In reply to Sanjar Zand (msg # 476):

OK, all sounds good. treaures are gathered; Rhaskos makes some amusing daubings on the cavern walls for posterity. Shield ornaments - attempting some temporary rig now, or going to fix those when you get back to town?


So the party spends a little time while Rhaskos sets about Gorkas' corpse, taking parts for personal use or to burn in the fire as a small ritual (for which, without any particular game rules in mind, I will allow him an accelerated MP recovery).

And with that, it is decided to camp away from this place in case there should be someone on the trail...and an hours deeply exhausted - and for Tanek, painful - walk, picking a way through scrub and brush using the bright full moon to ensure the general trend is in the desired direction, until a spot suitable for camp is found. Shelsom still seems to be tagging along, at a loss what to do. It seems you have made sure he is best not around when Varoteg or others next arrive at the old mine, and he has nowhere else to go - except perhaps to try his luck at home, off to the east across the river.

Nobody wants to do first watch so straws are drawn and Sallantus loses. everyone gets as much sleep as they can, however as first light breaks and people begin to stir, the aches and fatigue of the night before are still with you. any expended MPs are not recovered. The party waits well into the day, and matters do not improve. Eventually, it being mid morning, it is decided to move on lest you be found to close to the scene of your last actions.

There is no track here, the advice to detour further to the east means you are not following a known route. Here and there a trail is encountered, but not necessarily going in the right direction, and inevitably it is necessary to follow a stream or just plunge through a copse or pick through a rock-strewn patch of scrub. Going is slow.

Within the hour Rhaskos wrinkles his nose and calls a halt, then stalks quietly ahead. On his return,

"There are the remains of a kill ahead. Fresh - this morning. A predator of some sort. This side of the river it must be a bear or perhaps wolves...I hope nothing worse. But there is something lurking in the undergrowth yonder where the stream banks are thick with briars. We should take great care - wait for whatever it is to move on, or go hunt it, or retrace our steps" (NB - GM rolled and Rhaskos flunked everything but Perception)

Nobody seems much up for expending the energy on a fight with 'whatever it is', and Tanek doesn't feel like sprinting from an angry bear...so the party quietly retraces its steps and attempts to find a longer route round.

By late afternoon all energy is spent. It seems prudent to make camp again already, as with a good rest it should be possible to reach Thyrta before nightfall the following day. The weather has stayed fine all day, and warm, which is some consolation. Shelsom however seems increasingly sullen and worried. You are probably now close by, even within, Sakrovar's territory, which lies between you and Thyrta. Orinastron is well aware that if Sakrovar gets his hands on one of Varoteg's men, it won't go well for the individual concerned, and even he himself must trust to the protection of his erstwhile 'owners'. More than that Shelsom seems struck with some regret at having been a very inept bandit, and even mutters how he "should not have left Gorkas all alone like that".

You settle down around a small campfire with intention of making good distance on the next day (day 4). A watch roster is organised, and the plan is to head out as soon as first kindly light is given

Orinastron starts yelling, rousing the rest of the party from their slumber, ”Shelsom, you stay right there.  Don't you move one step more or I'll put you down.  No-one is going to start slinking off whilst we sleep in hostile territory."

The others will awake to see Orinastron. who is on watch, raising his bow, an arrow ready and pointed at Shelsom's chest.  Shelsom on the other hand appears caught as if he was about to make off.

Statement of intent - if Shelsom attempts to back off away from the camp, Orinastron will put an arrow in him.  Orinastron sees no upside in having Shelsom wander off into the night whilst the party is asleep and vulnerable.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Wed 12 Dec 2012.

Kordan jumps up with a start and grabs his knife.  Surveying the situation, he calms down slightly, grabs some rope, and puts his most intimidating, towering-above, captain's glare towards Shelsom.

"Shelsom, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.  Now are you going to sit still while I tie you up?  Or are you going to make me kill you?

I promised Ori that I wouldn't kill you, so please don't make me break my promise."

Rhaskos stirs and raises his brows as he wakes and comes to understand the events unfolding.  One hand slides over to his spear and pulls it closer as he raises himself to a seated position, leaning on the shaft and ready to stand.  "Is this how you repay us for letting you live?" he says with some derision in his tone.

In reply to Sanjar Zand (msg # 480):

Tanek stirs to see what the commotion is.  After seeing the others seem to have a handle on the situation, however they end up handling it, he rolls back over and tries to go back to sleep.

Sallantus wakes and grumbles, "Ruin a perfectly good dream, eh!"

With Orinastron all set to put an arrow through Shelsom, Sallantus sees no need to leap to his feet, but he adjusts his body so that he is ready to gather up his axe and move quickly. Seemingly unwilling to rouse himself much further, Sallantus tries to persuade Shelsom to return to the camp and sit down.

