Fireday, movement week Storm Season 1617: Chief Gordangar summons the members of the raiding party to the clan long hall. Iskalla, Red and Harmast are the only ones nearby and you arrive at the hall more or less together. He has literally just arrived back from a meeting of the tribal leaders with King Kangarl at Clearwine Fort (the tribal seat), he is visibly angry and still caked in dust and mud from the journey. Your fears that he is somehow angry at you are quickly dispelled.

“Greetings Harmast my son, Iskalla Ruriksdottir and Angor Rudsson”, the most surprising thing is that he has used Red’s real name rather than calling him Red like everyone usually does.

“Evil plans are being brewed in Clearwine. The king intends to break the oaths of my father to a loyal thane of the House of Sartar. My father promised to protect Gringle; we Orlmarthings will not foreswear our ancestor’s oaths! I want you to ride immediately to Apple Lane and warn Gringle Goodsell that the king has proclaimed him outside of tribal protection and that an attack on him has been planned. I can lend you some horses and you should gather your friends and head off as soon as you can. Do you have any questions?”.

In reply to dashing (msg # 1):

Who is planning to attack, and who is on our side?  or are we on our own with Gringle?

We need to get Ulf and Mica quickly.
Are we sending men to help,  or is it just us?

Who is planning the attack?

“A Lunar witch named Erianda recently arrived from Boldhome; she is a frightening one. Half of her is blue like a corpse, the other half red like Shepelkirt [the Orlanthi name for the Red Moon]. After she arrived at Clearwine, the king proclaimed that Gringle is not under the protection of the Colymar tribe; he is, in effect, an outlaw and can be killed without consequence. I suspect she plans to take his silver and kill one of the last remaining friends of the House of Sartar. The king told one of his thanes, Darsten Black Oak, to aid the Lunar witch. He likely will gather some mercenaries and members of his Taraling clan to drive Gringle off, take his property, and perhaps kill him”.

Who is on our side or are we on our own with Gringle?

“I would imagine Gringle will have some retainers, but once his outlawry is known you can expect no help from any in the tribe”.

Are we sending men to help, or is it just us?

“I am sending just you, warn Gringle; get him out of Apple Lane and out of the reaches of King Kangarl. Do not kill the Lunar witch, for the Lunars’ retribution against our clan would be terrible and long-lasting. Do not kill Darsten or any members of the Taraling clan, for that would get us into a feud with King Kangarl. You will need cleverness and speed at least as much as strength and power”.

We need to get Ulf and Mica quickly.

If you wish you can wait here for them as they were summoned too, but they live outside of Old Man Village. Feel free to ask the Chief more questions whilst you wait, or perhaps there are other things you can do to prepare?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:52, Sat 09 Jan 2021.

In reply to Chief Gordangar (msg # 3):

Thank you Sire,  we will get out stuff together, and get going as quickly as possible.

I will gather my sword and other things and head to the stables,  Iskalla and Angor should come along too.

I will get some of the stick pickers to find Ulf/Mica as quickly as possible, and ask them to come along,  assuming they are able to ride.  Let them know where we are going, so that they can catch us up if we have to leave first.  Let us gather what we need - but nothing too heavy.

How far is Apple Lane?  assume we will need food and water so we are ready for what ever we need to do at the other end of the trip

[He’s only a chieftain and he’s also your father so “father” and “Chief” are both acceptable modes of address]

Done, everyone gathers their stuff. As you are done asking questions Mica and Ulf show up with Angara in tow wondering what’s going on. [Angara can stay or go as @Mica wish. He’s a weaponthane of the clan so a good man to have in a tight corner, conversely his response to problems is likely to be to hit them or run away from them in typical Orlanthi fashion ].

Riding is part of the Orlmarth keyword [the clan acquired that skill during the clan generation – so good choice!].

Apple Lane is about a day’s ride from here. The chief has supplied riding tack, food and water as well as the horses so you are all ready to go.

Unless someone has something more they need to do you can set off.

In reply to dashing (msg # 5):

Ok folks, if no one has anything to do - lets get going - and just keep an eye out for anyone monitoring our progress.

I'll give everyone a day to comment...

In reply to dashing (msg # 5):

Mica bows to Angara: "Sire, I would deem it a great boon if you would aid us in this task."
He agrees to join them, and Mica beams with pleasure.
"I must do the Goose Dance to bring us fortune, but I must do it alone."  She rushes off into the forest, and returns a short time later bearing her goose-feathered totem .

Again he's not a sire, he's an equal (but of higher social standing!).

He'll tag along then.

In reply to dashing (msg # 9):

I am going to do a prayer to Orlanth to be safeguarded on our trip and when we are ready head out, with Fyri scouting ahead for any suspicious people

Ready when you all are

I'll gather some herbs - poisons that sicken or knock someone out and others that can soothe wounds then I'm ready.

NP

I'm feeling generous have a +3 lingering benefit on any rolls to do with travelling.

OK, I am feeling generous here too, have a +3 lingering benefit on using herbs.

The party (Harmast, Fyri, Iskalla, Ulf, Mica and Angara) head North riding out of the settled lands around Old Man Village swiftly. You pass Orane’s Loom a holy site of Ernalda and the Guardian Woods before entering the lands bordered by the dangerous Colymar Wilds. The narrow path squeezes between the Nymie River (which rises in the Woods of the Wilds and the Starfire Ridges).

Unexpectedly upon turning a corner you come across eight odd figures standing motionless. They appear as if frozen in the middle of a dance or magic ritual.

The hairs on the back of your neck start to rise as you realise these are Dragonewts, kin to the great dragons and therefore something you’ve been brought up to hate and fear. The Dragons have been enemies and betrayers of the Orlanthi since the Godtime.

There are three smaller “scouts”, three larger "warriors" towering even over a man and two slightly smaller with elaborate crests. They wear no clothing and seem to have limited equipment, some odd weaponry hangs at their sides.

Suddenly they start to move and dance, whirling pirouettes and graceful leaps, all without a sound. You can feel a magical charge in the air.

