Rhaskos is puzzled. An encampment that has taken a good while to build, but not much activity?

That water party is too strong. At least four fighting men, and six others to run for help at the first sign of trouble? We'd need better odds for success, even in an ambush.

It seems to me that they are waiting for something - if you are moving quickly, and want to get away in a hurry, you don't spend this time and supplies building a house. So what - or who- are they waiting here for?

I agree with Sanjar. The two out alone are interesting and we should see what we can find out about them. I could try to find a path from here to the other side of the camp, but it will be dark soon.

In reply to Rhaskos (msg # 40):

The chance of taking a closer look at the strolling pair are minimal - it would require a long detour to stay out of sight within the woods to move round to that side of the stockade, and they are more than likely to just stroll back again and return to the stockade by the time you do.

Sanjar's protective charm expires

Activity continues as the sun descends the sky in the West, sinking below the great rocky crag at the far end of the island, at one moment casting the whole island neatly in its shadow. Twists of smoke from rekindled fires rise from behind the stockade. For a while you can see several people emerge from the gate and stand more or less idly looking towards the South, perhaps chatting or swapping banter. The feel of those in the camp is moderately relaxed.

The strolling pair appear again, and those standing around outside the gate show deference visible through their gestures and body language as they stand together.

A small group - two armoured men and three others - leaves the gate and turns to descend to the beaches.

15-20 minutes later, three armoured men and one unarmoured man come the other way, and stop to speak to the strolling pair before re-entering the camp, shortly followed by the rest of those standing about.

The sun sets. The island is illuminated still by the fading ambient light and the ghostly silver of the bright waning moon in the East.

A great shout goes up from many voices behind the stockade fence. You cannot make out the words from here.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:00, Mon 28 Jan 2013.

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 41):

[OOC: Can we discern whether the shouts are of joy or anger, fear or some other strong emotion?]

Rhaskos considers the armoured party heading to the beach:

'I think we can guess at their destination - that must be the changing of the guards for the boat. I imagine some of the sailors will be staying with it, to carry out maintenance, go fishing or whatever, but we can safely say there will be at least four or five armed guards posted at the boat at any time.

The camp party look relaxed in the evenings - perhaps the bird creatures or other things on the island don't trouble them at sunset or night. I suggest we keep undercover at dawn, just in case that's the time they are active.

It's heading towards night - should we take a look at the boat before all the light goes? We need to find somewhere to rest that won't be stumbled upon for any reason'.

Orinastron smiles and the party may note that he utters a rhythmic phrase to himself.  Although hard to hear the cadence is similar to the one that drifted up from the camp.  He turns to the others, "Well, they are surely Jekkarane and have at least remembered to recite their evening prayer as the sun fades and the we enter the realm of Jekkara, the Mood Goddess".

"If they have taken the trouble to make a palisade it seems their intent may be to be here a while.  Yet, it is clear that they consider the environment to be hostile and we must be alert to that too.  A winged beast would easily overcome a mere fence so I sense that the earthworks protect them from some other danger which might easily threaten us also.

"I suggest we scout their boat and, tomorrow take what chance we may to snatch a careless wanderer or small party.  I'll go with Rhaskos to scout the boat if he wants company but I suspect I may be more of a liability than a boon at creeping around in the dark.  Should we be able to take prisoner it occurs to me that we are not in the position to keep them.  Sanjar - have you any use for captives?  If not I hope we are ready for what may be grisly work"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:19, Tue 29 Jan 2013.

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 43):

OOC: Rhaskos wonders what with all these religious to-do and a fort on the beach, just running up to the gates and shouting 'Mustapha Leek' might have the required effect.

With apologies to anyone who has not see 'Follow that Camel'...

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 43):

Since Sanjar, Rhaskos and Ori have all, in some way or other, declared intent to go check out the boat, I am going to start adjudicating on that basis. Will assume you go so far as possible in the forest before breaking into more open country. It is probably a half hour or more so to skirt round and avoid detection.

Per Orinastron:

LoL
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:35, Tue 29 Jan 2013.