"I've got no wish to take a man to sea against his will. But I think we'll be insisting on your company until we're at most an hour or so from the gates of Thyrta."

Sallantus rolls over, giving the impression of indifference while he stays alert.

"Not really worth ransoming anyway."

Orinastron on the other hand is pretty riled up.  He made the case to spare Shelsom and has been repaid poorly.  He is sensitive to his precarious status with the party and conscious that having Shelsom make a run for it might jeopardise it.  With Kordan having Shelsom covered, Orinastron will lower his bow and help bind Shelsom, roughly. "What were you thinking, Shelsom?  Make me look bad will you?  Sneak off to sell us out while we sleep, huh?"

Orinastron isn't much interested in a questioning as trust has now broken down and Sallauntus' point is well made - Shelsom is pretty much a captive until we are in sight of Thyrta, he would think.  And it's possible he has just enlisted as a sailor...

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 483):

Shelsom has no stomach to break and run, he maybe expected Orinastron to give him the chance to flee the camp. He raises his hands in a gesture of submission, and sits back down. The great burly sea capatain finds soem twine and binds his hands and feet. "Won't make for a comfortable night I grant you, but I'm sure your and we are all safer if you stay right here like a good boy".

Shelsom rattles out nervously (in Thennalt) how he only wanted to go make his way before "...we all run into Sakrovar's men, who knows what would happen then...can't blame me for wanting to make for home, I mean...I don't know what's to become of me or anything...I didn't mean no harm in it" and then seems to start gently sobbing to himself.

When dawn breaks Kordan cuts Shelsom's ties so he won't slow everyone down. Thyrta town is the next stop, but you need a good day's travel to get there.

[GM note - nobody seems to have done any first aid on poor Tanek...have they?]

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 484):

The weather is fine to start with, clouds begin to gather as you make your way towards Thyrta, through land you imagine must be part of 'Sakrovist Fields', effectively the fiefdom of the local Thennalt lord. Mostly the land has the feel of a managed wilderness - there are tumbledown huts here and there on your journey, long abandoned and overgrown. here and there are small farms dotted about, but few crop fields and small, and what may be otherwise fine pasture left to natural meadow. Spring flowers, woodlands with little by way of ground bushes and cover amongst the trees. There is plenty of wildlife, singing birds and all.

As you pass out of this land and approach the environs of Thyrta, you see a clear transition into closely packed farms where the best land lies, little hamlets, forestry cleared...people at work - and then as clouds gather with the darkness you come into sight of town atop the sea bluffs.

It is the end of Day 4 and you have kept your promise.

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 484):

[OOC]
Based on my understanding of the injury rules, I don't require any medical attention to begin healing and will gain 1 hp in the limb per 24h of inactivity, or per 36h of activity (like travelling.) In fact, I would have been worse off receiving first aid initially as a failure by more than 30 would have caused 1 damage and pushed me into a major wound.
Silly, I know.
[/OOC]

[ooc yeah well, I should have been dumping my magic points into healing your leg 1 point at a time ]

In reply to Kordan Mardahar (msg # 487):

Well what is your plan for Shelsom before you enter the city? Let him run off (either into the country or loose on the streets)?. Or present him as a prisoner to somebody?

Answer me this...and then we can move on to reunion with Sanjar and Safra and the crew of the Foamfollower, division of spoils, and your final preparations - and some OOC stuff on revising Character sheets to RQ6...

I promised I wouldn't kill him. Other than that I'm indifferent, I'll leave it up to Ori. Should he really want a new life he can always start one as a sailor.

I say we cut him loose and let him decide. If he wants to crew the vessel there's probably space for him and a chance to win a share of some booty.  Otherwise he can take his chances elsewhere.

That works for me, unless anybody else raises an objection.

If the chance arises, Sallantus makes it plain to the others in private that he doesn't care for the idea of Shelsom joining the crew. Nevertheless, he sees no need to treat him as a prisoner, now that they are back to relative safety. He proposes cutting him loose outside town, and allowing Shelsom to make his own choice.

Orinastron turns to Shelsom and cuts his bonds free, "Shelsom, you're on your own now.  You're free of Varoteg and free of us.  You can make your way as you wish.  May your gods guide and protect you.'"

Turning to the others, "I think I owe you all a drink in thanks for sparing me.  Shall we?'"

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 493):

"I could use a drink where someone else is paying. Perhaps we should have it at the Turtle?  I'm sure Safra and Sanjar would be interested in hearing our story right away."

"Be sounding good to me."

