thought...

Spoiler: Random Rolls

Hiroshi = (94+53) = 147 (Render Aid)
Wrenn = 64 (Render Aid)
Hiroshi = 53 (Proclivity)
Wrenn = 73 (Proclivity)
Hiroshi = 43 (Miscellanous)
Wrenn = 41 (Miscellaneous)

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Almost as an afterthought, Wrenn says, "Those things, the so-called twana, were made of sticks and plant fibers... they would have to be freshly made. They would have rotted long ago, otherwise... You don't think the Storyteller put these here, do you? To warn us of danger?"

 

[Gigeaux]

“The scarecrows are a strange thing. Why would their leader have them make some and leave them if they have no such superstitions, and are not their original doing?” After sufficient healing and checking the fallen enemies for anything useful, Volki will then gather fire wood, edible plants, and check the surroundings for anything that calls to her.

Spoiler: roll

60

 

[Thaco Deathsave]

Askari ponders the Shimadows words, If they are to be believed, they are not the Shimadows doing. There also doesn’t seem to be any way they would do it for the Rheini. So who stands to gain from their placement? Another question is, who is formidable enough to, either through threat or alliance, have the Shimadow running around doing errands for them? Should we go back and check the area again, or continue on and look for more?

Spoiler: Random Roll

85 nice

 

[MacConnell]

Wrenn renders aid... search... proclivities...

GM: NOTE: Hiroshi will not be able to assist others, at this particular moment, due to his own injuries, but the thought is good.

Spoiler: Render Aid

Askari: 22(medicine) + 25(restore) + 27(d100) = 74
Wrenn: 28 + 29 + 64 = 121

With the additional aid from Wrenn, the needed healing time for each person is significantly reduced. The machinations of just two, reduce what could have taken a season to repair. The wounds have begun to visibly restitch and will be completed in a matter of hours. Astrid, Hiroshi, and Oorvid stay, necessarily, inactive for the most part during this process, only moving slightly and slowly to feed water and relieve themselves.

Searching the fallen yields quite a haul. Of the eight, each is carrying a measure of some form of fried meat or bag of nuts, all of which are edible. Two of them have some kind of edible tuber, four of them have a small bags of dried leaves, and two have a small bag of dried flowers. Four of them have feather talismans, two have canine tooth necklaces, and two have fetishes made from a tuft of hair.

There are two fist-sized, shiny, rough, black rocks, two, shiny, grayish-black, opaque stones, two dull, white, semi-translucent stones, and two dark-green, opaque stones. There is one fetish made from the skull of some small duck, probably a teal.

Spoiler: Alchemical Sensitivity

Wrenn: 28(alchemy) + 24(analysis) + 73(d100) = 125, success
Time: 20 days / 125 = 4 hours, success

Wrenn is able to sense that all of the located items, except the meat, nuts, and tubers harbor some mystical proclivity. During the resting period, he has enough time to identify three of them to which he seems most drawn. Two of the feather talismans are made from Bandy Feathers and makes him feel stronger (Strength +2). The other two feather talismans are made from a Heckling Jay and makes him feel more confident (Will +2). The canine teeth are actually from a canine and also make him feel stronger, but there is no difference between them and the Bandy Feathers (Strength +2).

Spoiler: Character Data

Askari: Body: 10 - 6 = 4, injured.
Time: 60 days / (74 + 121) = 8 hours
Shirt: 40 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 37.
Astrid: Body: 5 - 11 = -6, incapacitated.
Time: 110 days / (74 + 121) = 14 hours
Mantle: 30 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 26.
Stones: 20
Hiroshi: Body: 7 - 7 = 0, incapacitated.
Time: 100 days / (74 + 121) = 13 hours
Tunic: 60 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 56.
Javelins: 3, stone: 3 - 1 = 2 - 1 = 1, ularin
Oorvid: Body: -2 - 1 = -3 + 3 = 0, incapacitated.
Time: 100 days / (74 + 121) = 13 hours
Tunic: 68 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 65
Volki: Body: 9 - 3 = 6, hurt.
Time: 40 days / (74 + 121) = 5 hours
Tunic: 50 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 46
Wrenn: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Arrows: 9

Spoiler: Collections

41 marks: currency
Aluminum: 5 ingots, {shock x3}

Ant Stingers: 4, {toxicity x2}
Bandy Feathers: 2, (Strength +2)
Bandy Skull Talisman: 1, ??
Bat Guano: 12 measures, {heat x2}
Canine Teeth: 2, (Strength +2)
Heckling Jay Feathers: 2, (Will +2)
Goat Beard: 2, ??
Rodent Tooth Necklace: 1, (Health +1)
Songbird Talisman: 1, ??
Spider Claws: 3 sets, (Cohesion +1), {toxicity x2}
Spider Fangs: 3 sets, (Cohesion +1)
Teal Skull: 1, ??

Coal: 7 bricks, ??
Dark-Green Stone: 2, ??
Dull, Gray Stone: 1, ??
Emberstone: 1, ??
Grayish-Black Stones: 2, ??
Livestone: 1, (Strength +2)
White Semi-Translucent Stone: 2, ??

Dried Leaves: 3 measures, ??
Other Leaves: 2 measures, ??
Flowers: 4 measures, ??

Spoiler: Discoveries

Bat Colony: 2
Rheini Village

OOC: Only Volki and Wrenn feel drawn to the feathers. Everyone feels drawn to the canine teeth. State in any post any augmenting item that is desired by a character and I will edit the party collections list.