What do you do?

In reply to dashing (msg # 15):

I'll draw my daggers ready.

Do I recognise the dance or form of dance, if not the specifics? I'll hiss 'Mica, do you recognise this dance? Is it to call a spirit?'
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:29, Sat 16 Jan 2021.

The Dragonewts compeltely ignore you (and your daggers).

Nope, it's like nothing you've seen before. Amongst other things the way Dragonewts are put together is different to humans so their limbs can bend in...odd ways.

Mica hasn't seen anything likie this before either.

In reply to dashing (msg # 17):

Ok, I'm just waiting cautiously, watching then, unless ordered otherwise by Harmast.

In reply to Ulf Skommson (msg # 18):

Well, hate and fear -that sounds bad.

Could we get around them without being seen?  Getting the message there is what we need to do more than win a battle, but Harmast would like the glory.

Harmast asks Angara if he has seen this sort of thing before?

Gut feel is to disrupt this ritual -  am I sensing Chaos being generated? but it also feels like we are out numbered, but could we take one or two down with a bow to even the numbers?  It would be the elaborate ones I thing we should take out in case they are magic users.

All very good points:

Dragons (and their kin) have been enemies of the Orlmarth since before Time began! They have opposed Orlanth at every turn. They are not Chaos and do not want the destruction of the world but they do want to turn it into something that would be completely inhospitable to you, your way of life and possibly even all humanity! The only good that has come from them is when Orlanth defeats them such as when Orlanth defeated the dragon Aroka and freed Heler the rain God.

Getting around, is slightly tricky, the woods are think here and you are on horses which don’t take well to brambles and the like. It might be easiest to wait out whatever the weird creatures are doing and leave, or just to plough through them.

No chaos is being generated – Dragons are not great but they are not chaotic. You are outnumbered and all these creatures look pretty competent. The three smaller ones could probably be swatted aside but they have slings and such. The three larger ones look more than a match 1 on 1 for each of you. All look pretty tough and it will probably take more than one shot to take them down.

Angara says

"I have seen Dragonewts several times, they are always doing crazy things like this. It's best not to anger them as they are wicked fighters, but sometimes they just go away. They are strange. I hate them, they killed and skinned a shepherd I knew once and left his body amongst the sheep!"

In reply to Angara Danovan (msg # 21):

Aw spit - We make sure we are ready in case of attack, but I think we wait it out.  If it is more that 20 mins  and see if it looks like they are finishing.  I think I will start getting concerned that we are blocked, and we may have to ask if we can pass?  Everyone agree

Based on the understanding, and the task ahead, we cant afford to be ripped up by them, and that is what I am hearing will happen.  If Fyri can feel anything on the spirit plain that we should worry about,  or do some overhead reconnaissance that would be good too.

Good call.

Fyri is a bit bemused, why don't we all fly round them? You point out the horses and such like. Fyri continues to be confused.

After a 15 minute ballet performance the dragonewts suddenly stop, turn North and head off. Weird creatures.

You give the dragonewts five minutes to clear off and then head off along the narrow trail. Soon you see a fortified and very defensible stead to the left of the path. This belongs to Asborn Thriceborn, a famous Storm Voice of Orlanth still loyal to Queen Leika. A few mounted huscarls shadow you as head up the path past his stead.

Is there anything you’d like to do?

In reply to dashing (msg # 24):

Harmast, do we want to pay our respects here and request audience?

In reply to Ulf Skommson (msg # 25):

I am not convinced that anyone is on our side at this point.  I think that a friendly wave, and continuing on, skirting the lands as much as we can is the order of the day.  It feels like speed is important for this, and I dont want to mess up what I am doing it for

A fair assessment.

Asborn Thriceborn is a sworn enemy of the Empire. He got this thrice after being killed during Starbrow's rebellion [people may have noticed me calling him Twiceborn in the other thread]. So he'll definitely be inclined to help against Lunars. On the other hand as you say speed may well be of the essence...

In reply to dashing (msg # 27):

We can call on the way back - we go on. If we are intercepted we tell them that we have an urgent message that we need to carry regarding Lunar Subterfuge, but we will be happy to provide our greetings to The Twiceborn on the way back.  Assuming we make it!

Well he's Thriceborn now :-)

OK, I'll post up the next stage of the journey probably tomorrow.

You ride on waving to the huscarls as you go. One of them waves back slowly but the others just watch you go. You skirt round the Northern end of the Colymar Wilds avoiding the village of Swan which his further North and picking up the well-used track heading east late in the afternoon. After a short ride you start passing through well-kept apple orchards before coming to the little hamlet of Apple Lane.

Entering the village in the twilight there is a well ahead and the path divides. Ahead behind the well and entered from the Southern path is a large building with an odd tin roof. To the South is what appears to be a stables or something similar. To the North some non-descript buildings, and there are a few more beyond either way. There’s not many people around, presumably all at their supper. There is however, what appears to be a farmer of some sort heading towards you from the Southern fork.

The air of the place is peaceful.



What would you like to do?

In reply to dashing (msg # 30):

Great the farmer, and ask him where we can find his lord

The farmer laughs and assumes you are joking but goes along with it: "I am a free man of the Hiordings. My name is Orstalor, sometimes called the "Upright" he laughs.

You all introduce yourselves (as is right and proper), the Greeting complete the farmer seems to be more than happy to chat. He's a local farmer, a carl (above cottar - which you shepherds are :-) and below thanes like Angara) of the Hiording clan he is relatively wealthy and no doubt head of his stead and possibly bloodline. He's apparently been here selling some produce and catching up on gossip i nthe local "inn".

There's no lord here as such but Dronlan Swordsharp is Thane and acts as sheriff (local law enforcer for the Colymar tribe). His house is just to the North.

What else do you want to know?

In reply to dashing (msg # 32):

Well we have been asked by our clan chief to pass on his regards to Gringle at Apple Lane on our journey.  Are you able to tell me where we may find him.

Also, we saw some odd Dragon Newts,  has he seen anything unusual on his journey?

