After gathering supplies, your group heads out the Merchant gate. Waiting outside the gate, and flanked by a squadron of halberdiers, is an enormous, hideous ogress wearing a loincloth
and some kind of harness.

Azrael walked up to the ogress, staying back a respectful distance. "Hello. You must be Jednesa? I'm Azrael."

[Private to GM:
Buying:
1 week's worth of rations (21 meals, $42)
1 single person tent ($50)
1 personal basics ($5)

That's $97 from the advance. Pocketing the other $3]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Wed 23 Mar 2016.

The massive Ogress squints down at him, "Show Guild Badge.  Camilla say 'No Badge, no go'."

Saying this she stretches up a bit (looming over the nervous halberdiers) and taps the large tin guild badge riveted to the center of her carry harness.

"Camilla said you were good to come with us," Azrael said. "Are you ready?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 4):

Christine shows her badge to her, and prepares to leave, Chris in tow.

She squints at Christine's badge, than nods to Azreal, "Jednesa ready go."


She lears at one of the halberdiers as she slowly (carefully) moves away from them, "Jednesa bored, want tumble or fight."
This message was last updated by the player at 20:35, Wed 23 Mar 2016.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 6):

Camilla appears at the gate.
"If you all would wait a moment, an emmisary from the
bishop is coming, a dwarven holy warrior. Jednessa, do you
have enough food left for a five or six day trip? The guild has agreed to pay for that, as part of their arrangement with
the city."

[Private to Jednessa: you DO have a point in membership ?]

"Three days?  Hrrrm... let Jednesa check,"  She opens one of her large pouches and pokes in it.

"Jednesa have two day." She checks her waterskins.  "Only two skin, Jednesa need three if no re-supply on way."

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 8):

"I can resupply you on the way."

Azrael leaned against the wall, arms folded, waiting for Dareos.

"Greetings all. Is this the expedition to the monastery?"

"I am Stenet Fjall, currently employed by the Bishop of Sonne."

(looking up at Jednesa)
"Aren't you just a fine figure of femininity'"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:59, Fri 25 Mar 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 10):

I walk through the gates, smiling at the large gathering of people outside.  I pass Azrael before I realize he's there.  I stop and turn to face him.

"Greetings.  It appears we're in for an interesting journey."

Azrael gives Daeros a brief nod and a smile. "Let's be off, then?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 13):

"Yes, enough talk. There are demons or devils or just some assholes waiting for us to deliver thier personal hell, and I don't like to keep customers waiting!"

She leans down to eye level with him and gives him a good once over, "Jednesa think you cute for little guy."

Then looks at Camilla and asks, "Who is boss?" as she waggles a thumb at the others.
This message was last updated by the player at 20:52, Fri 25 Mar 2016.

Azrael gestured towards Stenet. "Mr. Fjall represents our client, so I suppose he's the boss."

As we commence, I say aloud to the group;

"May the coils of the Great Serpent encircle us all.  May His divine venom cure us of all ails."

"Wow, that's ominous."

"I wouldn't say I represent the Bishop. He hired me for my knowledge of demons, I'm a guild member like the rest of you. It seems like some of you have worked together before so I don't think I should take over a working team."

"I haven't worked with anyone here before, and I don't think Jednesa has either," Azrael said. "So there's no team here to disrupt. But if you don't want to be leader, that's fine. I'll do it."

He started walking down the road. "Let's move out, team."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 20):

"Dareos, Haskell, Chris and I worked together before to clear out some trolls. You want to lead, go for it, but don't lead us into an ambush! Ready to go ten minutes ago..."

"Chris? Oh, your golem. You named it? That's nice. Uh. Did you. Did you name it after yourself?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 22):

Christine looks sourly at him.

"He is a better man than most. Solid, reliable, a good listener, hard worker and loyal. More than I can vouch for you right now..."

"There's no need to be defensive," Azrael said. "I'm not questioning his utility. Just asking if you named him after yourself. Is he autonomous and self-aware?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 24):

"Quite. There is a lot of me in him, but actually I named him after my brother, who dies very young."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Sun 27 Mar 2016.

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 25):

"Jednessa, these are all friends, please don't  eat any of them.
...or any one else they point out to you. Good luck!"

"Yes Camilla.  Jednesa remember Rule Number One.  Camilla have good luck too."  She gives Camilla a little wave, and begins to follow the others.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 27):

The road ahead seems well maintained and heads out hrough plowed fields with the beginings of wheat sprouting. In the distance, the road wends into a forest.

As the road stretches out her legs, Jednesa falls into a long march pace and begins singing a sad sounding (almost dirge) cadence song... in Ogrish naturally.

Takový osamělý den, A to je můj
Nejosamělejší den, Mého života

Takový osamělý den, By nemělo být
Je to den, Nikdo nemůže stát

Nejosamělejší den, Mého života
Nejosamělejší den, Mého života

Takový osamělý den by nemělo být
Je to den který, Nikdy/někdy se vrátí

Takový osamělý den, A to je můj
Nejosamělejší den, Mého života

A pokud jdete, Jdu s vámi
A když zemřeš, Zemřu s tebou

Vezměte si ruku, A odejít
Nejosamělejší den, Mého života

Takový osamělý den, A to je můj
Toto je den, Je žila šťastný



OOC:
21:15, Today: Jednesa rolled 9 using 3d6.  Singing 13: Cadence Song.
Looking to give everyone a Complimentary Skill bonus to Hiking, if useful...

Though the song is beat/paced for longer striding folks (BM 7+ and Gigantic), shorter legged people can just do an off step (make two shorter steps) to her one.  Really stumpy legged folk might have to make more more steps, but at their regular paces.


[Private to GM:
Such a lonely day, And it's mine
The most loneliest, Day of my life
Such a lonely day, Should not be
It is the day that, No one can stand
The most loneliest, Day of my life
The most loneliest, Day of my life
Such a lonely day, Should not be
It is a day that, Will never return/always be
Such a lonely day, And it's mine
The most loneliest, Day of my life
And if you go, I go with you
And if you die, I die with you
Take your hand, And walk away
The most loneliest, Day of my life
Such a lonely day, And it's mine
This is the day, Is lived happy]

[EDIT]
Heh, I used Trollish accidentally, fixed the song to be in Ogrish.
[/EDIT]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Mon 28 Mar 2016.

Azrael ambles along at a casual pace, entirely out of step with the song.

ooc: Default Hiking roll failed. We're stuck at move 3.6, sorry.

Seeing some people are really slow*, Jednesa offers to carry their packs.  She's really good at that.






OOC:
*Move 3?  What are you carrying in your pack a load of bricks?  All the books ever?

Jednesa can carry 230 more pounds and still make Move 6 (She's at Move 8 right now).
Or 410 more pounds and drop to Move 4.
That's without a Hiking roll...

"No, I'm good," Azrael grinned, setting what was really a standard pace for someone on the move. "It would be tremendously unfair to make you carry my pack. Besides, it's a nice day, and we're not in any tremendous hurry."

ooc: Move 6 x 0.6 (Medium Encumbrance) = 3.6

In reply to Narrator (msg # 28):

"Speak for yourself. I have cash to earn" she says with a grin.

Christine enjoys the open air for a change. With Chris beside her, she enjoys Jednesa song but does not even notice the beat in relation to hiking. But then, she is probably half the Ogress' size at a petite 5 ft 2.

Her basic move is 6, which she will manage by giving Chris her staff to carry. His Basic Move is 6 as well, but he has one level of encumbrance, (his character sheet is inaccurate, as I cant update it)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:52, Mon 28 Mar 2016.

"Hey, if you want to run ahead and scout, I won't stop you," Azrael said.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 34):

"Actually, it seems as if the whole party could be running ahead scouting! But we wont, we will wait with you and enjoy the scenery. Do we have a scout, by the way?"