 

[MacConnell]

... Wrenn says...

... checking... Volki will...

Askari ponders...

Spoiler: Prospecting

Volki: 30(prospecting) + 24(analysis) + 60(d100) = 114

In her cursory search of the immediate area, Volki comes across a a strange flowering shrub, the blooms of which draw her attention so that she collects a measure of them.

Spoiler: Alchemical Sensitivity

Volki: 30(alchemy) + 24(analysis) + 60(d100) = 114, sucess
Time: 20 days / 114 = 5 hours, success

The flowers have the power to restore a person's mental faculties. (Identity x3)

Finally having decided to quite brooding or sulking it is Astrid who lends further clarity to the discussion, though her Shimadow is not very good. "The Storyteller not use hostile clan. No, I agree with Askari. Elder Shimadow make younger Shimadow hang 'scarecrows.' Someone make elder Shimadow do this."

She shakes her head at her poor speech and begins again in Spiofthest, having Wren translate. "This is not some random thing, not really. The four of us find hostile Shimadows in the first Keep we find. Then all six of us find more Shimadows. They are obviously using the tunnel system to raid others who live in this forest. I think the Storyteller wanted us to find out who is behind this strategy and put an end to it. He is old. We are young and more physically able."

Spoiler: Tellerian Hawke

No meta-gaming about the NPC, you. ;p

"The Keep with those 'scarcrows' has all but collapsed, only the stairs to the tunnels is good. I think they are to make other people afraid so they cannot find the tunnel. If we keep searching these tunnels, I think we will find who is controlling the Shimadow."

OOC: The party is currently located 2 dots directly below the word 'Rheini.' This dot is a pergola. The tiny squares are all Keeps. Not all drawn locations are yet known to the party.

Spoiler: Character Data

Askari: Body: 10 - 6 = 4, injured.
Time: 60 days / (74 + 121) = 8 hours
Shirt: 40 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 37.
Astrid: Body: 5 - 11 = -6, incapacitated.
Time: 110 days / (74 + 121) = 14 hours
Mantle: 30 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 26.
Stones: 20
Hiroshi: Body: 7 - 7 = 0, incapacitated.
Time: 100 days / (74 + 121) = 13 hours
Tunic: 60 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 56.
Javelins: 3, stone: 3 - 1 = 2 - 1 = 1, ularin
Oorvid: Body: -2 - 1 = -3 + 3 = 0, incapacitated.
Time: 100 days / (74 + 121) = 13 hours
Tunic: 68 - 1 - 1 - 1 = 65
Volki: Body: 9 - 3 = 6, hurt.
Time: 40 days / (74 + 121) = 5 hours
Tunic: 50 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 46
Wrenn: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Arrows: 9

Spoiler: Collections

41 marks: currency
Aluminum: 5 ingots, {shock x3}

Ant Stingers: 4, {toxicity x2}
Bandy Feathers: 2, (Strength +2)
Bandy Skull Talisman: 1, ??
Bat Guano: 12 measures, {heat x2}
Canine Teeth: 2, (Strength +2)
Heckling Jay Feathers: 2, (Will +2)
Goat Beard: 2, ??
Rodent Tooth Necklace: 1, (Health +1)
Songbird Talisman: 1, ??
Spider Claws: 3 sets, (Cohesion +1), {toxicity x2}
Spider Fangs: 3 sets, (Cohesion +1)
Teal Skull: 1, ??

Coal: 7 bricks, ??
Dark-Green Stone: 2, ??
Dull, Gray Stone: 1, ??
Emberstone: 1, ??
Grayish-Black Stones: 2, ??
Livestone: 1, (Strength +2)
White Semi-Translucent Stone: 2, ??

Dried Leaves: 3 measures, ??
Other Leaves: 2 measures, ??
Flowers: 4 measures, ??
Tranquility Flowers: 1 measure, {Identity x3}

Spoiler: Discoveries

Bat Colony: 2
Rheini Village

OOC: Everyone receives 5 DP and improves in Spiofthest by 2%. State intentions and nominal actions and provide a random roll for each.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Wrenn nods in agreement with Astrid, "Yes, we should check out the tunnels. I am sure the Storyteller would be pleased if we did this. He is fond of the Rheini tribe, and I am positive that eliminating a threat to the tribe's safety would earn us a lot of respect in his eyes. And he is the sort of person whose respect is worth earning."

Wrenn intends to take point, heading back to the trapdoor in the pergola, and descending back down into the tunnel system.

Spoiler: Random Rolls

62, 24, 47

 

[Thaco Deathsave]

Askari will nod at Wrenn’s words, I agree, any force strong enough to submit the Shimadow can’t be good.
While still at camp, Askari will thread one of the canine teeth onto his necklace with the other talismans. When the group heads back into the tunnels, he will allow Wren to get ahead to just the edge of his vision; trying to allow enough distance for stealth while still being close enough to aid in combat if needed.

Spoiler: Random Rolls

21 & 76

 

[Gigeaux]

As the feather talismans are only drawing Wrenn and Volki, and there are 2 of each, She asks for one of each. The tunnels do seem to be full of surprises and mysteries, so Volki agrees that the answer to who is controlling the Shimadow and pulling the strings may very well lay at the end of one. Though, she feels we should all stay cautious and keep trying to get stronger, as we don’t know how strong the enemy will be. Going into the tunnels again she will do her best to stay stealthy.

Spoiler: rolls

88, 67, 53