"Gringle Goodsell you're after you say? Well that's his pawnshop behind me" he indicates over his shoulder at a large sturdy looking building opposite the inn. "You won't get him there today, or any day. The best thing is to go into the Tin Inn and let them know that you want to see him. They'll send word to him".

"Dragonewts you say?" He actually looks impressed at this. "They are weird critters, dangerous too by all accounts. There's one of them 'plinths' on top of the Rainbow Mounds away up North from here. They say if you touch it an army of 'newts shows up and cuts you to pieces".

[A brief aside on directions: Gloranthans don't really use North, South etc. and they certainly don't mean what we mean by them but to avoid confusion by introducing new terms East is towards the sun rise, West towards the sunset, North towards the cold and South towards the hot (and the sea)].

In reply to dashing (msg # 34):

Thank you sir,  this is big help.  CIf I have to go to the Tin Inn, can I get you a drink as a thank you?

And is there somewhere we can stable the horses?

An aside to Ulf and someone else to use that opportunity to have a look around and see what he can see, to check if there is anything odd? To check out the shrines behind the big building and to the North?

Orstalor is more than happy to share a drink at your expense, he's also more than happy to let you know all about Apple Lane or at least what he knows.

The inn has somewhere to keep horses within its walls so they should be very safe.

[You can now access the map of the hamlet: https://kanka.io/en/campaign/39663/maps/9524]

The Tin Inn is a two-storied stone and timber inn with outbuildings and a stone wall surrounding the courtyard; the buildings are tin roofed, giving it its name. It is a well-established (and well-fortified) roadhouse on a frequently traveled route, and almost always has visitors. It is the only tavern for a day’s journey beyond; residents of Apple Lane and outlying farmers normally congregate at the inn.

Bulster the Brewer, a Malani tribesman famous for his beer and ale, and his wife, Bertha, run this fortified inn. Brightflower, their 18 year old daughter, helps out with her husband Kerad of Jonstown. Bulster says he'll get word to Gringle.

You all order some beers and settle down to gossip. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know about?

Meanwhile Ulf slips away unnoticed as normal, Iskalla heads off trying to look as inconspicuous as a redheaded warrior woman can...  Where would you both like to go?

In reply to dashing (msg # 36):

Mica goes for a wander, making low goose calls as she goes.
She's looking for anything out of the ordinary.
But on the surface, she just looks like a slightly dim Goose Girl talking to herself in GooseTongue.

On the surface?

I'll respond separately consolidating what everyone finds out. Apple Lane is peaceful and frankly bucolic so you can fairly easily compare notes afterwards.

As is always the case the party promptly splits up and starts pocking it’s various noses into parts liable to get them bitten off.

Ulf and Iskalla: Opposite the Tin Inn and slightly to the left is Gringle’s Pawnshop a 2 storey stone building which looks very robust, indeed better built than the log cabins that you are used to. The second storey is much smaller than the first. It’s pretty bleak looking with only one window on the second storey and a solid looking front door.

Opposite and slightly to the right is an even more robust stone building, it’s smaller than the pawnshop and has not visible windows at all. There is a brass bound front door. It has an unusual looking pyramid shaped stone roof.

Heading off clockwise round the village There are two buildings with a paddock behind with a few horses in. Presumably a horse trader or similar.

You then reach the well and the road you came in on heading off West. You proceed North.

You pass a vegetable patch on the left presumably belonging to the next building which is a more typical stone and timber building. It appears to have been painted once but the paint has mostly peeled away. Next is some form of barn and a paddock and opposite to your right is an unusual looking small temple apparently to Uleria the Goddess of Love. It too is a 2 storey stone building. Some round here loves stone! This goddess is ancient and predates (if that is the right word) your own Gods as she was a deity of the “Cosmic Council” that helped create the world. Very unusual to see such a deity worshipped here! The temple appears closed now.

Beyond the Temple to Uleria is another non-descript building looking slightly tired.

You are now on the East side of the village and the second largest building (after the inn) presents itself. Another temple but it’s not at all clear to whom this temple has been dedicated. It also has two stories and made of stone. With a wooden tower. Again it appears shut up for the evening.

Lastly to your left there’s what appears to be a smithy of some sort. Closer examination shows it’s not a normal redmith (bronze worker) as it appears to have some unusual runes etc. around the place. Interesting!

Mica: you glean the above but in largely reverse order. You don’t understand or care much about the redsmith. The most interesting thing is the Temple to Uleria. It’s hard to say exactly but she’s like the Grandmother or perhaps the great grandmother of all the birds in the world, clearly a holy place of the first order! There are plenty of fowl wandering around the place and they impart to you what information they have:

• This is some kind of heaven as there seems to be endless food and safety from most predators (this is a fairly normal view of domestic fowl of anywhere they live with people so not that interesting really;
• The holy place is indeed a holy place. Apparently it’s the best place to ahem ensure that one’s eggs are fertilised;
• The most dangerous thing here is, apparently, the small humans who keep making off with the eggs.

For anyone interested you can now see the Apple Lane map here: https://kanka.io/en/campaign/39663/maps/9524

The map has slightly more information than I've given but I don't think that's a problem.

Meanwhile in the Tin Inn:

Orstalor with a few beers inside him becomes even more voluble feel free to ask pretty much anything you like and Orstalor will give you his opinion.

The other people in the inn:

• The brewer, his wife and various employees;
• Various other local farmer types;
• A chap hunched in a corner nursing a beer who does not look very local;
• An older man with a scribe like air about him eating his dinner; and
• A fairly rowdy group who seem to have formed a caravan for safe travelling laughing and joking together.

Any thoughts/questions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Sun 07 Feb 2021.

In reply to dashing (msg # 39):

I'll keep an eye on the chap nursing his beer.

In reply to Mica the Goose Dancer (msg # 40):

I also thing the rowdy group seem too good to be true.
(Which of course means that the real villain is the 'businessman' - but I'll concentrate on Mr Moody)

In reply to dashing (msg # 39):

Does the Brewer or Ostralor know who the guy in the corner is? And the scribe?