I wince ever so subtly at the noise Jednesa is making.  It may have rhythm, but I don't think I like it.

OOC: rolled 13 using 3d6.  Hiking 11.



[Private to GM: Do I have an SM multiplier when healing SM 1+ creatures such as Jednesa?]

"Looks like not. Myself, Haskell, and maybe Dareos are sheildfolk. Jednesa's our heavy hitter, I presume she can use that big hunk of iron. And you (Christine) and Azreal are 'casters. And Chris? is physically capable? Correct?

"I really prefer to think of myself as an exorcist," Azrael said. "I do have a few general purpose counterspells, but for the most part my capabilities lie along returning the restless dead, corporeal or otherwise, to their rightful repose."

"Jednesa use hands like Chlapáku." She makes squeezing motions and then smacks one fist into the other, "Mace hit thing bigger than hand.  Giant.  Dragon, maybe.  Smash wall, big door."

She frowns, "Jednesa bad scout.  See bad, hear bad.  Jednesa no scout army.  Arti'ry, atil'lery... big tower, big crossbow regment."







[Private to GM: Chlapáku is very much like Thor or Heracles, his great club was only for fighting giants and dragons and such, all others he preferred to tear limb from limb, throttle, or pummel.  He also was legendary for partying, having fun, and being straight-forward.]

"If only Petyr were here.  He's an old friend of mine.  He's a great scout."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 33):

Despite her best efforts to speed the group along, Jednesa
  finds them to be terribly slow. The fields seem to go on forever.

[Private to Dareos Madrigar: she is sm3 and there is a multiplier]
[Private to Christine Bjorn: Chris  is editable now ]

Azrael wandered along, muttering to himself cheerfully.

[Private to GM:
ooc: Summoning his Lesser Ghost ally, the spirit of his grandfather Samael.

Summon Ally (12): Passed.

He's going to ask the ghost to act as scout while they travel - fly on ahead (Move 5), report back if there's trouble. Samael is intangible and invisible.

If Samael returns with anything to report, (Detect Undead advantage will let Azrael know) Azrael will cast Astral Vision to see him, and if it looks like he has something to say, Azrael will cast Manifest to cause him to appear so he can hear what he has to say.]

In reply to Azrael (msg # 42):

Painstaking, the group reaches the forrest after a few hours.
 Azrael feels a slight tickling.

"One second, guys."

He waves a hand in front of his face and mutters a few words.

[Private to GM:
ooc: Casting Astral Vision. Success.
9/13 FP remain.

As soon as he can see the ghost, he'll cast Materialize. Success.
6/13 FP remains.
]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Wed 30 Mar 2016.

Jednesa stumps to a stop.  And seeing nothing going on treats this like a break, pulls out a bite of food and unties one of her waterskins.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 45):

Christine creates a small fireball, growing it slowly...

[Private to GM: Rolled 6 under skill]

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 46):

A pale form materializes by Azrael.

Azrael didn't seem the least bit surprised or worried. Instead, he relaxes a bit. "Welcome, grandfather. Anything we need to concern ourselves with up ahead?"

In reply to Samael (msg # 47):

I recoil a bit at the sudden appearance of the apparition.

Once I see Azrael's reaction, I relax.  It's certainly not the weirdest thing I've seen since visiting Northport.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 48):

"Many lie dead and rotting. Some weeks dead, some mere
days dead. Many of those are restless. Ahead is a giant and
a small man. They have buried their dead, and are eating  a
 Donkey they have roasted."


[Private to Malga'mar:that would be you and Walter]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Sun 03 Apr 2016.

Azrael nodded. "Thank you, grandfather. You may return to the eternal sleep."

He turned to the others. "So you have it. The restless dead lie along this path, as well as a giant. Be prepared."

Jednesa seems to finally notice the specter...

"They eat donkey?  Jednesa wanted donkey!"

She reties the waterskin to her harness and puts away her food.

"We go sneaky or loud?"

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 52):

"It is not as if it will make a big difference to the dead, nor as if we could be sneaky ..."

"It's the donkey-eating giant and his companion we need concern ourselves with," Azrael said. "I'd suggest we approach them openly - even a giant is unlikely to attack a large armed party unprovoked. And if they do... it's nothing we cannot handle."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 53):

"Blue Elf not sneaky?  Ohhhhh, Blue Elf mean short holy man.  Hmmm, jangly armor.  Armor always noisy.  That also why Jednesa not wear."

She unslings her big mace and rests it on her shoulder.  "But Asrel say 'go open', Jednesa show weapon and make noise.  Grumble grumble Donkey eater know Jednesa come."



OOC:  Unless someone explicitly says something about 'not being noisy' or something Jednesa will launch into another marching song as we recommence... this one upbeat and better paced for short regular legged folk.

"No need to be sneaky if the gods are with you."

"So if things get unpleasant Haskell, myself, and perhaps Dareos and Chris will hold a shield line, Jednesa will smack people around, Christina will light things up, and Azreal will deal with any restless dead? Sound reasonable?"

"And  I am a properly sized Khazad, by the way, not a short human."

In reply to Stenet Fjall (msg # 56):

"Chris is better kept as a rearguard with me, since we would otherwise be vulnerable to flanking. "

"If you're expecting danger from behind, maybe you'd be better off in the middle?" Azrael was sitting on the ground, resting to recover from the exertion of dealing with the dead.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 58):

"I am expecting danger from all sides...that is why I think we should keep someone who can block back, rather than committing all our blockes straight up. Keeping a reserve, especially if dealing with unknown enemies, is always wise."

"Yeah, so stay in the middle if you're not a... what did you call it? Blocker?" The word seemed weird to Azrael. "Yeah. I'm pretty handy with my knife, and I know a some defensive magic, so I guess I could act as one of those 'blocker' things too."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 60):

Christine tried to imagine him blocking the troll champion.

"Yeah, I would not count on that if I were you."

"Maybe. I don't know what a 'blocker' is. I've never heard the term before."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 62):

"Someone who can block attacks."

"Is that a military term?" Azrael asked. "'Blocker'? Sounds like something from sports. Is it from sports? I don't really play sports."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 63):

"Not really sure. I just use it to describe what people are good at. Fire elementals are burners, and folks like Jadnessa are bashers. Not that complicated, really."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 65):

"I can block, but mostly myself. I am more of a stabber."

Azrael gave Christine a look, but he didn't say anything.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 67):

The woods ahead are cut back a few yards from the road, but
branches reach accross the cleared area, leaving the area in
gloom. There is a faint odor of woodsmoke.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:21, Sun 03 Apr 2016.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 68):

Christine creates a stone missile, growing it to 3d.

Azrael adjusts his pack but otherwise just keeps walking.

[Private to GM: Observation-14 to notice anything pertinent.]

Upon smelling the woodsmoke Jednesa stops her singing but keeps walking.
This message was last updated by the player at 15:41, Sun 03 Apr 2016.

I'll reposition my shield to better protect myself and those near me and draw an axe when I hear and see the others begin to prepare.

In reply to Dareos Madrigar (msg # 72):

Haskell shifts his shield and draws his rusty shortsword.

The scent of woodsmoke and meat grows stronger, and faint
 voices can be heard in the distance.

"Relax, guys," Azrael said. "It's probably just the giant and his friend. Don't be so on edge all the time. Stress is one of the leading causes of death, way more common than being killed by demons, zombies, or giants. Not good for the heart."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 74):

The voices pause.