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 45):

The party takes a wide berth around the stockade, following the treeline so far as is possible, then breaking out into the open to arrive at the sandy, grass-tufted shore line above the beach.

As you stop to catch your breath and gather your thoughts for the next step, you peer down onto the strand, and there is a great black shape some 50m away, barely illuminated on one side by a dully glowing little camp fire. It is hard to make out where the guards may be. The profile of the ship looks as if it is set up on props so it stands level on the beach. It must be 30m long, maybe even more, with the tall prow and curving stern of an oared galley.

This much is clear enough, but little else - and then a cloud shifts from the face of the moon and you realise you are probably nicely picked out by the moonlight in your position atop the dunes.

This band is Jekkarane and has a female in a position of authority.  Safra's leads indicated Solisand as Haliskome's hideout - a Jekkerane female captain.  We're in the right spot and the three of us can gain little by hanging around here.

Orinastron drops to the ground, slides back down the reverse slope of the dune and whispers, "We've seen enough.  There's nothing more to be gained here - let's go before we are spotted, or worse"

Orinastron has seen enough in the abandoned mine to know that Rhaskos has some uncanny ability to mask himself in darkness but that probabaly doesn't extend to the rest of us.  Time to go.

So... Orinastron doesn't wait to see whether they have been spotted or not.  Imploring the others to do likewise he will head back for the treeline then skirt that back to the rest of the party.  Once in the treeline he will move at search speed in an attempt not to make noise or leave a trail.  If circumstances demand otherwise he'll run for it but not until then.  He'll keep an eye out for Sanjar to make sure he's OK.

Sanjar frowns and mutters at the mention of the moon goddess, stroking his beard and sighing to himself.  Something about 'Narash' escapes his lips before he moves on with his thoughts.  After the group arrives at the ship he will turn to speak to Kordan in soft tones. "How many men are needed for a vessel this size?  Even at minimum?" and then, turning to Orinastron he continues.  "And how many of them would be oar-slaves?  And would they or would they not be eager for freedom?" he finishes.  Once again he strokes his beard thoughtfully, his fingers playing upon the charms interwoven there.

In reply to Sanjar Zand (msg # 48):

(GM note good questions, was wondering when someone would ask...Kordan knows enough to give you the following, answering on his behalf in case player not aware)

Kordan is slightly surprised at the question:

"The smallest military galleys have a complement of 50 rowers - the largest have a crew of over 300! Add to that a handful of sailors, and maybe some marines. Don't know about the Jekkarenes, but in Korantia rowers are not slaves! Well, not unless there's a crisis on and you need some emergency manpower. Of course we heard that Haliskome sailed into Thyrta without oarsmen ."

Where Sanjar comes from oarsmen most certainly are slaves, but there's no accounting for strange foreign ways.

Orinastron can add that slavery is not a big deal in the Jekkarid. the Peasants are sufficiently down-trodden and tied to the land that there's no big need for slave labour except in the households of the rich and powerful.

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 49):

No sound from by the ship on the beach, so maybe - probably - you were not spotted.

Unless I hear otherwise, I now locate the party back at the edge of the forest, but at this point a little way from the stockade - where perhaps you left the cover of the trees to go towards the beach.

It's now fully dark, the waning moon shines, but that's it. Some time about 8-9pm in real world reckoning.

Time to hole up for the night, agree what we want to do tomorrow and agree a watch roster.

Kordan happily volunteers for first watch and sets up with his bow.

"Kordan, wake me when you're ready to change.  I'll take second."

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 53):

Rhaskos  has always been an early riser, he offers to take the last watch and wake everyone at dawn.  Besides, he wants to be awake when they change the ship's watch again, to see if he can work out just how many people are in the palisade.

In reply to Rhaskos (msg # 54):

Presume no fire tonight? It's very dark in this here forest - and hidden even from the moonlight, so whoever is on watch will be able to see very little except the silver-washed view of the low-lying land beyond the forest - presuming you remain at its edge. The sounds of forest at night are perhaps disconcerting, even for Rhaskos, as the trill of beetles and other beasts in the night is not the same as back on the fringes of Sard. The flora and fauna are, by and large, unfamiliar.