In reply to dashing (msg # 39):

Ulf will check out the large temple, which is difficult to determine to which God it's dedicated. I'll look all round it, are there no runes or any other signs which could indicate which God it's for? Could I get into it?

I don't want to cause a lot of damage to get in but is there a slightly open window I could open further or a poorly locked door or similar?

In reply to Ulf Skommson (msg # 43):

"It's a bird coop, Ulf." whispers Mica. "But be careful."

Then she marches up to Harmast, sitting next to Iskalla, as if she has a bone to pick with him. She points vehemently at Iskalla as she hisses so that only he and she can hear: "Don't you think that it might be a good idea if, instead of individually blundering around on our own, one of you took charge and formulated a plan?"

She tosses her head as if they have just had an argument and flounces off to sulk in the corner, close to the man nursing his drink (but not so close that she has to talk to him).

Orstalor has no clue "someone from out of town whose been hanging around for some time".

When Bulster the Brewer comes over to take your order you ask and he says "That's Pramble, he lives here. I think he's a poet. Squinch? yes he works for Gringle, has done since before I setup here".

As Mica is not so good with people compared with birds after a while the chap starts looking back at her and scowling.

Good questions!

There are lots of runes, rather too many in fact! It's like all of them are up there apart from the obvious ones (Chaos and so forth). The door is pretty firmly shut now and the windows are up high and none noticecably open. Sadly war torn Sartar leads even quietly bucolic places like Apple Lane to build as though someone is about to attack.

The only way in would be to break something and breaking and entering a temple is usually a good way to attract spirits of reprisal and angry templekeepers. That said it is getting a bit late now.

What would you like to do?

In reply to dashing (msg # 46):

Mica gives him a horrible smile, wanders out the door and settles down in the shadows, waiting to see whether anyone from the too-good-to-be-true roistering party sneaks out.

If they do, she will use her hunting skills to follow them without being spotted.

Ulf will head back towards the bar/inn then but wait outside to observe those who leave and where they go off to - a bit more openly than Mica, I'm not trying to hide or follow anyway just have information for reporting back to Harmast.

I probably didn’t explain how the Inn is laid out: there are in fact four buildings connected by wooden walls: the main “inn” (let’s call it the “tavern” to avoid confusing with the whole complex), a bunkhouse, a stables and a store room. There’s also a couple of outhouses. The main double gates lead into the courtyard that these form. There’s a certain amount of constant traffic between the various buildings as you would expect somewhere like this. When Mica and Ulf suggest going outside, is that to lurk outside the tavern part, or outside the main gates?

As an aside the gates are still open despite it being dark. You guess the innkeeper leaves them open for latecomers and perhaps closes them when everyone retires.

In reply to dashing (msg # 50):

Mica wanders back into the main tavern and pauses nonchalantly next to Harmast.
"Has anyone actually tried telling the barman that we'd like to get a message to Wotsisname" she whispers.

Then she wanders back out of the Tavern and settles down in the shadows outside, where she can keep an eye on both the main gate and anyone coming out of the Tavern building.  If there's a side gat and she can keep that in vision too, without giving her position away she will.
She's interested in anyone leaving the Tavern who looks like they don't want to be followed.
She will, of course, use her hunting skills to follow them unobserved.

In reply to dashing (msg # 50):

Yes, Ulf will be lounging around the courtyard in his usual disgruntled teen (although he's a bit older) manner, to keep an eye on all the comings and goings to report to Harmast.

In reply to Mica the Goose Dancer (msg # 51):


Yes I have, and we are waiting.

I will ask the bartender if he knows how long Gringle may take to get here?

There is no side gate just then main double gate. This place is built to be defensible.

Various characters stagger in and out to the outhouses. Nobody leaves through the main gate.

As with Mica various people use the outhouse, I neglected to mention that there are various "employees" who wander between the main tavern and the various other buildings checking on horses, escorting guests to the bunkhouse and fetching things from the store. Eventually late at night one emerges to close and bar the double gates after checking if anyone is outside.

"Oh young sir, he won't come across himself. He'll send one of his fellows over in the morning to fetch you are your friends to see him. I'm sorry if I did not make that clear earlier.

Now will you and your companions be requiring a room or some bunks for the night?”

In reply to dashing (msg # 56):

Well yes, we will please. Iskalla and Mica, are you ok to share a room? Are there rooms with several beds - or are those the bunks?

In reply to Harmast Gordangarson (msg # 57):

Mica's not there to reply.

She's hidden in the shadows of the courtyard of the inn, sitting cross-legged in a Herder's Trance.  To all intents and purposes, she looks like she's asleep, but she's primed to trigger into full wakefulness the minute one of the flock occupants of the inn moves to pass  through the gate.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:51, Tue 23 Feb 2021.

In reply to Mica the Goose Dancer (msg # 58):

Well, looks like Iskalla can have a room to herself.

Ulf, can you find Mica, and check if she wants a bed - though standing guard would be a good idea if she is ok with that
This message was last edited by the player at 08:32, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

In reply to Harmast Gordangarson (msg # 59):

Ulf's not there either, sorry :) He's observing outside to report later.

You pass a more or less comfortable night. Mica remains in the courtyard which at least saves on a bunk. The rest of you hire a room and crowd in [Just as an aside the Orlanthi have a lot fewer hang ups about the sexes mixing than we do so sharing is not an issue].

In the morning you break your fast (after retrieving Mica who is slightly knackered from a night spent half awake) and the innkeeper advises that someone will be along “shortly”. Time passes and assuming that the party treats everyone with the same degree of suspicion as last night nothing much happens.

Eventually an elderly Durulz (that’s Duck to the ignorant or rude) waddles in and wanders up to the rowdy group and speaks with them for a few moments, they reach some form of agreement and then he wanders over to you introducing himself as Quackjohn:

““My master awaits you at the Pawnshop.”

He doesn’t await a response and turns around and leaves quickly. Scrambling after you see him enter the pawnshop opposite.