[Private to Malga'mar; Walter Goldman: having buried the dead, after loading their goods onto the cart, you have been earing some of the donkey. The weavers had assisted as much as they could, but François went down after several wounds, and Father Eli caught an arrow in the back when he stopped to hwal him, and the donkey was killed by the archer even as  Malga'mar felled him with a lighting bolt. Konrad never recovered from his gut wound, although it took him two days to die. Without the priest or the fighters, or the donkey, you weren't sure whether to drag everything back, or to proceed. Walter pauses in conversation and raises a handfor silence. You can hear faint voices]

"Hello there!" Azrael called, clearly not afraid. "Heavily armed party consisting of an ogre, several wizards, and brave warriors coming through. And a priest of... what was your god's name, Dareos?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:20, Mon 04 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 76):

I clear my throat and say pleasantly;
"Sethygg.  The Snake God of healing."

"Sethygg!" Azrael continued. "We are simply passing through."

He turned to the others. "Let them stay hidden if they choose. No need to borrow more trouble than our professions dictate... but on that note, I don't smell any roasting donkey. Just woodsmoke."

"Probably ate it all." Jednesa grumbles unhappily.

"Selfish bastards."

"Ahoy there!" shouts a voice containing tints of age.

"Ogres and wizards seem more bountiful than salt in a sea!  Got a little of both here.  Do ye seek the light of peace or the tides of fire?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Mon 04 Apr 2016.

"I don't think we're interested in either, but I'm not terribly accustomed with pyrotechnic metaphors," Azrael shouts back. "Though campfires and hearths are quite nice. So fire? I think?"

Damn this old man and his riddles!

In reply to Azrael (msg # 82):

"We seek the peace of the firelight. Unless you are undead or a demon friend, we seek nothing from you, however."

"Above board... find no friend of demons here!" shouts back the voice from somewhere in the direction of the wood-smoke smell.

"Had sought to hunt a few!  If ye be of like mind, perhaps our wizard might parlay with yours.  ...a bit wary after the last group we met lead our Father Eli to the heaven he preached." 

"Father Eli," Azrael paused. "Might that be Eli Daniels?"

"It might," calls the same voice in return.  "Might his name spark something?"

"We're from the Northport Adventurer's Guild," Azrael said. "Sent to complete the task after your party failed to return or report in."

He paused. "Look, I feel ridiculous simply shouting all this into the woods, would you mind coming out and talking to us face to face? I could assure you, if we intended you harm it would be trivial to find you. Why, you'd be dead already."

Somehow that didn't come out as reassuring as he'd meant it.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 87):

I look at Azrael to discern if and why he's trying to be threatening after a peaceful conversation.

"The Guild," exclaims the voice.

"It is safer if ye come in here away from the clearing.  Will come out to show myself: lead you in."

After a few moments, a man-shaped silhouette approaches the entrance to the clearing.  Coming into plainer view; making no attempt at stealth or camouflage, a man steps through the branches.  He holds in his right hand a small badge which marks him as a member of the Northport Adventurer's Guild.

The man is a grizzled older salt, dressed in sturdy leathers.  He wears a bandolier of torches on his body.  Two canteens; one painted red and one painted blue are also strapped to him. He appears to be in at least his 50s; very likely more.  He has a face which is a touch unattractive while also having a pitiable quality not unlike that of an old and tired hunting dog which shows its age, but still has a homey and welcoming quality to it.

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 89):

Christine and Chris move towards him.

Azrael smiles broadly and walks to follow him. "Well met. I'm Azrael. This is Christine and her golem, Dareos, priest of a snake god, Haskell, Jednesa is the ogre, and Stenet."

Jednesa gives the old salt a look-over and states the obvious, "You not giant. Where giant? It eating donkey.  Jednesa wanted donkey."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:56, Tue 05 Apr 2016.

"Walter," says the man as he nods first toward Azrael and then toward Christine.

Looking beyond them, he visually surveys the others; seeming not at all uncomfortable around the eclectic group.  Though, the approach of the large ogress does cause him to pause.  "A tall sail indeed," he comments before letting out a low whistle.

"Burnin' shame about the donkey.  Still plenty to eat, and Mal caught me broadside surprised with his cooking."  Walter pauses; looking Jednesa up and down.

"Not quite as big as ye, but I imagine Mal would be the 'giant.'"

"Well, you know, things can appear distorted through the visage of death," Azrael said cheerfully. "So what happened? Demons at the monastery kill the rest of your party?"

"The whole thing went to ash before there," says Walter as he squints and peers off into the distance as though reliving it in his mind.

"Father Eli never seemed right once we hit the road.  Came across some Chagmati traders being harassed by heavily armed thieves.  Shame to say it, but our two mercenaries did little.  One was too under skilled; the other too brash.  Some details escape me; the blur of combat, ye understand?  Father Eli stood there in a trance; being killed in a hail of arrows.  The donkey and Frank came soon after.  I may have managed to help Konrad with some before he was wounded.  Near the end, I remember a salty smell like a storm rolling across a beach.  ...caught sight of Mal out of the corner of my eye; swear lightning come from his hands and struck down the rest of the bandits.  Exhausted I was, but I remember a change in Mal's eyes, and that he spoke to the trader about weaving, I think.  Hard to remember much other than watching Konrad die slow from a gut wound.  Mal tried saving him, but no use.  Now we have a cart of bodies and gear with no way to pull up anchor."

Walter leaves out a heavy sigh.

I step forward, returning my axe to my belt and offering a tentacle-fingered hand for him to shake;

"I am Dareos Madrigar, Priest of Sethygg."

I greet him with a warm and friendly smile.

"Sorry to hear about your trials," Azrael said. "But let us lift the burden of this expedition from your shoulders... you'd probably best get back and report what happened to the Guild. They'll be wondering."

"And this may be an indelicate matter, but the clients have indicated that we're entitled to the equipment they provided to the previous expedition."

Seeming relieved to get a break from the story, Walter manages to put on a smile and shakes the hand of Dareos.

"Quite a group," he says quietly.  "Reminds me of a ship I sailed on long ago."

"Well," laughs Walter over his shoulder toward Azrael, "seems I already ate some of it."

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 99):

"Walter eat donkey?  Hurm."  She makes sad sighing sound. "Okay.  Jednesa not mad about donkey.  No giant?  Wanted to fight giant.  Not fight giant yet."

"I think the 'giant' is Malga'mar, the ogrekin wizard," Azrael said.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 101):

"Yeah.  Jednesa hear.  Still want fight giant.  Maybe demons big like giant.  That be good."

"Might be big, might not, but they're probably tough. Unless they're those inner demons and the whole thing is a metaphor for letting your fear get the best of you, but I suppose if that was the case the Guild would have sent therapists instead of adventurers."

He nodded. "Walt, can you take us to this cart?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 103):

The scent of roast donkey draws Jednesa  further in.

"Ogrekin?"  Walter scratches his chin.  "Explains Mal's size,but not the eyes," he adds.

"Not quite so old that a match in my hand would forget the way to the top of a torch," says Walter as he turns and takes a few steps toward the edge of the road.

"Should be some donkey left."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 103):

"Jednesa not fight Metafor.  Ummm... what Metafor look like...... Oh, good donkey left."  She stumps off towards the smell of donkey.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 106):

Just a way off the roadand along a fairly worn path is a well
 used clearing. Beside a fire pit with a slab of meat on a spit is a  rack of drying meat made out of spears.
Sitiing nearby on a log is large bearded man with ogrish
blood.  He wears an ornate leather cap and a leather
breatplate, and his eyes have triangular pupils that seem to
rotate in opposite directions. Those with magery can feel
piwer throbbing around him.

In the rear of the clearing are three fresh graves
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:08, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

The 'man' on the log looks toward the others as they enter the clearing.  He has a sad look about him; clearly distraught over the ill fate of the men who now filled nearby graves.  A weakly forced smile stretches across his face as he stands to acknowledge the group.

