The Untamed Wilds: Caravan Campaign

[MacConnell]

Dividing the Stones

OOC: Sannit is carrying 1 amber, 1 grey stone, 1 dark green stone. Bolo is carrying one amber and one quartz. Merin is carrying one amber and one quartz. Tor is carrying one amber an unknown grey stone. Sheldon is carrying 1 amber, 1 agate, 1 copper ingot, 1 quartz, 1 iron ingot, & 1 grey stone. Indigo is carrying 1 amber, 1 agate, 1 copper ingot, 1 quartz, & 1 grey stone. Aust is carrying one amber. Revan is carrying one amber.

GM: Remaining Stones: carried on pack animals 3 agate 2 tin ingots 19 copper ingots 10 quartz 1 grey stone 1 white ingot

 

[Kwargrow]

Sannit and Bolo respond favorably to Merin's suggestion. After checking for people and animals, they each take samples of the plants they have as conduits and do searches for those. "This ability is incredible, especially with finding other people. No one can sneak up on us now."

Sannit and Bolo will both take a copper ingot. Sannit focuses way on the dark green stone.

Turtle doesn't get alarmed when his humans start holding hands and touching him. Humans have strange things they do, but they're good enough in their own way.

 

[MacConnell]

After checking for people and animals, they each take samples of the plants they have as conduits and do searches for those.

GM: Using the unknown herbs collected from the previously defeated Shimadow produces no results. This was somewhat expected since the herbs were likely collected from the jungle region to the southwest and would not be found in this area.

OOC: Collective Range = 43 paces, 1 step = ~261' radius.

GM: Only one herb that the party has already collected is to be found in this area, which is sage, and it is plentiful. All members can collect 2 measures if they wish. This herb is known to the party to have a little health benefit and anti-toxin properties.

Sannit and Bolo will both take a copper ingot.

GM: Noted.

Sannit focuses way on the dark green stone.

[sblock=Identify]Effectiveness = Essence + Mind + Adhesion + Knowledge + Will + Collegiate + Aberrative + Academic - d100 - penalties[/sblock]

• Identify: 7, 8

[sblock=Effectiveness]41 - 78 = -39 - penalties + time[/sblock]

GM: After concentrating for a little more than 1/2 an hour, Sannit decides that he will not be able to determine anything specific about the green stone, but holding it seems to give him a feeling of contentment and comfort. He also surmises that a collective effort would not reveal anything more at this time either.

OOC: Important note: Carrying more than one ingot or crystal of the same type does not increase their possible effect. If an ingot or crystal is used as a catalyst to manipulate way in the manner for which its node is suited, it is consumed. This is not the same thing as holding copper to find copper. That has no effect on the held ingot, but it does increase the Bender's chance of success.

 

[MacConnell]

Day 23: The Hollow of Bones: Morning Day 7

OOC: It rains again in the early hours of the morning, not as much as in the previous days. The Seekers delay long enough to dry everything before moving on. The smell from the night before has abated, but everyone remembers the direction and deduces that it must be close.

GM: In less than an hour's travel, the party comes to the vale in question. The flowers are spent, but the stalks remain. The stench has returned, for littering the sand are the bodies of several jackals and one person. The jackals appear to have entered later from their own attraction to the smell. The person is lying face-up farther into the small vale, a definite indication that this was no accident.

​

OOC: What does everyone wish to do?

 

[Kwargrow]

Take a good look around first to see if anyone is watching. If nothing else is discovered San-Bolo will creep towards the body first. Turtle is told to wait behind in reserve. When they draw near to the body Bolo will stay back and keep watch with an arrow nocked. Sannit will approach the corpse, observing it as he does to determine if this is a ruse, and if it is a corpse will search it for clues as to its demise.

We were told the cacti are only dangerous at night so Bolo will take a sample from one of the stalks to use as a conduit for search patterns.