On the assumption that you are not nearly as paranoid as you have made yourselves out to be so far I assume you’ll head after him.

The main door is open and you enter immediately descending some 5 steps to the floor of the dingy room. It’s obviously been dug out to put occupants at a disadvantage. Opposite high on the wall (at about sitting level you’d guess for the ground outside) there are a couple of windows in the wall. You could reach up to them if you stretch.

Behind one of the windows is an elderly balding, bearded man. Presumably Gringle himself?

“If you reach up and put whatever you want me to assess on the window ledge and I will let you know how much I can lend against it”.

In reply to dashing (msg # 61):

Mica's not knackered.  She's used to it.  This is no different to keeping watch on the Goose Flock at night.

She hangs back and keeps an eye out for anything untoward from outside.  She assumes that since we were sent here to warn Gringle, he's not going to be the danger.

Hmm, so a day's ride from Old Man Village, time spent being rather alert, paranoid exploring of this little hamlet and staying up all night - I think she's tired.

In reply to dashing (msg # 61):

I will greet the gentleman and ask him if he is Gringle, Tell him I have a private message from my father,  Gordangar, if we can find a private place to talk.

In reply to dashing (msg # 63):

Versus a day gathering shrooms & mistletoe in the woods, rounding up the geese, herding them into a pen and then dozing with half an eye open all night to make sure they don't stray.

All in a day's work for a jobbing goose girl ;0)

I completely agree, it's just when you do something new(ish) like riding all day it's a lot more tiring...

“Kenstrel’s son sent you? So many years have passed. How fares the son of my old friend? You are welcome in my humble home.”

You exchange some pleasantries and a little gossip, Gringle then offers you hospitality and then he invites you up. To the right of the entrance (as you enter) are some stairs leading up to a door. He indicates you should approach it and he leaves and a short while later the door opens into what Gringle calls his fitting room. You pass out of a door to the left into a corridor turning left and immediately passing through another door into the room with the grilles looking down into the Public Room. Gringle calls this his Negotiating room, you note a couple of large crossbows (weird dangerous dwarf technology!) mounted so as to cover the public room. Plenty of trouble for unwanted guests there! You again pass out through a door to the right (the back of the Negotiating room) into another corridor, turning right again into a small hallway and then left through another door into a living room.

His home is enviously decorated with many strange devices and furnishings. Shelves with scrolls line the walls. The Living room even has a fireplace with a chimney – unheard of! Gringle invites you all to make yourselves comfortable in his living room and settles into a chair himself. The Durulz retainer, apparently called Quackjohn is asked to bring some refreshments and a little while later he brings in some exotic food and drink which you find yourselves eating hungrily.

“So why is the son of my old friend send his son to my door?”

In reply to dashing (msg # 67):

I wish I was here with better Tidings, but I have been sent by my father with a warning of danger to yourself.  What I have been told is that a Lunar witch named Erianda recently arrived from Boldhome. Half of her is blue like a corpse, the other half red like Shepelkirt . After she arrived at Clearwine, the king proclaimed that you are not under the protection of the Colymar tribe; you are, in effect, an outlaw and can be killed without consequence.

My father suspect she plans to take your silver and kill one of the last remaining friends of the House of Sartar. The king told one of his thanes, Darsten Black Oak, to aid the Lunar witch. He is expected that he will gather some mercenaries and members of his Taraling clan to drive Gringle off, take your property, and perhaps kill you.

We were sent with all possible speed to warn you of this.  We are trying to avoid issues with the Lunars but we felt that we have a duty to you to make sure you were aware of this, and are prepared if people turn up.

In reply to dashing (msg # 67):

Mica does not follow.

She wanders out into the street and settles down somewhere unobtrusive with a good view of the access routes into Gringle's shop.

As she brushes past Ulf, she whispers: "Listen out for my Goose call.  If you hear it, that means trouble."

“King Blackmoor is a vicious dog, but surely he is not so mad as to break the oath of his predecessors? Why would he permit such a thing?”

“General Fazzur already has most of my silver. That makes no sense either. Unless…”

He gestures to Quackjohn. The duck leaves the room and returns several minutes later with a small carved ivory chest. The merchant opens the chest and within are three items resting on padded silk: a gemstone that looks like a large eye, a scroll sealed with lead, and a large ball of iron.

“These are my greatest treasures: the Eye of the Halfbird; the Lead Scroll; and the Iron Cardinal’s Egg. No doubt some Lunar adventurer has learned of them and wishes to take them from me.”

He looks at you: “I would like to hire you as bodyguards to chase away whatever thugs this adventurer brings along, until I can get word to the Governor-General about this nonsense. Name your price”.

There's a backdoor as well and it's difficiult to see both at the same time. You settle down by the storehouse which keeps mostly you out of sight of the road and you can see people approaching either entrance.

Ulf is appearing relaxed but listening out in case he hears Mica's goose call and waiting for Harmast's response - thinking he'd readily agree for another breakfast like the one he just had but Harmast might want to be a bit more discerning.

Sir,  my Father suggested that we should assist you in getting away from these people as it is likely that they will come with a larger group than we would be easily able to handle.  Do you have somewhere you may be able to disappear to for a while.  We can help you with that move, and possibly travel with you if we can do this without attracting attention?  I would need to confirm with my colleagues, but I am sure they will be willing to help.

“Young man, this “shop” has held off thieves and robbers before, usually with help I grant, but you are here. This place is a temple to Issaries, and Issaries protects it. Besides, I doubt if I could go anywhere without attracting much attention, eh?”

“Now I say again, I need some time to get word to the Governor-General, are you willing to help defend my home and temple from these bandits. For pay of course?”

In reply to dashing (msg # 74):

Sir,  I am more than happy to help keep you safe, but I need to talk to my friends to confirm they are happy with this change of plan.


As an aside,  I have no idea how much is appropriate as a price so I am going to need help from the Glorantha experts

NP, feel free to discuss offline or on here.