At full height, the man is large and imposing; at least a few heads taller than most men.  His height and size fall just shy of a small ogre.  The face covered with a newly grown beard; signs of having been on the road for a few days.  Obvious signs mark him as being more than just human.  The brow is too heavy; the forehead angled oddly; whatever the case, there's something vaguely unappealing and savage in the face.  Though, by ogre, orc, or goblinkin standards, he could possibly be considered handsome or at least less ugly.

Set into the face is a pair of eyes which defy explanation.  The eyes do not hold normal pupils.  Each eye instead contains two triangular colored portions -one purple and one orange- which overlap with each other and seem to ever so slowly and lazily rotate in opposite directions on a shared axis, almost like two clock hands bolted to the center of the same time piece; only if one of the hands were to move backward.  In the middle, where the body of both colored triangles overlap, the two colors create the same muddy sort of brown an artist might expect from mixing orange and purple.

"There is your giant," says Walter as he leads the others into the clearing.

"Friends," the old sea salt calls out to the larger man by the fire and roasting donkey as he waves.

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 109):

Christine has been watching the old salt for some time, trying to remember if they ever shared a ship. When she sees the pile of bodies, she offers

"Perhaps a funeral pyre would lighten your load?"

In reply to Narrator (msg # 107):

I move intently but slowly to the graves, settle my shield against a nearby tree, and administer last rites over each of the deceased.

"Oh good, looks like you got the bodies buried already," Azrael said, looking at the clearly visible graves and total lack of unburied corpses. "Mal, I presume? I'm Azrael. We've been dispatched by the Guild to complete the task to which you were assigned."

He looked around. "Uh. How long have you been out here? I mean, how long did the church wait before sending a follow-up expedition?"

Jednesa settles herself a few yards from the fire and casually reaches over and takes a small piece of cooking donkey and gnoshes on it.

"Mmm.  Donkey ish good." She says around a mouthful.  "No have donkey since leave Great Army."

"Malga'mar," replies the large 'man' with a big smile and deep voice in response to Azrael; a drastic change from the glum look held prior.  He appears obviously happy to see others and takes a moment to visually take in his surroundings.  Malga'mar's odd pupils linger upon Jednesa a moment before a sheepish grin pushes his gaze down toward his own two massive hands, and then back to Azrael.

"Mal," he says with a second big smile.  "Four days by my count of the night sky and morning light."

In contrast to his large and savage frame.  The voice coming from Malga'mar holds a promise of eloquence and education hiding behind a lack of social experience.  His pronunciation and speech is precise like that of a learned man; his unhidden smiles and mannerisms a touch awkward and more than a touch easy to read like that of one who has perhaps spent more time with books in seclusion than with others.

The orange triangles in his eyes completely overlap with the purple a moment; giving his eyes an almost normal brown color as he cocks his head to the side as if listening for something.

"Our dead have been buried.  I tossed the bandits in a pit.  Weavers helped when Walter slept.  Old man suggests that they should be searched for equipment before burning."

"You'd best return to the guild, let them know what happened," Azrael said. "We've been tasked with picking up where you lot left off. If you hurry, I'm sure you can return, petition to join our expedition, and catch up with us before we reach the monastery."

"Why Malgamar and Walter go home?  Already here.  Should come with, not wait."

"My preference would be to continue to the mission and report after, but Father Eli spoke against bringing much food for reasons known only to his faith.  I would need help taking the cart or what is on it to trade for supplies.  Some belong to the mission, but some do not."

Azrael shook his head. "Look, I'll be honest. Five guys go out into the woods, make it a day's travel from town, then three of them get killed off and the two survivors sit in the woods eating donkey instead of reporting in for what, a week?"

"I mean, I'm an easy-going guy, but you realize how that looks, right? Especially after Hallic and Theodoric were already kicked out for consorting with demons?"

He turned to the others. "I'm not being paranoid, am I? That's all suspicious as hell, right?"

He turned back to Walter and Mal. "Anyway, not saying you're not trustworthy, or that your story is utter bullshit, but I'd feel a lot better if you told me why you've been sitting on your asses here long enough that the Guild felt like you were probably dead and decided to send us, instead. In our line of work you have to be careful."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

Malga'mar seems visibly confused.  He might be rolling his eyes, but his pupils make it uncertain despite the general easiness of reading his mannerisms.  He again takes a seat on the log.  Reaching to his side, one of his massive hands gently grabs an ornate quarterstaff made of blackened oak; embedded with several stones.  He holds the staff to his left ear.

"Ye ever dig three graves without a shovel?" asks Walter.

As I finish my words over the third grave, I look for the pit of bandit bodies and start praying over them as well.

"Actually, yes," Azrael said. "And it doesn't take a week. Though I wouldn't do so if it were faster to carry them back to town. And even then, I'd probably build them a pyre. Fire is an ancient and sacred means of sending the dead to their rest, Torch Bearer."

He looked at the ogre. "Look. You two must see how ridiculously suspicious this is. I'm fully willing to trust you without further question if you can provide me with a rational explanation to why you two have been sitting in the woods for so long without reporting in.

"Is that really so much to ask? Are you really surprised that someone would find this odd? We're dealing with demons and entities capable of possessing and corrupting the living from the inside out. It would be hopelessly naive if I wasn't suspicious of this situation."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

Jednesa moves over to count the bodies of the bandits.

"One.  Two.  Three.  Ummm... four?" then she starts using her fingers and counting in Ogrish... "Jeden, dva, tři, čtyři, pět, šest...  Ummm, eight?  'Eight' right word?  Lot of bandit fight"


She pokes the pile with her mace.  "Walter say trademan attacked.  Trademan okay?"

She'll start stripping the bandits of everything that isn't their flesh, piling the gear to the side.





OCC Ogrish translated: "One, two, three, four, five, six ..."  In case it wasn't obvious.  ;)

"Fire was not the way of Father Eli," says Walter in response to Azrael.

"I'd ask him, but it'd be rude now that Danos has performed the last rites," Azrael said. "But still, you could have brought the men back to Northport for a proper burial. Or even returned for a shovel, but the timeline doesn't make sense, unless the Guild sent us out before you'd even had time to arrive."

"Yes, Old Man," mutters Malga'mar.

The triangles in his eyes continuing to move, Malga'mar shifts his gaze up to Azrael.

"I spoke with the Weavers... men like spiders.  The trader we saved was one.  An old one thanked me.  They helped prepare Father Eli's body.  We waited in accordance with his faith and customs."

Standing, Malga'mar walks a few steps toward the pit and stands beside Jednesa.  "I know those words."

"...the numbers," he says as he looks into the pit.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

"That shows a tremendous amount of respect for someone who I've only heard spoken of disparagingly," Azrael said. "But I appreciate those who show proper reverence for the dead. If that's your story, I'll believe it until given reason to think otherwise."

He turned to the others. "I've no objection to them traveling with us, but it's up to the rest of you. They'll likely feel entitled to some of the reward money, which means smaller shares for each of us, but I don't really care about that."

"But given the time-sensitive nature of our expedition, regardless of what any Weavers have to say about anything, I would suggest that we providing only the quickest and most efficient means of respectful disposal for any who fall and cannot be returned to the city. We don't have time to sit around in the forest for days every time someone we barely know dies. Agreed?"

Jednesa shrugs. "Asral leader till bigger leader take from Asral.  Bury not Ogre way, so Jednesa die, okay if leave Jednesa not bury."


She goes back to stripping bandits.  When one is naked, she chops it's arms and legs off, and puts the body in the pit and tosses the arms and legs into another pile.

"Hey, stop," Azrael said. "Even if they're enemies, there's no reason to desecrate the corpses. Trust me, if you're afraid of the dead rising, they're even worse when they're angry and have no bodies to slow them down. We can turn the pit into a pyre if you're worried... that, at least, won't make them come after us."

