The Untamed Wilds: Caravan Campaign

[Kwargrow]

Sannit will also help search the bodies while Bolo and Turtle do a quick scouting of the surrounding area. Sannit will inspect the armor to determine if it was made by the headhunters or if it was scavenged.

 

[MacConnell]

The Spoils of War

GM: Bolo, Sannit, and Turtle receive 15 XP for the encounter.

Sannit will also help search the bodies while Bolo and Turtle do a quick scouting of the surrounding area. Sannit will inspect the armor to determine if it was made by the headhunters or if it was scavenged.

GM: Sannit, too, finds nothing of monetary value. All of the Headhunters armor is still intact, as none of it was damaged during the quick fight. Due to the physical nature of the Headhunters, the armor as it is will only fit Merin, Bolo, and Indigo. Everyone else is too large.

OOC: Possible Armor Collection: 10 Pair Warthog Hide Bracers with Tusks: Cover 10: Soak 19: Hindrance 11 10 Warthog Hide Belts with Fur: Cover 10: Soak 11: Hindrance 5 10 Hog Hide Skirts with Fur: Cover 30: Soak 10: Hindrance 15

GM: Indigo helps move the bodies away from the campsite and the well-used trail, as well as helping strip them of any desired items. Sheldon Joins Merin in his search of the perimeter, shortly to be joined by Bolo and Turtle. It is plain to see that the trail has been used regularly and likely by more than just by these 10, even without the insistence of Turtle, who keeps a wary nose to the trail. With Bolo and Sheldon, the range is extending to 27 paces, but the result does not change. If there are more, they are not immediately close.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Merin asks everyone collectively, "What's our next move? Do we track the other headhunters to their village, or do we return to Southroad, and tell Giodavi what we've found out here?"

 

[Kwargrow]

After the post battle chores are done Sannit says to the group, "I also think that was too easy, but it might be all the practice we've been getting is allowing us to progress quicker than we realize. We should follow the trail and at least locate where the village is. I wouldn't like to do anymore fighting if we don't have to, but hoping that the rest of the tribe will be more civilized isn't realistic."

Bolo is careful not to let Turtle consume any of their opponents. She looks over the scavenged armor and says, "I'm not wearing any of that, but we should bring some pieces back for Giodavi." She picks up one bracer and inspects the add on tusks. "They are improving their armor much the same way we are. Perhaps we could convince them that being trade partners with Southroad Fair is much preferable to being enemies."

Turtle helps drag the bodies and search around, obeying Bolo's command not to eat any of those weaklings. He keeps watch while the humans do their talking.

 

[MacConnell]

Discussing the Matter

After the post battle chores are done Sannit says to the group, "I also think that was too easy, but it might be all the practice we've been getting is allowing us to progress quicker than we realize. We should follow the trail and at least locate where the village is. I wouldn't like to do anymore fighting if we don't have to, but hoping that the rest of the tribe will be more civilized isn't realistic."

Sheldon returns to one of the bodies after looking over the trail. He takes some of the water from his skin and washes away the painted on mud. He then stands and addresses the group.

As a child in Boga City, before my folks joined the caravan, I remember seeing many tribes of peoples, more than we have yet encountered as hostile. With the charcoal hue of their skin rather than something closer to coffee, I know these to be Feathrins of the Kaalatala tribe. The Kaalatala as a whole is not like this. There is something wrong with this particular clan. Something has affected them so as to alter their minds. I do not know what the source of this alteration could be, but it is something that really ought to be eliminated. I think Raven, the Tanner, might have some knowledge of this, like maybe he's seen it before in his past.

He continues,

As far as the gear is concerned, it can't be worth that much. I'm perfectly okay with leaving them covered and leaving it behind. For some reason, I also get the impression that we should burn the bodies.

On a completely separate note, I think Giodavi was more interested in seeing if we could locate that copper deposit.

 

[Kwargrow]

Sannit grins and holds up a copper ingot. "I was getting to that." He also does a search for gold and silver as usual.

Bolo keeps the tusk bracers anyway, putting them in her pack, not wearing them. "They will make a nice memento," she remarks. She looks at the group. "Should we use way to burn them?"

Sannit speaks up, "Wait until I'm done searching. I don't want to be stuck here smelling that."

Turtle nudges Bolo, letting her know he's hungry.

 

[MacConnell]

Sannit grins and holds up a copper ingot. "I was getting to that." He also does a search for gold and silver as usual.

GM: Searching for precious metals results in faint traces of copper, but nothing of significance. Searching for practical metals reveals faint traces of iron and moderate traces of tin, but nothing of significance.

Bolo keeps the tusk bracers anyway, putting them in her pack, not wearing them. "They will make a nice memento," she remarks. She looks at the group. "Should we use way to burn them?"

Sannit speaks up, "Wait until I'm done searching. I don't want to be stuck here smelling that."

Turtle nudges Bolo, letting her know he's hungry.

OOC: Once searches are completed, available wood is gathered and the corpses are burned. The party moves away before breaking for lunch.

GM: Having carried the quartz crystal for a couple of days, Bolo realizes that it increases her willpower. Quartz: White, semi-clear crystal: Will +1

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

"Something has affected them so as to alter their minds. I do not know what the source of this alteration could be, but it is something that really ought to be eliminated. I think Raven, the Tanner, might have some knowledge of this, like maybe he's seen it before in his past."

Tor nods his head in agreement. "Many clans enjoy a good fight, and take pride in having prowess in battle. My people are no exception. But no one who is right in the head attacks in the manner that these people did, without thought, and fights to the death, even when the situation is hopeless. It is very strange, indeed."

Merin adds, "At first, I thought perhaps that they were xenophobic, distrusting outsiders, but Tor is correct, attacking without purpose the way they did is not normal. Xenophobes would have hidden themselves from us, and spied on us, and planned an attack, if they deemed it necessary. But this? This makes no sense. I worry that someone might be manipulating them, or even outright controlling them, through the use of Way. I agree with Sheldon, I think we should talk to Raven about this. And if they are not being controlled, I wonder if they are under the influence of some sort of herb, such as mushrooms, black lotus, or mandrake?"

OOC: My apologies for not posting sooner, this has been a busy weekend for me, and yesterday evening, when I normally would have had time to post, I was wrapped up watching the Superbowl and screaming my head off, cheering for the Patriots. Heh heh.

 

[MacConnell]

Continuing to Follow the Trail

GM: Having carried the quartz crystal for a couple of days, Merin realizes that it increases his willpower. Quartz: White, semi-clear crystal: Will +1

OOC: After a short lunch, the Seekers continue to follow the path. Another hour passes uneventfully and then Tor, who is the tallest, notices activity a few miles ahead, higher up in the hills. It appears a natural crag is being used as housing for more of this clan. Based on the terrain and trying to stay unseen, it appears to be another hour distant.

GM: At this observation point, no other people are detected in the area, but the collective range is still quite short. (52 paces = ~312') It is approximately 100 times this distance to the cave.

 

[Kwargrow]

Bolo says, "We should sneak closer and use way to determine how many are in the cave and their state of mind. If they are animalistic like the last group, then our decision is easy."

Sannit nods. "If they are expecting the others to return, then they might have lookouts posted outside. We should be as cautious as we can."

Turtle can feel the tension mounting in the group again. He had no idea being a human was such an interesting life.