Made event trickier by:

1 the vagueness with which the rules treat finances; and
2 It's Bronze Age: "stuff"/land/reputation is worth more than coin.

If it helps: Gringle was the richest man in Sartar until Starbrow's Rebellion when he was made to give a forced loan to the Governor General and also made the chief collector of taxes throughout Coymar, Malani and other tribal areas. Rumours vary between he is loaded to on the cusp of bankruptcy. If it makes life easier let's think in game terms: a +3 on Wealth checks for one season he can easily afford and agree to. If anything else occurs to you let me know.

In reply to dashing (msg # 76):

Free geese - for life.
But then I'm not there, so I can't suggest that ;0)

In reply to Harmast Gordangarson (msg # 75):

Maybe ask him for a flock of sheep or other livestock? Look how much glory we got from bringing back just a few from a raid. A whole new flock would really help the clan.

In reply to Ulf Skommson (msg # 78):

I am thinking that we maybe should be asking for improved weapons and armour if we are going to make a good job of this - that we get to keep afterwards

I am guessing from this, the answer is yes,  and it just price?
This message was last edited by the player at 09:50, Sun 07 Mar 2021.

Well Gringle will haggle with you over whatever it is you ask for but this is more out of habit than anything else, he generally comes across as a decent type who has pretty much seen everything. In the end:

• he's kitted you out with a mix of equipment, all of it decent stuff and better than anything you've seen before. Nothing very unusual but top of the line leather armour, some bronze helmets, decent bows, javelins swords and the like, you have to hand in your existing stuff, but that seems like a fair trade. In game terms you can all have a +3 lingering benefit until the end of Sea Season.
• He doesn’t have herds, or flocks for that matter, himself but he’ll give you some credit with the Ernaldori and you can use that for purchasing some sheep, cattle, horses or indeed whatever. In game terms this will be a one off +9 when dealing with the Ernaldori clan, you can use this whenever dealing with a member of that clan.

Deal being done he expects you to keep him and his pawnshop safe but otherwise your time is your own. You have the run of his shop and he only asks you to respect the privacy of his bedroom, Quackjohn’s room and the shrine.

In the meantime he is going to write a letter to the Governor-General requesting guarantees of his safety.

You can of course explore the village, perhaps this time by day and so avoid appearing to be skulking thieves.

In reply to dashing (msg # 80):

Can I go back to the large building (assuming a temple but I was unsure of the God) that I was looking at the night before? Is it open now, in which case I'll go in - what's in there?

In reply to Ulf Skommson (msg # 81):

And I will work with Iskalla and Angara to work out the defensive angles around the villages, and where we may be best place to cover the entrances to the building.  Maybe if there are places where may be able to ambush the unwary - whether it is worth allowing them into the area in front of the desk as a place that could act to trap people.  Preference is also to not let them know where we are from.  Not sure we have shared that so far?  If not, let us keep it quiet.

In reply to dashing (msg # 80):

I shall 'snooze' in my observation spot.

If he has a nice dagger and some good arrows, I'll take those.

You return to the large building which is open now. You enter and you see a clean well-kept interior. A middle-aged appearing woman is supervising a younger woman who is sweeping the floor. The older woman spies you and approaches smiling “Welcome stranger to the Temple to All Deities, have you come here to worship?”. Well that’s… odd. Normally a temple is just to one god or pantheon, you’ve never heard of one to all Deities. The lady calls herself Kareena and she acts as a caretaker at the temple. She explains when you ask that the temple is available to anyone to worship their deities apart from Chaotic and evil gods. Apparently Kareena knows some fairly powerful healing magic but otherwise is not a priest or the like.

The village is, unfortunately, hopelessly indefensible. There are three roads in and no walls of anything similar, only the surrounding orchards provide any slight obstacle to cavalry and the like but actually they’d just provide cover for light troops. Angara’s take is a bit depressing “If they send a regiment the best we can do is spot them coming and run. If they send a small party we’d not want to be caught outside. The best we can do is watch the approaches and fortify his home, it’s built pretty solidly and I like those crossbows”.

The only person you’ve told who you are is Gringle I believe.

You obtain some nice arrows and a dagger.

Whilst snoozing you are eventually approached by a local, he is pleasant but built like a warrior and carries some impressive weaponry as well as some pretty decent clothing. Clearly a thane of some sort. He speaks “well miss, I can’t help but notice that you’ve been sleeping on that patch of dirt in my village for a little while now. Can I check if you are OK?”. He seems polite enough, how do you respond? [a bit of cultural context here – the correct action is to exchange details of who you are “the greeting”, but feel free to do whatever you want].

In reply to dashing (msg # 86):

"Greetings Sir, my name is Mica.  Who might you be?"

"I am Dronlan Swordsharp, thane of the Ernaldori and sheriff of Apple Lane". He pauses and looks expectant.

In reply to dashing (msg # 88):

I am part of the entourage of Harmast Gorgandarson, who is visiting Gringle over there.
I am too lowly to be part of the pleasantries, so I am waiting out here until Harmast calls me.
It is a pleasant spot and out of the way.  So I hoped I would not be an intrusion if I sat here in the shade.  Is that a problem Sir?

In reply to dashing (msg # 84):

Ulf asks 'to be a free place of worship for all seems strange, don't you anger the God's by refusing to show preference for one over another? Do you have a patron God or some kind of guardian who has agreed for this to be a temple to all? Is there other magic at work that protects the building from the God's wrath?'

Are there runes or anything similar on the walls of the inside of the building? Ulf will then wander round having a quick scout to see if anything else catches his eye (e.g. is there a basement entry) and pay his respects to Orlanth before leaving.

“No, that’s no problem at all”. He frowns at one of the geese which is sizing him up for some pecking. He then heads off towards the backdoor of the pawnshop (Continued in a separate post)

“It is, not common I grant you and it would be true to say that mainly gods of the Storm Tribe and the Earth tribe are worshipped here, but this temple is open to all, Argan Argar [the troll god of surface Darkness], the Seven Mothers [vile Lunars!!!] and even Praxian [more enemies!!!] rites have been seen here. There is no one patron God,, but all sanctify and protect this place. If you like this place is an echo, a memory of the Cosmic Council. Defilers would certainly find this place not undefended”.