"Oh." She stops. "This Great Army way, when is many, many dead and no time Priest make words or burn or bury or eat."

She carefully takes the limbs and sticks them in the pit with the body.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

"I don't know what the Great Army is, but generally speaking there's almost no chance of the dead rising, barring necromancy or the very desecration you're describing. And if the dead wish to rise, cutting off their limbs isn't going to stop them... at best, the arms and legs will come after you, at worst you end up dealing with vengeful specters and wraiths rather than simple zombies.

"Besides, a mass burning is faster than individual dismemberment. You throw them in a pit, add some fuel, light it, and walk away."

If there was one thing Azrael knew, it was the dead and what they did and didn't do, and how to dispose of them safely. Truthfully, it was pretty much the only thing he did know.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:27, Wed 06 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 131):

"I alrrady offered to make a funeral pyre...I will create a living pyre for yo to keep the bodies dead.

Our customers were very particular about who was on this mission and who was not. Lets just gather supplies and keep moving, and you guys head back to town and explain why you sat here so long to your customers."

She goes over to the fire and pulls a ball of flame out. In a short ritual, it becomes a living creature!

"Undertaker, move over to Jednesa and consume any naked bodies she gives you. And  anything else she gives you."

Jednesa almost seems to have fun feeding the the flame spirit the bandit's remains.

"Walter and Mal had previously been approved for this job as part of the last expedition," Azrael said.

I give a curious glance to Jednesas actions as I finish speaking my words.  Contrary to how gentle and sweet I bear myself, the rending of the flesh doesn't seem to have any impact on me.


"We all have our ways of addressing the dead.  I've seen to their spirit's rest as best as I can, By Sethygg's Will.  What is done with the uninhabited flesh is of no consequence."

[Private to Azrael: OOC: I didn't cast Final Rest or anything like that that would prevent you from doing some Spirit chat. Maybe just ask me if it's ok to mess with them now that I've done my thing.]

"That's where you're wrong," Azrael said. "Many dead care greatly when their remains are disturbed, be it their empty flesh, grave goods, tombs, or barrow mounds. Most of the time they lack the power to return to do anything about it, but I'd say that 90% of naturally risen dead come about because of the fact that their corpses were desecrated.

"But still, it's incredibly rare. But, priest, please keep in mind that not all of the dead will be followers of your faith. I have plans for after I die. Please don't read me the prayers of your weird-ass snake god."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

" My task is to see that the relics from the monastery are recovered. If Walt and Mal wish to accompany us I see no reason to object. There's food been offered to us. Lets eat and Mal and Walt can tell us what went astray with their expedition."

In reply to Stenet Fjall (msg # 137):

She sighs.

"Fine. Accept them at your peril. We were told that we had more stringent screening because of their failures, so previous acceptance should not mean current acceptance. But if you guys want, I will not fight you. Just note my objection for the record...

Back to setting the dead to rest eith a living funeral pyre, to best ensure they stay at rest."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 136):

"As you wish.  My words do not bind anyone to my god.  Only your faith can do that.  Sethygg watches over all and seeks to keep them in the realm of the living."

I glance around, just now noticing the tension in the group.


"If any of the rest of you wish to decline the healing touch of his coils, please say so now so that my efforts can be better focused on those wishing his embrace."

I step toward the roasted meat and pick a few edible cuts.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

"There's nothing wrong with healing the sick or tending to the injured," Azrael said with a laugh, "But nothing good ever comes of trying to cheat death. When it's your time to go... go. Death is not a punishment. It is reward for a life well lived. And it cannot be resisted."

Azrael patted his chest. "For generations, my family have been loyal worshipers of Osiris and other death gods. While I'm not a priest, I do my best to protect the living from the dead, and the dead from the living. Your god is absolutely free to heal me, but I'd appreciate if he didn't... you know... watch me all the time? Or keep me from the good death?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:08, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 140):

"I also appreciate healing, but once I am dead, I would be happy to cheat death."

"Please try!" Azrael grinned. "Liches keep people like me in business."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 142):

"Lichdom was not what I had in mind. But if you are an expert, what are the ways one may cheat death?"

"Sethig stop meat from hurt others?  Sethig good."

"Well... 'cheating' death isn't really cheating death. The gods of death - Osiris, Anubis, Arwan, Thanatos - they watch over the afterlife and safeguard the dead, collect the souls. The Fates - the Norns, the Weird Sisters, whichever - they decide how long your life will be, and when you must die."

"So you don't cheat death. You cheat Fate. And the legends are full of stories about people trying to cheat Fate, but it never ends well, does it? There's usually some sort of ironic twist that makes everything worse for everyone involved."

He ate a strip of roast donkey.

"But healing magic doesn't cheat Fate. Medicine doesn't cheat Fate. Even a resurrection spell doesn't cheat Fate. If the magic or medicine works, then clearly you were not yet fated to die."

"It's only when you remove yourself from the cycle of life, death, and rebirth entirely that you have cheated. Immortality is a curse, because it subverts the very reason why we're here to begin with. Immortality removes you from the cycle, and robs from you your ultimate destiny."

He gestured around at the road, at the forest, and the graves. "We're not meant to stay here forever. At least, not in this form, in these bodies. Undeath is stagnation. It keeps us from moving on to what comes next, whether that be another state of existence, or the afterlife, or reincarnation. So when you kill a vampire or a liche or whatever, you're performing the greatest of kindness by allowing them to move on."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 145):

"The kind of kindness I specialise in. But the gods are immortal: do they not cheat death then, according to what you have told me?"

Azrael shrugged. "Nah, they're not immortal. Gods die all the time. Kill each other, get killed by heroes, their worshippers all die and they fade away, forgotten... even the gods have their own fates. Some day the world, too, will end, and then it, too, will be reborn."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 147):

"That aside, we are fated to pull some loot."

"Jednesa know Jednesa fate.  Die in battle.  All strong die battle.  Die on Nekonečný Bitva.  Nitro go to Nikdy Život.  All day fight, all night eat, sex.  Forever."



"But loot now good too."

"Snake Gods are fine by me.  Sailed on a ship once where some of the crew followed one named 'Yig.'  Hope to stay afloat and avoid going toward the light Eli had preached for a time yet.  Maybe have my own ship some day and collect my own mish-mash of a crew with more faiths I hadn't heard before.  Dareos, if ye can help this old salt keep burnin' his light a while, I be much obliged."

"Yeah, you can channel your god's energy to heal me, I absolutely appreciate it, but maybe... tell him not to watch people who aren't his worshippers? That's creepy, and disrespectful to the other gods."

Malga'mar quietly watches the group for a while.  He smiles and nods during their conversation about life and death.  He appears genuinely happy to again be around the living.

As they speak, he gathers the rest of his gear.  He then moves over to the cart and begins to sort through a pile of items which had been neatly stacked by the cart; items which had not been buried.  From the pile, he pulls out a broadsword which has signs of being cheaply made; the handle seems to be roughly carved from what may have at one point been a thick table leg, with a wash of gilt paint.
Malga'mar swings the sword around slowly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Mon 11 Apr 2016.

Stenet walks over to Christine and talks quietly with her.

[Private to Christine Bjorn: "I understand your objections, but let me make a couple of points if I may. First, if we have to fight a demon we'll need all the help we can get. And I know a bit about demons. Second, I'd rather have these two where we can keep an eye on them. Not running around unseen to hit us later."

Have you worked with any of this group before? I am , in your term, a 'blocker'. Haskell and Dareos are equipped, at least, to fight in a shield wall. Which gives us a line to support Jednesa, clearly our heavy hitter, and protect the casters, you and Azrael. Leaving your companion to watch the flanks. Not sure yet about our two newcomers.]

In reply to Stenet Fjall (msg # 153):

Christine replies quietly.

