Cormorant, at this point, can think of nothing else to do other than continue to attempt to hit the lizard with a hammer. He knows that Britta is down but cannot break away to go to her. Quickly moving closer to Kuwaia, Sprthnt changes mystical tactics, and throws a piece of coal at the iguana from only a step away, causing the lump to heat as he releases it. Kuwaia sees her heartmate but must focus on her enemy, continuing to fight with her swords. Realizing the danger that Britta is in, Cina runs to her her aid.
The two remaining iguanids snip at their opponents, but neither is able to make an effective bite. Cina reaches Britta in time to save her life and begins to treat her injury. Kuwaia continues to be able to hit her lizard but not with enough skill to cut through its deflective hide. Cormorante smacks his again with his hammer, causing it to become a little more confused. The piece of coal from Sprthnt strikes the reptile attacking Kuwaia with little force, but the chunk incinerates upon contact, causing a significant burn, which incapacitates the beast.
After the elapse of just over ten seconds, the two iguanids sense their fate, but only the one that had attacked Cormorante is able to run away. The one that had attacked Britta dies from his wounds, and the remaining two are quickly killed, after they can no longer defend themselves.
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
Cormorant immediately goes to Britta. Sprthnt goes to Kuwaia but calls over to Cina. “How is Britta?”
Cina waves her left hand. “It looks like I reached her in time. It will take some time, but she should recover.”
Realizing that Kuwaia is only shaken and will recover on her own, Sprthnt shakes his head, hoping to clear his own confusion. “Some of this meat will likely go to waste, but I will get started cleaning these lizards.”
Cormorante holds the head of Britt in his lap, watching her sleep. Kuwaia builds a fire and Cina helps Sprthnt with the lizards. “We should definitely save these hides.”
Holding the head of his heartmate in his lap, Cormorante can sense that Cina has saved her life but her rate of recovery is yet slow. Adding his own medicinal talent, the time necessary for her to mend is reduced to a little more than 15 hours. This is quite significant when compared to the 220 days it would have taken without the aid of the two.
Together, Sprthnt and Cina are able to expertly clean and process the lizard carcasses. In addition to collecting enough meat for 24 meals, the three hides amount to enough material for 180% coverage. It is also recognized that each pair of thumb claws can augment freedom of movement and physical power for anyone in the party (Motility & Strength +4), and the 6 kidneys can be sacrificed by either Kuwaia or Cina to enhance athletic skill. In the crop of the lizard upon which Cina starts, she discovers a dark blue, opaque stone with streaks of semi-translucent orange running through it, called Twilightstone. If bodily carried by Cormorante, Kuwaia, or Cina, it can augment freedom of movement (Motility +4) and the impetus for the physical function and intellectual cognizance (Cohesion +4).
Cormorante: full wellness
Tunic: 57 - 2 = 55
Britta: full wellness
Tunic: 57
Stones: 20:
Sprthnt: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Kuwaia: full wellness
Mantle: 29
Tunic: 50
Cina: full wellness
Tunic: 58
Arrows: 18: ularin
Coins: 3167 clams
Light Hides: 200 cover: Hinder 3/10 cover, Deflect 4, Soak 2: value 6/10 cover
Standard Hide: 80 cover: Hinder 6/10 cover, Deflect 9, Soak 4, value 8/10 cover
Enameled Elytra: 11 pairs: 20 each
Jeweled Elytra: 6 pairs: 40 each
berserker: 4: 10 clams per measure
bliss: 1: ??
deadly seeds: 3: {Impede x3}: 10 per measure
helplessness: 2: {Impede x3}: 10 per measure
serenity: 1: {Impede x3}: 10 per measure
soothe: 50: 1 per measure
tranquility: 1: 2 per measure
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
Having firmly set themselves to their current course of action, the Sojourners remain near the path that leads through the mountains to the Da’Roneh village, waiting for another assault team to emerge. If after three more Tendays no other raiders are seen, the party will go to South Road Fair to trade their hides.
Sprthnt says, “I would consider it callous to try to destroy the Da’Roneh, even though their inherent nature is malevolent, because I think this would make us no better than they, but I see no problem with eliminating their attack forces.”
Cormorant nods. “I like you thinking on this. We are going at the problem but still giving the people a chance to amend their ways.”
Twenty days of local exploration pass before another caravan is seen arriving from Asylim. This delay takes the party into the Chilling Season; but in the Land’s End Pass, no change in the weather can be noticed. The banner for this one is marked with the symbol for a cotton blossom. The symbol looks like a clover, but that herb does not grow in the Southern Region. It is later learned that this symbol indicates a caravan sponsored by the Highlands. Though the Sojourners think that they are prepared, no war party comes from the mountains to attempt a raid.
Another Tenday passes, which brings a recognizable caravan up from Asylim. This one is the Salt caravan headed by Mishka. This one has been attacked before, but no one arrives to rob it this time. It is a good indication that the Da’Roneh have lost a significant amount of competent Ravens so that they are no longer staging raids. As had been previously discussed as an option, no longer expecting raids, the party travels up to South Road Fair with the caravan, arriving 14 days later.