Turtle will wait like he's told, but he watches Bolo with protective caution, keeping a nose and ear to their surroundings.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Merin asks San-Bolo:

"Is the body a tribesman? Or does it look like a commoner, from a village or a city?"

Merin is wary and watchful, as is Tor; Tor has his bow out, and an arrow already nocked, but without putting any tension on the bowstring.

 

[MacConnell]

Examining the Hollow

OOC: Take a good look around first to see if anyone is watching. If nothing else is discovered San-Bolo will creep towards the body first. Turtle is told to wait behind in reserve. When they draw near to the body Bolo will stay back and keep watch with an arrow knocked. Sannit will approach the corpse, observing it as he does to determine if this is a ruse, and if it is a corpse will search it for clues as to its demise.

GM: Neither seeing nor sensing any others in the area, Sannit moves in to examine the corpse of the person. Walking by the 4 jackal carcasses, it is obvious these were killed by the deadly cacti before the pack learned to move on. The dead person was struck by the dart-like cactus seeds but they did not kill him. He was obviously already dead before being ceremoniously thrown into the vale. His body has been painted with symbols and he has a wound in his abdomen and one on his throat that were definitely caused by weaponry. Sannit lets Merin and the others know that the naked corpse is male and appears to be Faethrin, possibly Rhein.

OOC: We were told the cacti are only dangerous at night so Bolo will take a sample from one of the stalks to use as a conduit for search patterns.

GM: Using a cut portion of one of the leaves, for the dead stalks are useless, Bolo confirms that Raven's idea may be correct. He stated that this species usually lived farther south where the desert was more sandy. Bolo finds no sign of any others of this type in the area.

OOC: As Sannit moves into the vale, Sheldon and Indigo circumnavigate it looking for tracks. Much of the immediate area has been obscured by the recent activity of the pack of jackals, but moving farther out in the direction of the southeast, they come across the barefooted prints of several people coming to and returning from the vale. The prints seem to indicate that the people were burdened when approaching and lightened when returning. A good sign that they carried the corpse in. The prints continue on around the small hill.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Tor says to Sheldon and Indigo: "Ah, good work. I think we should follow those tracks. I think we'll find these headhunters we've heard so much about. Those wounds on the corpse are obviously from ceremonial weaponry, which means this person was an unwilling sacrifice, and probably either a captive or a slave. A willing victim would simply have walked into the vale, allowing the darts to hit him."

Merin nods. "Agreed, we should follow the tracks, but I want to sketch a copy of the painted symbols first. That might provide us with important information, if we show it to the right people."

 

[Kwargrow]

Sannit nods and says, "I agree to follow the tracks. There's no reason they should expect anyone to follow them."

Bolo says, "Periodically we should do searches for people using each other as conduits."

OOC: can it be assumed we use conduits now if we know we have it?

Turtle sniffs the jackals and shakes his head. Sometimes the life circle moves in strange ways. The humans were of course interested more in the dead human.

 

[MacConnell]

Following the Tracks

Merin nods. "Agreed, we should follow the tracks, but I want to sketch a copy of the painted symbols first. That might provide us with important information, if we show it to the right people."

GM: Merin quickly sketches the symbols. They are rudimentary and very poorly done, appearing to be pictograms rather than any attempt at writing.

Bolo says, "Periodically we should do searches for people using each other as conduits."

OOC: can it be assumed we use conduits now if we know we have it?

GM: Yes, using conduits when they are available will now be a given.

GM: After a short distance, the tracks blur. Standing back and looking at the scene as a whole instead of the specific track, it becomes evident that this is a regularly used trail. It could even be followed at night with good moonlight. A likely task by the headhunters since the cactus blooms only at night and only at the first of the rain season.

OOC: The Seekers come to the conclusion that despite the inconvenience of having to dry themselves, the rains have allowed them the opportunity to hunt the headhunters, which might not have otherwise been possible.

GM: After traveling just outside the range of the first search, the group stops to check for people again and is rewarded for the effort. There seems to be 10 people grouped together in a small area a short distance ahead.