[Private to Stenet Fjall: I just don't want them joining the demons. I can create a small army of fire elementals to hit, and dispatch them if they turn on us, but these folk...besides, I do not want to jeopardise our contract.]

I smile, and bow my head slightly.  Hoping to bring this somewhat inflamed conversation to an end.

"As always, I will continue to serve Him and my companions

I gesture to everyone around me with a sweep of my hands;

to the very best of my ability."

In reply to Dareos Madrigar (msg # 155):

In the pile of gear on the cart, which seems to include the
Waterskin of holy water along with several vials, there is a large pack of gear, a silver plated morningstar, the cheap
Broadsword  Malga'mar was inspecting, a half dozen cheap
shortswords, some knives of dubious quality, and a few inferior bows and a couple quivers of arrows.

Azrael examined the morningstar carefully. "Whose was this?"

OOC:  Does this list include the bandit's armor, or were they armorless?
This message was last updated by the player at 20:38, Mon 11 Apr 2016.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 158):

"Not sure, but I would not want to see the holy water go to waste" she says, handing it to Chris.

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 159):

The bandits had leather armor,as did Konrad and eventually
Frank had some from the bandits, Father Eli had none, but was buried with his holy symbol.

PPC:  Right, and Jednesa strippeed the Bandits of their leathers, so there should be a pile of crusty, nasty leathers next to the cart if someone wants to "up armor".

"Konrad," says Malga'mar in a slightly sad tone;"Konrad had the silver."

"This should be buried with him, then," Azrael said. "It's not... some treasure we've won. Not a war prize. It's not some vital supply we need. It was obviously important to him."

He held up the mace. "Keeping it when we don't even need it... that is the sort of thing the dead resent. It's unlikely that he'd come after us, but it's just plain disrespectful."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Tue 12 Apr 2016.

"Ye be alright," says Walter as he slowly approaches Malga'mar.  "Some wicks burn fast; some slow, and some go out when the unexpected breeze comes to blow."

Walter takes a few steps toward Dareos and speaks in a quieter tone. "Mal seems a bit green in the gills when it comes to the world.  Not much experience with the idea of friends or losing them.  Wouldn't say Konrad was a friend exactly, but my guess is those we lost were the Big Guy's first experience with bein' part of a crew."

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 164):

"Was it actually his silver, or did it have a purpose beyond his personal cash?"

"Think it was something the church gave him for the mission?"

Malga'mar shrugs his heavy shoulders at Azrael's suggestion.

"When Yayoc died, I took his stick to remember," he says; pointing to the ornate staff that is normally in his hands.  "I do not know Konrad's way, but I remember then with Old Man, and also remember lessons say silver weapons have purpose."

Malga'mar turns and faces Christine.  He shrugs his big shoulders again.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Tue 12 Apr 2016.

"Some people say that momento mori are for the living," Azrael said. "These people don't know what they're talking about. The dead retain a strong connection to what they held important in life. These... fetters... bind them to the world of the living."

He turned the mace in his hand so that it caught the light, then looked at Mal. "Generally speaking, burying these fetters with the dead help them move on faster... it's like one less thing they need to worry about. And if you were important to the dead one, they might prefer you to keep it, because then they can keep an eye on you."

He sighed. "This has nothing to do with how much you miss the dead. Only how they felt about you matters. So unless you are certain that they want you to keep these objects... if you are keeping them for your own selfish emotional reasons, rather than because it is what they would have wanted... you are stealing from the dead, and nothing good will come of it."

He glanced back towards the graves. "I can ask, if you want to know what the dead think."

ooc: Sense of Duty (The recently dead) + Obsession (Help the dead to the other side)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Tue 12 Apr 2016.

Malga'mar places the cheap broadsword back on the wagon and regains his ornate staff.  He stares at it a moment and seems to ponder Azrael's words.

"I do not know what I think.  Sometimes, the one who taught me would study dead things, and sometimes living things.  I did not like when he was gone, but he did not tell me how to feel when he was here... only study.  There are many thoughts to learn today."

"I can try to make it simple for you:

"If you knew the dead well, then you should know if they would want you to have their things. If you did not know them well, then perhaps you should give them back."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 170):

"Short answer is, he doesn't know. Ask away..."

"Konrad said he be a mercenary.  Had all manner of weapon.  ...say; reminds me of a marine I knew on a small cargo ship.  She was the Brass Monkey.  ...fine sails; fine sails."

"Mercenaries can become strangely attached to their weapons," Azrael said. "But I won't disturb him for my own curiosity. This is a choice that only Mal can make. Was he close enough to you that he would want you to carry his weapon, or should we bury it with him?"

He paused, then turned to the others. "It's funny... some things about funerary customs depend on the beliefs of the dead, and others do not. For example. How the dead are disposed of... the dead like to be put to rest in the way they spent their lives anticipating. You bury people who think they're going to be buried. Burn people who think they're going to be burned. Say the right prayers the right way."

"But after that... well. There is an objective afterlife. It's an actual physical place. Doesn't matter what your religion teaches. You go there. Everybody does, even if you believe something else entirely. Daros might believe something like the dead are snuggled in the coils of his snake god for eternity, but no, you die, you go to the underworld."

"I know this because I have a spell that can send me to the Realm of the Dead. Never going to cast it, though, because I don't have a spell that sends me back here."

"Shaman teach Ogre meat be meat.  The ... ever part go Great Battle.  Ogre eat meat.  Take weapon of meat, ever part know weapon still fight enemy of tribe.  Battle where weapon used great enough, glory enough, fallen Ogre come back, help in battle!  This Ogre way."

Malga'mar looks back and forth from Azrael and Jednesa.  His unusual pupils currently sideways with the orange triangles facing to the right, and the purple triangles facing to the left.  As they slowly move, it's almost as though an onlooker could almost watch the thoughts in Malga'mar's mind turning.

"Close?" he asks in a tone more directed toward himself.  "Friendly?" he says in a partially questioning tone as though, despite being more intelligent than he looks, he is unfamiliar with how exactly to use the word.

"Different weapons for different jobs I think.  Before, I learned that different magic is for different things.  Konrad viewed weapons like that.  Silver hurts some things that steel does not."

"The question is not, 'would this weapon be useful,' but 'would Konrad want you, personally, to have it?'"

"Hmmm...  I think he would want his weapons to fight; not be under dirt."

"And more importantly, are you saying that because you know it's true, or because you want it to be true? Did you know him well enough to honestly say that? Or should I summon him so you can ask?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Tue 12 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 178):

"Seems to me this Konrad is past caring about his
fancy morningstar, and further, it would also seem to be a
lot easier to get ahead in the world with goods we don't
have to pay for.  I make my living killing things and taking
their stuff, and Christine and Dareos have profited the same
way. If you wanna ask the dead guy if he needs it, I'm willing to bet he doesn't say he does. We are on our way to
Get the loot kept by a bunch of dead monks. I doubt it matters much to them either."

Azrael shook his head. "The dead aren't past caring about anything. That's all they have left. Caring. Ghosts are nothing but emotional impulse and raw desire."

"But it's not about what they want. It's about whether or not you want to respect them. If you want to respect the dead, bury them with what was important to them in life. If you don't care about what they think, what they're feeling, then make up some story about how they won't care, or how they totally would have wanted you to have that weapon or that staff.

"I'm just here to help you see what you're doing."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 180):

"You are here to collect the bishop's leavings and
dump holy water in the corners of an old building in exchange
for silver coins. That's  what you are here for. That's all
you are here for."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:06, Thu 14 Apr 2016.

"No.  Asrel leader until someone stronger take over."

Jednesa moves over to a few yards from the fire and takes another small piece of cooked donkey.  She seems to have taken a keen interest in this turn in the discussion.