Cormorante: full wellness
Tunic: 57 - 2 = 55
Britta: full wellness
Tunic: 57
Stones: 20:
Sprthnt: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Kuwaia: full wellness
Mantle: 29
Tunic: 50
Cina: full wellness
Tunic: 58
Arrows: 18: ularin
Coins: 3167 clams
Light Hides: 200 cover: Hinder 3/10 cover, Deflect 4, Soak 2: value 6/10 cover
Standard Hide: 80 cover: Hinder 6/10 cover, Deflect 9, Soak 4, value 8/10 cover
Enameled Elytra: 11 pairs: 20 each
Jeweled Elytra: 6 pairs: 40 each
Iguana Kidneys: 6: {Athleticism x4}
berserker: 4: 10 clams per measure
bliss: 1: ??
deadly seeds: 3: {Impede x3}: 10 per measure
helplessness: 2: {Impede x3}: 10 per measure
serenity: 1: {Impede x3}: 10 per measure
soothe: 50: 1 per measure
tranquility: 1: 2 per measure
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
Having made some plans to trade the collected hides, Cormorant discusses his desire to also trade his sharkskin mantle and replace his quilted tunic with one made from some of the iguana hide. Based on the manner in which he and Kuwaia engage in combat, she thinks that the same exchange would also be to her benefit. “Granted yes, these alike garments that we wear give us a recognizable status; but at this point, we are engaging enemies that are better equipped than we are. We need to improve some of our gear.”
Kuwaia responds, “I agree.”
Britta then makes a suggestion. “If our trade here proves profitable, we should go to Bergbaulager to see about improving our weaponry. When we decide to go back to Asylim, for whatever information we want to share, we should look like a force to be reckoned with.”
Cina smiles at the thought. Sprthnt comments. “I like the thinking, here.”
During the discourse for the exchange of hides for manufactured tunics, Britta proves to be the best at negotiation, having now exceeded the skill of Zephyr. As expert craftsmen, Swift Raven and Fallen Leaf know the value of their work, but both are instinctively benevolent and favor youths who are trying to establish a good reputation for themselves. They agree to exchange all of the hides and the mantles for the manufacture of the two tunics, which are expertly fitted to their wearers. The manufacturing process takes three days to complete. The two also attach their signature tabs to the armor, as they always do, so that others can see who is responsible for the manufacturing.
Though it was almost an oversight, the party also sells its collected elytra. Though the hide exchange did not leave anything for further negotiation, the party still has a good amount of coin and considers the trip to Bergbaulager to be warranted. Cormorante has some skill for hunting, but he is not skilled in the use of a projectile, nor does he have any talent to mystically affect a target at a distance. He maintains the camp and the fire each evening, setting snares to provide adequate food, while the others search for things of commercial value and Zephyr hunts for larger game.
As it is now in the Chilling Season, no useful plant materials can be located, other than the possibility of lighter pine, which is not particularly needed. It normally takes nine days to walk from South Road Fair to Bergbaulager, but five days to reach Pear Grove, a Spiofthest village, which is along the same path. The party is welcomed by the Spiofthests and offered lodging for the night. As pears are far from being in season and no business is needed with the Faethrins, the party continues into the mountains the following morning. During this leg of the journey, Britta locates a bright red, translucent stone, called Burnstone, about the size of a thumb knuckle, with streaks of semi-translucent yellow running through it, making it look like flame when held to a light source. It seems valuable but is, as yet, of no use to anyone in the party. She also locates a translucent, iridescent stone, about the size of a thumb knuckle, called Opal. It too appears valuable. After further ascending along the path, she locates a single ingot of silver and a vein of aluminum. The location of the vein will be of value to the Maldrogs.
Cormorante: full wellness
Tunic: 57 - 2 = 55
Britta: full wellness
Tunic: 57
Stones: 20:
Zephyr: full wellness
Tunic: 59
Kitarra: full wellness
Mantle: 29
Tunic: 50
Cina: full wellness
Tunic: 58
Arrows: 18: ularin
aluminum: 9: {electrocute x3}: 5 clams
chromium: 15: {compulsion x3}: 10 clams each
iron: 6: {electrocute x2}: 5 clams each
magnesium: 8: 5 clams each
manganese: 1: {leech x3}
nickel: 11: {electrocute x4}: 10 clams each
molybdenum: 11: {compulsion or electrocute x4}: 15 clams each
silver: 1: ??
zinc: 16: {restore x3}: 10 clams each
Crystal Oasis: Shimadow village
Tranquility cluster
Crystal River: Maldrog village
Dragon’s Footprint: Da’Roneh village
Land’s End Pass: Tranquility cluster
Artisan Caravan: Vyerbluth: Caravan Master
Salt Caravan: Mishka: Caravan Master
OOC:
Each of the characters receives 9 DP. State nominal actions and intentions and provide 2 random rolls.
Arriving in Bergbaulager, the party elected to stay for several days, then decided to explore the area for a bit. Days became season and seasons became cycles, but the Sojourners never returned to Asylim. It was decided that the only way to affect some significant change to the oppressed region would be to become part of the evil that they were striving against.
This realization brought about a sense of futility to their actions. Cormorante and Britta decided to stay in Bergbaulager and neither was ever far from the other’s side. The two were immeasurably compatible despite the fact that they could not bear children together. Cormorante was accepted into the Maldrog community as if he had been one of their own.
Zephyr, Kitarra, and Cina, continued to adventure and explore places unknown. No one knew their fate and their identities were lost with the passage of time. Though it is said that time changes all things, it really only degrades what is visible. The world continued on just as it was. Magisters grew old and died to be replaced by other vindictive Magisters. The Kingdom of West Cove descended back into its repressive separatist ideology. On a good note, the militaristic dictatorship of East Port failed, and the Hebrian people returned to their older ideology. A new philosopher king rose to power and established a new dynasty. Only Boga City seemed to remain unaltered in any manner.