GM Notes:

OK, for future reference I am going to presume the watch cycle goes:

Kordan
Orinastron
Tanek
Rhaskos

And that Sanjar's need to ensure MP recovery for the good of everybody excuses him getting up in the middle of the night unless there's an emergency. I will assume this stays the case for future nights unless otherwise directed by the players.

NB: On the whole if camping out in the open with no fire or proper shelter, MP recovery and Healing rates should be slowed or disallowed. To be a little less harsh I will ask for a Survival or Endurance roll from anyone who wants to get proper benefit from rest in such a rudimentary set-up; otherwise the only upside is to avoid additional fatigue resulting from failure to rest at all.

Similarly, while on Solisand it may be necessary to know what your default marching order is (sounds nicely old school, and it is!).

At this point, unless told otherwise I will assume:

Point - Rhaskos, scounting
Front - Tanek
Middle - Orinastron and Sanjar
Rear - Kordan
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:58, Wed 30 Jan 2013.

Sounds good.

What do we think we might do tomorrow? Try and snatch a couple of captives and start a war of attrition?

Or...  Perhaps we track their strongly armed water party (should be easy enough) and somehow poison their water supply .  If we could pull that off they would be as weak as kittens with any luck?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Wed 30 Jan 2013.

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 56):

Orinastron is musing on these thoughts as he sits on second watch, when the GM asks him to make a Perception roll.

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 57):

GM having made the perception roll...Orinastron notices nothing other than the creaking of the trees, rustling of leaves and the constant hum of small creatures, until something very peculiar happens which elicits a cry of astonishment from Orinastron and bleary-eyed waking from everyone else...

A sparkling light suddenly appears a few meters from the camp, a shocking intrusion into the night darkness. It flits and zips about in mid air in a crazy and erratic pattern, gradually trending towards you.

This tinkerbell-fairy light eventually appears right among you, until it alights on a branch just over your heads. Peering at it in astonishment, you realise the light is coming [not from a fairy, but] from a rather large beetle, one that is almost big enough to cover the palm of your hand. It sits there, looking down at you, and then begins to speak in a gravelly voice.

"Efugaste su, ksenoi! Hesolisma kolotha, ktenisa sas, fugaste!"

And no, you have no idea what it is saying...but it is saying it again. Then it flits to another branch...and says it again.

What do you do now?

[OOC:  Any possible lore or insight type checks for Sanjar?  /OOC]

Sanjar comes to his feet wiping the sleep from his face and coming to his sense just in time to be paying attention as the creature speaks and otherwise tries to communicate.  "I think it is giving us a warning.  Trying to lead us away.  Of course I am not certain, however just now I am inclined to follow it.  This could be our chance to learn more about what is really happening here.  Why Haliskome is here.  Come!  Make haste.  If there is a threat as I suspect, we must not tarry!"

Rhaskos isn't much impressed by talking beetles, but is inclined to follow Sanjar's lead. A light in the trees, and a voice, even from a beetle, might travel far enough to the encampment to make them want to investigate.

Rhaskos readies his pack and weapons.

Is this creature suggesting we follow it? I suggest we move quickly before they send a party to investigate. Talk travels a fair distance at night, and light even more.  Let's move with haste; I'll lead unless anyone else cares to go first.

Either it wants us to leave or it wants us to follow it, in either case I'm in agreement about heading out. Sitting on a hill at night while having our position given away to anybody who might be on duty just leaves us as targets.

In reply to Sanjar Zand (msg # 59):



Nope. You'll have to work this one out.



Kordan may have it - there's nothing to follow (it's not sashaying off into the forest beckoning to you as it goes). Maybe it's saying 'go'. But who knows what it's saying as it sure isn't speaking any language you know, which is less of a surprise than the fact it's speaking at all.

In reply to Rhaskos (msg # 60):

GROUP 0 MAP UPDATED - small amount of extra info added

Rhaskos is tempted to move south-west, using the edge of the tree line as a guide. They can move faster through the less dense forest margin, while someone coming from the camp or beach will find it hard to pick them out against the darkness of the thicker forest beyond.