Azrael leaned forward, the pits under his eyes looking darker, the cheekbones gaunter, the white of his teeth brighter. "Not your job to tell me while I'm here, friend. You would do well to remember that."

He was trying to look spooky or something. It wasn't very effective. He sighed and leaned back. "Whatever the case, Haskell, you do your job, let me worry about mine."

[Private to GM: Intimidation roll failed.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:51, Wed 13 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 183):

"Keep in mind I have rank with the guild. You have less standing than I do."

Walter pulls one of the torches from his bandolier and passing it under his nose;sniffing.

"Thought I smelled something burning, heh heh."

"Your guild rank let you weasel your way into this expedition uninvited, but it doesn't mean any of us have to care what you have to say." Azrael stood. "Listen, Haskell. Back at the gates of Northport, we discussed who was going to lead the group. If you wanted to be in charge you should have spoken up then. You didn't, so I took the role. Not because I wanted it, but because nobody else did, and somebody has to be leader or nothing gets done."

"You want to take over? You want to be the boss and make all the hard decisions? Then fine, you can be in charge. If not, sit down, shut up and do what you're told like a good little soldier.

"You don't like it, run back to the guild and cry to mommy and daddy about how nobody likes you."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 186):

"Guys, do we have too much testosterone around here? We are meant to work as a team, not fight each other. There is absolutely no need for personal insults: they are immature and not in any way helpful. Be objective. Azrael was selected to be leader,but that means he should act in a way that is conducive of respect, not being demeaning. Now apologise to each other and learn to discuss differences like adults!"

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 187):

Haskell shrugs. "Whatever."

Azrael shrugs and echoes Haskell's sentiment. "Whatever."

"Good."


Jednesa reaches across the fire and firmly takes the flail from Azrael and then stomps over to the graves.

Pointing at the graves, "Belong which one?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Thu 14 Apr 2016.

I cringe at the thought and then present my point quietly and gently;

"While I may concede that the dead could be displeased by someone taking their things, it seems to me that they might be even less pleased by being uninterred.  We didn't bury them without their things.  I don't feel like we should exhume them as a remedy."

I turn to Azrael as I'm sure he has a response.

"Jednesa not dig up.  Jednesa put flail in ground with dead."

Azrael shrugged. "As with all things, it depends on the context. Digging them up to desecrate the body, to rob the dead, bad.

"Digging them up to give them missing grave goods, to solve their murder, to re-inter them somewhere more appropriate than the roadside? Good. If fact, it would be entirely appropriate to come back when we're done and transport the bodies the several hours' distance to Northport, to bury them on consecrated ground."

"Not that I'm going to suggest that. Not unless they come and ask me to."

ooc: How many hours of daylight do we have left?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Thu 14 Apr 2016.

"Didn't know Konrad much more than Mal did, but seems he might be happier wherever he be if he knew he still in some way helped finish the job.  No man of magic might I be, but 've heard enough stories at this age to know silver weapons be useful."

Walter whistles as he places his unlit torch back into his bandolier.

"Also seems that ye soon be here as long as we.  Are ye dropping anchor here?  Few drinks around the fire?  Shanties?"

"Depends. We've been here what... ten, fifteen minutes? An hour? How long until nightfall?"

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 194):

"Grave stuff talk over.  Decision made!"

Jednesa stumps back, and gently, carefully, but firmly grabs Walter from behind.  Carrying him in one hand like a large child over to the graves she sets him down facing them.  Holding him, she leans in close and points with flail at the graves and whispers very loudly (which is probably softly for her), "Which one?"



OOC:
If I have to make rolls I will.

"I see," says Walter with his eyes squinted.

"Thing is, can't remember.  Reminds me of a story..."

"Once sailed with a crew that had only part of a map, you see?  Captain Glim...  Gnome I think, but never was sure.  Crew was on the verge of mutiny.  Captain had promised riches, and we had been eatin' lean for quite a while.  Lemme tell ya, Mal's job with this donkey here is beyond gourmet compared to those days."

Walter scratches his chin and looks up at Jednesa.

"Don't think we had any of yer kind then.  Lot of different folks; even a few like Dareos.  Remember one was a Dwarf; good with his fists... fought with bare hands mostly.  'E clobbered a few drunks in more than a few taverns.  I was young then.  Could still tell ye all about the Ebon Emerald though; that was the ship I was on then.  Ye want to know why it was called that?"

Jednesa let's him go and steps back.  Her face clearly confused.  This is not how things were supposed to go!

Then she sits down and looks at the graves in puzzlement.

"Ah-ha! Can see by the look in those eyes that ye want to hear more!  Now, where was I?"

"Walter," Azrael said softly. "You're upsetting the girl. Please answer the question she's put to you so we can move on. I'd rather not have to ask the dead."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:17, Fri 15 Apr 2016.

"Honestly don't remember," says Walter;"most work was Mal and Weavers."

"That one, maybe," he says as he points to the grave on the left.

Jednesa nods.  "Okay."

She turns to Malga'Mar, "Malgmar... which, which one?" as she points with the flail.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 202):

Christine creates some nice food and enjoys it, ignoring the kefuffle among the rest now they are not about to kill each other.

[Private to GM: Rolled 10 under create food, 11 under cook spell.]

Malga'mar approaches Jednesa.  He speaks shyly; his strange eyes fixated on his feet.

"Last on the right."

Jednesa moves over to that grave and carefully lines the handle of the flail up to about where someone's hand might be (much concentration!) and then jams the flail down into the recently turned earth.  Once it's below the dirt she snaps a straight thick branch of a tree and uses that to push it further into the ground.  Once satisfied, she pats the hole closed and goes to the cart.


"What weapon next?"


OOC: And to speed things up, as long as Malga'Mar know which weapons go to which graves, and no on (Azreal) objects to her actions, she'll likewise plant the other weapons as well.

"It was all gathered together after.  The silver one was easy to sort out.  Daggers and bows all look the same now."

Malga'mar returns to the area of the cart.  He again gathers the cheap broadsword he had been playing with earlier.  Finding the cheap quality sheath which goes with it, he collects both items; placing the sword in its shoddy leather holder before finding a seat near Christine.

Jednesa looks at Azreal, "Dead happy now?"

Azrael looked at the graves, looked at the ogre, looked at the graves, looked at the ogre, opened his mouth, shut it again. What could you do? Ogres gonna oge.

"Let's hope so."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 208):

"Just to clarify, you want to leave a cache of weapons for the next set of bandits? These guys probably stole this junk in the first place."

"There's an important difference here," Azrael said. "The bandits possessions are war-prizes taken from enemy soldiers bested in battle. Mal and Walter can claim the weapons, leave them, burn them, whatever they want."

"But Konrad and the others? They're companions and, Mal says, friends, deserving of respect, of having their honored possessions buried with them. You show respect for those you fought beside. Now, ideally?

He turned back in the direction of Northport. "Ideally Walter and Mal would have brought the dead back to Northport for a proper burial. Might take a day. Might take two. They'd be interred properly, on hallowed ground, safe from grave robbers and... I don't know, bears."

"But that's not what happened. So they've been given... proper-ish... burials here. And we can either leave them here and let the fates speak to their disposition, or collect them for a proper burial on our way back."

He turned away. "Now. Haskell. How many hours of daylight do we have left?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:49, Sat 16 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 210):

"We have about two good hours before dusk."

"We might as well camp here, unless the rest of you want to move an hour up the road to avoid camping in our temporary graveyard."

"We should drink to the dead.  Honor their spirits with song and dance."

"Let's move on for a bit, rather not camp next to a grave site."

In reply to Stenet Fjall (msg # 214):

"Yeah. Lets move on..."

"Yes... a going away party be agreeable.  Feel good just thinkin' about it."