Turning to Orinastrom, the big captain extends a handshake and says, "Ori lad, I know we had a bit of a rough start, but I'm glad ta have you at me back and would be proud to have you on me crew. Welcome aboard."

[OOC:  Sanjar, Safra, and the rest are holed up aboard the ship awaiting the return of the group. /OOC]

Rhaskos agrees wholeheartedly with the suggestion of going to the turtle for drinks!  In fact he leads the way enthusiastically.  His attitude is full of a newfound swagger.  After the party arrives he will spend a few coins to hire a local bard ( or equiv. ) to sing the saga of their being attacked in the turtle, turning out victorious, and then enacting revenge on Varoteg and his unholy creature without losing a man, for the next day or three.  All while the evidence of the trophies from Gorkas is on display.  Thennalt honor demands one make the most of an opportunity for good boasting!  A cunning bard will interweave many opportunities for such aggrandizing of the party and belittling of their enemies into things... which is quite the point.

Meanwhile Rhaskos has every intention of drinking and eating his fill after a few days on a hard trail.

In reply to Sanjar Zand (msg # 496):

Shelsom looks a little suprised - cast his eyes over the town in front of you, then looks vaguely East towards what you presume may be homeward. He grins - and finally turns on his heel and speeds off in the direction of Thyrta.

Thirsty you may be - but there is still work to do.  Returning Bitch and Bastard to their livery, unload everything, report to the Foamfollower - which is where you will likely find Safra and Sanjar. And then there's the swag to be divided.

As you make your way into Thyrta a small crowd gathers to take a look, and it's not long before Kordan's urchins are running about, gawping at the grim trophies. No sign of Shelsom. The gang may feel tired, but they also feel very rich right now, so a drink beckons. The urchins steer the party to where they expect a bunch of dirty travellers to go to - Thalvi's Place. A friendly audience here, and this streetside tavern is as sweet as the Turtle to a weary man, and is of course next door to the bakery. The mules can simply be hitched to a post, and plenty of folk who hang out here recognise the group. It's a dramatic arrival, and there's much to be said. Despite having money to spend, noone needs it tonight as drinks are passed around, food appears, and other people are paying.  Someone has had a real adventure. Everyone wants to know.

A black humour pervades. Someone wonders what smells worse, Gorkas' head or Kordan straight from 4 days on the road. Gorkas' head ends up sitting atop a pedestal set up for a statue but not yet occupied. Someone throws a garland of spring flowers over the grisly head, someone else well into his third pitcher of wine strikes up a conversation with it. Rhaskos calls for a bard, and everyone looks blank, that being an odd barbarian thing to do (of course a highly literate Korantine poet may compose a few lines given a couple of days and a bunch of silver to do it).

But there's a point where it is time to move on - maybe you go right past it, maybe discipline catches up, returning Bitch and Bastard before Athlazo has locked up for the night, getting people and kit to the Foamfollower, announcing your return, allowing Sanjar to cancel his Damage Resistance spell and start healing his magical resources. Maybe you need a Persistence Test not to find yourselves drinking through rather longer than you should.

[ failed persistence test, by a lot ]

"Aww don't go lads, we still got a day left don't we?  Why spoil a good thing by throwing business after it?  Bartender, another round for the house!"

In reply to Kordan Mardahar (msg # 498):

[ failed worse than Kordan ]

"Yeah man!  That's a GOOD IDEA!  Let's have another drink!"

Orinastron likes to stay in control, drinking to excess isn't his thing.  Furthermore he is aware that Varoteg will see him as having turned coat and he could be in danger.  With that it mind he will keep aim to keep a lid on things.

[ fails persistence roll by a wide margin ]

"Nah...  Minotaur's bollocks.  Lets get on it.  Bring me another beer and one of those fine mutton pies from the bakery next door.  Someone sing me a song.  Did you war the one about the sailor, the priest and the courtesan?.  Woo Hoo, let's go!"

[ooc: hmmm this feels like somewhere I've been before.  'No darling, I won't be late, I promise' ... /ooc]

Rhaskos at first seems more into the revelry than the others, putting away a large amount of food and drink in short order.  However it seems once he has had his fill he is quite ready to be done with the rest of their errands.  And aware of the potential of further danger.  " I've had enough for tonight.  My feet hurt and I'm tired of carrying all of this.  I'm for turning in.  I'll see the bottom of a barrel or two tomorrow." he says, though he is already showing signs of mild intoxication.  That said he will then turn to the street urchins the group has used before and buy promise them some bread if they carry the message of their return to the Foam Follower, and that most of the group is busy getting drunk here at Thalvi's Place.  Rhaskos doesn't seem much inclined towards trying to persuade the others out of their revelry however, slapping a back here and there as he makes ready to depart and finish the other errands before nightfall.