There are lots of runes around the place, one would perhaps even think that all of them are here. You know a lot as an Orlanthi and you recognise most but there are a few that are strange and slightly unnerving or you recognise as signifying enemies such as Darkness.

The place is otherwise sparsely furnished, a few niches around the walls to hold votive offerings and the like.

The temple has a basement (Kareena will explain for certain Chthonic deities of Darkness or Earth), two floors and a timber tower open to the elements (where you can feel at one with Orlanth) [speaking of whom clouds are gathering and it’s going to rain soon]. The building has the main entrance you came in by and a smaller side exit leading to the latrines.

Meanwhile back at the pawnshop:

Iskalla and Angara have examined the public room and reinforced the door to the “Fitting room” to stop it being easily broken down (it was pretty stout before). They’ve also had a play around with crossbows and found them to be “very effective”.

The roof seems fairly sturdy and although they reckon someone could eventually break in they’d make a lot of noise doing so.

Both are worried about the Kitchen and the backdoor which they think is the weakest part of the defences. Although the backdoor is sturdy it could be eventually broken down and the kitchen is, they both feel, a lot less defensible than the Public Room.

Everyone suddenly jumps when there is a knock at the backdoor and eventually QuackJohn let’s in a big warrior. Gringle greets him:

“Dronlan! Come in and meet Harmast, he’s the Grandson of King Kenstrel whom you will remember well. He’s come to warn me of trouble”.

“Hmm, yes I met your Goose favoured friend outside” He says addressing Harmast “I wanted to make sure there were no problems, what trouble is this?”

Gringle fills him in quickly and Dronlan says that anyone who causes “problems” in Apple Lane they’ll have him to answer to. It seems you have an ally of sorts here. Dronlan Swordsharp is the Sheriff of Apple Lane appointed by the King of the Colymar and his word is law here.

Dronlan won’t stay long but promises to contact the King to confirm that the sheriff can enforce the peace in the hamlet.

In reply to dashing (msg # 91):

Mica settles a little deeper into the shade and starts humming to the geese who have come to pay their respects.  To all intents and purposes, she looks like a slightly dim girl playing with the geese in the shade - if she can be spotted at all.

She lays her Totem Pole by her side, with the laces undone, but keeps the poles holding it together inside their sheath.

If it is possible to get a good hidden angle on the vulnerable back door, in a position where she cannot easily be spotted, she will.

In reply to dashing (msg # 93):

I will greet Dronlan,  and assure him we are only here to maintain the friendship between Kenstral and Gringle.  Any assistance he can provide would be appreciated, but I would not want him to get into trouble if the King of Colymar is under pressure from the Lunars.

We dont know if there will be issues, but he is probably best to protect the people of the village first, as it is not our intention for anyone to suffer from this.

In reply to dashing (msg # 92):

I will climb up the tower to feel the glory of Orlanth and praise him as it rains. Then, I will return to the pawnshop to find the others (except Mica as she's still outside).

Rather than staying behind the storehouse Mica backs off a little way to the edge of the orchard. She can see the back of Gringle’s as well the latrines, the back of the storehouse (not very interesting and part of paddock to the West where horse’s are being trained. A man and a woman are breaking in some horses. Despite the drizzly weather Mica settles down with her goose friends and observes…

Dronlan acknowledges what you say. He says to Gringle to watch himself and then leaves.

Harmast, Angara and Iskalla return to trying to figure out how to defend the shop.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:13, Sun 21 Mar 2021.

Ulf has a good view over the village from atop the tower, in particular you have a good view of the front of the pawnshop from here.

From a magical point of view you can use Orlanth’s magics to overhear what anybody in eyeshot is saying. You can also use many other of Orlanth’s movement aspects from up here such as throwing javelins, a great leap, even moving objects. You will get a situational bonus on anything like that from atop the tower.

You return to the shop and join Iskalla, Angara and Harmast debating how to defend the shop.

In reply to dashing (msg # 97):

If I can up my Concealment & Stalking stats with the XP you've just given us, I think that might be a good idea ;0)

In reply to dashing (msg # 99):

In that case, I'll suggest to Harmast that I take watch from the top of the tower as I'll be able to see people approaching the pawnshop (at least from the front) and will be able to hear any discussions taking place. If I take a few javelins with me then I'll be at a good defensive point to also potentially flank attackers.

In reply to Ulf Skommson (msg # 101):

It sounds a great idea Ulf,  go for it.

How easy would it be to create an area in the kitchen of danger.  Is there anything such pots of boiling water or oil that we could use to make it difficult if someone gets in. Or a way to prevent entry that we could put in place if needed?

I remember that Oil burns! So anything that could catch fire would be silly -as we will be wanting to stay in the building I think.

As for Fyri - is he able to look out for us?  Is he able to take an aerial view to see if anything or people are coming.

OK i've increased Stalking to +2 and added under WIlderness Survival +1 Hide in Cover.

This leaves you with 3 HP.

I've updated your character sheet on Kanka.

Ulf stashes some javelins up in the tower. The temple is open until nightfall and there's not much point being up there when it's dark anyway so he comes down to the shop then.

Fyri can indeed keep an eye out for you. He's a bit vague about distances and can't really tell the difference between a caravan and a band of murderous cutthroats but that's a minor detail.

Ok, you fortify the kitchen as well as you are able. Eventually you decide that Angara as the most experienced warrior should stay in the kitchen with strict instructions not  to burn the place down. Iskalla and you take the public room with doors open between there and the kitchen so you can hear if there's any trouble.

I'll take this to a separate post now.

OK, I think we can cut through the rest of the time between now and the world ending. Gringle has sent off his letter and everyone settles back to await developments I think I have a few questions and then we can cut to the chase:

• Do you wish to pester any of the other locals?
  
• Assuming someone knocks on the door and tries to talk to you, how do you propose to talk to them? Are you going to let them in? Will you yell at them through the door? Something else?
  
• Ulf and Fyri and on watch duty. Ulf can get a message to Mica from the tower using Orlanth’s powers but unless he can see Harmast/Islkalla/someone else that’s all he can do. Fyri will pop down and tell Harmast what he’s seen in gloriously vague details. Let me know if you want to try and improve on this.

In reply to dashing (msg # 105):

I appear to have some goose friends who've come to say 'Hello'. If that is the case, I tell Harmast that if a goose comes pecking at the back door, that means trouble is on its way.

Assuming I have the power to do this, if I get a warning from Ulf (or see trouble coming myself), I'll ask one of my goose friends to go and peck on the back door.

I think now is the time to do a quick Goose Dance.

In reply to dashing (msg # 105):

What windows are there in the upstairs of the pawn shop?  Is there any way to see Mica or Ulf from up there ?

[Aside – basically you have a flock of geese as followers, as geese are not noted for their longevity or tendency to hang around, you will instead tend to attract a bunch of geese who will be pleasantly disposed towards you wherever you happe to find yourself, unless of coruse you are a long way from natural goose environs. By all means use them as you feel is appropriate, but if they regular die when around you word or perhaps squawk will get around]

Yep, the geese will do whatever they can to let Harmast know trouble is coming...

There is a single window in the second storey looking out towards the front. The good news is that this gives line of sight to the tower where Ulf has hidden himself. Sadly Mica is out the back so you can't see her, but apparently a flock of geese will make crazy with the back door if bad news comes acalling isn't that good news?

Right, any last dispositions, actions, annoyance of the locals I should be aware of?

In reply to dashing (msg #

Will ask Gringle if he feels we should warn the villagers that there could be trouble - not sure if they would be on his side.  Would be happy to warn the inn keeper

Gringle seems pleased by your concern but assures you that Dronlan will "look after" the villagers. Apparently many of them can look after themselves too.

In reply to dashing (msg # 111):

Yea - not so sure about us...

In reply to Mica the Goose Dancer (msg # 112):

:-)

Neither am I - (and Dad may not be as happy that we have got involved)

[Yeah, I was wondering if you were going to start wondering what daddy might be thinking...]

A couple of days after you first arrived around mid-day a band of around a dozen armed people arrive in Apple Lane led by two riders – a thane and strange red and blue woman.

Ulf spots them and can call on Orlanth’s power to overhear what they are doing

[Ulf's Movement affinity as an initiate gives 18 this is a fairly easy ask in the current environment so against an 8]

[So that's 16 v 17 so success v Failure = minor victory]

I'll send Ulf what he overhears.

Mica you can see the riders milling around too what would you like to do?

Sadly everyone else will have to wait.

Oh and there's a wind blowing from the Northwest and it's raining. And it's cloudy.

In reply to dashing (msg # 115):

Mica settles even deeper into the shadows, clutching a goose to her breast and crooning at it like a simpleton; whilst keeping one eye on the back door and one on Ulf's tower.

She makes sure that her totem pole is within easy reach.

In reply to Mica the Goose Dancer (msg # 117):

I am assuming the strange Red and Blue person is the lunar witch?  This sounds a bit like we are out numbered.

Question - is Fyri visible to every one, and if he chose to charge and butt the horse of the woman would anyone be able to stop him?

First off you've not seen them yet and nobody else has bothered telling you, but assuming they do soon:

He is a magical manifestation, which is to say that yes he's visible to everyone but given his manifestation is clouds, rain and winds generally only when he's doing something.

Yes he could do that and given he's bloody fast that's likely to succeed. That said she is a chaotic Lunar witch and who knows what evil daimons, spirits and other foulness she can call upon. He might need some help when the other dozen or so Thugs etc. decide to take him to task too.

And presumably send the "alert goose" to the back door?

You fade into the undergrowth using the power of "nothing to see here, move along".

In reply to dashing (msg # 119):

ok, we will save that for a pertenant time - but can he make it rain heavily on them without attracting attention?

It's already raining. You might be better off asking Orlanth to make it rain more heavily. Indeed Ulf might be better placed to do that from the tower.

In reply to dashing (msg # 120):

I'm assuming Ulf can signal them from the front.  So I'll wait on the 'alert goose' until:
Either: I spot someone sneaking round the back or: it becomes obvious that Ulf isn't giving the guys a signal.

The rain starts to pick up and clouds are boiling overhead, it’s going to be a storm soon.

The band approaches the pawnshop. Despite the wind and rain you can hear two people calling out:

The weird looking woman [Language unknown: "Ai k beas Ter saund wi venil ontio i ivceal".]

Then the Thane  “Gringle Pawnbroker has been declared an outlaw by King Kangarl. I, Darsten, thane of the Taraling and cousin to the king, will kill anyone who protects him.”

Everyone is aware of the band now.

There's a goose going mad at the backdoor.

Any reaction?
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:39, Sun 28 Mar 2021.

In reply to dashing (msg # 124):

Mica slips deeper into the shadows, keeping an eyeline on the backdoor.


She asks the geese to spread wide around her and come running back to her honking if anyone comes towards her.

In reply to dashing (msg # 124):

I messaged Mica although I think I'm a bit late ;)

Anyway, a javelin comes flying from the tower aimed at the weird looking woman at this point..

In reply to Ulf Skommson (msg # 126):

Well, that's a pretty unequivocal declaration on our part ;0)

Well this looks like it will end well:

Ulf: basic 18 Initiate of Orlanth I am willing to let you augment with your Orlmarth clan cos they like javelins +3, strike unexpectedly from cover +3, the lingering benefit from your last outing +3, Situational benefit (up the tower) +6 and last but not least being up in Orlanth's tower after whipping up a storm +6 for a magnificent 19W

Erianda (for it is she) will be 14W

Masteries cancel so it's 19 v 14, time for some die rolls, I'll take the liberty of rolling for both to keep things moving along.

See new thread to keep this clean.