"Pack it up, then. Let's move an hour up the road."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 217):

After reloading the cart and burying the assorted fires, you
Make your way up the road.

Ooc: is Jednesa  towing? Also survival rolls for finding a campsite
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:27, Sun 17 Apr 2016.

OOC:  Yup.  Either pushing or pulling, whichever makes more sense.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 219):

Christine lets the others pick a site.

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 220):

Haskell locates a likely site just off the road.

I gather myself, help with whatever needs to be loaded, and walk alongside the cart.

Malga'mar straps the cheap broadsword to his back and collects a shield with a blunt spike from the cart;carrying it in his right hand.  His ornate staff finds a home in his left hand.  He leaves the rest of the items on the cart and walks a few paces behind the cart while travelling.  Once the group reaches a rest stop, he will sit near Haskell.

In reply to Malga'Mar (msg # 223):

Christine and Chris set up camp with the others.

Jednesa parks the cart wherever (if someone says to park it somewhere specific, she'll put it there), and then settles in next to it.


OOC: Are we setting watches?

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 225):

Chris will keep watch, but he is not the most observant.

"Okay," Azrael said. "I'll take first watch. Christine second. Mal third. Then Walter. Then Haskell. Sound good?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 227):

"No. Give me the last watch, so I can create a travelling companion for tomorrow."

"I don't need you casting a spell, I need you paying attention and keeping watch," Azrael said. "You don't want to do it, fine - Jednesa can take your shift."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 229):

"I can and usually do do both. Regardless of whether I am on watch, I will be up early to create him and recover my strength after it."

"Even so, if you're focused on spellcasting I'd prefer to have someone who isn't distracted keeping an eye out. Me, Jednesa, Mal, Walter, Haskell. Two hour shifts. Everybody gets their eight hours of rest, and it doesn't matter what Christine is up to because there's someone else on watch. Sound good?"

" I'd be willing to take a shift."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 231):

Ok then. Others can double up for less observant folk. I can double the last shift, and Chris will double all shifts."

"Sure, if you'd rather take a shift go ahead. As long as one person per shift isn't distracted doing other things."

"Sounds agreeable to me," says Walter.

Hearing this his shift is the last one, Walter finds a spot to sit down.  He places his pack on the ground and pulls out the components of a one-man tent; beginning the process of setting up the tent.

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 235):

"Slightly loger watches with two on at a time works better, but whatever you say. You want me on dawn patrol, I'm
good for it."

"There's six of us," Azrael said, "So you're talking three watches. If everybody's sleeping two watches, that puts us at 4 hours per watch - twice as long as what I was planning - and that means we're camped for twelve hours instead of ten."

He looked at the sky. "How many hours are there between sundown and sunup this time of year?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 237):

"Bout eleven or so."

"Close enough. Okay, three shared paired watches, four hours each. First up is me and Haskell, then Jedesna and Walter, then Christine and Mal. Sound good?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Fri 22 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 239):

"Works for me."

In reply to Haskell the crafty (msg # 240):

"Yep, fine. Since Chris can't sleep, Chris, if anyone commands you to wake everybody up, please do so quickly but gently. Inform those who are awake if you ever see non- party members while anybody is asleep."

Malga'mar nods in agreement.

Jednesa just stretches out next to the cart with her tarp rolled up for a 'pillow'.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 243):

During the night, little occurs beyond the rustling approach through the underbrush  of something that stops suddenly  and
then backs away slowly.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 244):

Who is on watch at that time?

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 245):

Jednesa and Walter.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 246):

Does Chris notice?

In reply to Chris (msg # 247):

Chris was instructed to respond if anything entered  the campsite; nothing did.

Do you want dice rolls for us to recognize what it was?  Otherwise I'll presume it was raccoons and not worry about it.
This message was last updated by the player at 00:36, Sun 24 Apr 2016.

ooc: Are we still on watch now?

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 250):

Rolling through to morning, nothing else occurred, although you find a few human sized tracks in the morning in the area of the disturbance.

"Being watched, we were," says Walter as he casually inspects the area where the noises had come from during the night.

"What can you tell from the tracks?" Azrael asked.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 253):

"Two of them, a goblin and a hobgoblin by the size, or a pair of men of those
dimensions. Not orcs, from the shape of the boot prints. One of them, the bigger one has a
shield, you can tell from the broken branches to one side.  Looks like they were trying to
move quietly, from the even deliberate footprints at first, but it looks like they took off
running."

In reply to Haskell the crafty (msg # 254):

Looking where Haskel's pointing, but not seeing a thing he's talking about.

"Are we going to follow them?"

"Pffft.  Goblins see us, goblins run away.  Jednesa say go to church place.  Goblins scared, no problem."

"They've been gone for hours," Azrael said. "But let's take this as a warning to be cautious."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 257):

You break camp and return to the road, still deeply shadoed by ovrrhanging trees.

Malga'mar walks with the rest of the group; taking a position to the right of Christine.  He walks with the ornate staff in his left hand.  The shield acquired from the cart is held in his right.

"You study magic?" he asks shyly.

In reply to Malga'Mar (msg # 259):

"I do, but I prefer to practice it, as you can tell from my fiery friend." she says, pointing to the elemental floating along beside them.

"Wow, how long has that been there?" Azrael said, just noticing the elemental for the first time. "Oh, right, you summoned it to burn the bodies yesterday. And you can just keep it around indefinitely?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Thu 28 Apr 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 261):
ooc:
Actually they are good for an hour and will need to be
resummoned and get a reaction roll. The trips to the
Winecellars  were actually  fairly short. We need to review these rolls for Shevnia  also. So: create a bonfire sized
fire with fuel and summon. The only exception is with actual allies

In reply to Narrator (msg # 262):

Ooc; Because she creates them, there is an opposed roll to keep control of them every hour instead. But this one she createdthis morning, during the last watch, so she could recover energy after.

"I study some fire magic," Malga'mar says as he looks over at the elemental,"but do not know that one yet."

He trudges onward; keeping pace with the rest of the party and the cart.

"My teacher was good with air and lightning.  I learned some.  He also showed me how to counter other spells.  I still study.  Much to learn."

"I'm afraid my own talent and training is entirely encompassed within the confines of death magic," Azrael said. "Though you'd be surprised at how much that can entail. I think that if I were to have been a standard wizard, I would likely have studied divination. It seems like it would be the most useful."

"Wizard," Malga'mar mutters to himself in a questioning tone.

"I was an apprentice.  With Old Man gone, maybe I am wizard.  Not sure."

The large shoulders of Malga'mar hunch a bunch and he furrows his brow in contemplation.

"The word means different things to different people," Azrael said. "You can call yourself whatever you want."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 267):

"That is true indeed. All who use magic are forever learning. I specialise in elemental magic and creation of scrolls and golems. Obviously fire is my favourite, but I also know air, earth and water spells, and even some Necromantic Spells, as needed to animate a golem. Perhaps we can learn from each other..."

OOC:  Did everyone load their gear up on the wagon?  Or are we still crawling along at Slowpoke McNecromancer's speed?  ;)

OOC: Right now, Malga'mar has his pack on the cart.  He is carrying a shield and his staff though.  He also has a cheap sword strapped to his back.

ooc: Azrael threw his pack on the cart and is ambling along at Move 4.8.

OOC:  You are so lucky Jed isn't Impatient.  She'd load everyone who moved slower than 6 onto the cart and hot foot it there as fast as possible.  THERE'S STUFF TO FIGHT!

If the cart could handle everyone's weight. I don't think it can.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 272):

Christine moves at 6, but Chris moves at 4.8.

OOC:  Just so you know, you need to drop fractions when figuring out final move rate.  So we're at Move 4.  Which is better than 3 I suppose...  [Failed the Player's Self-Control on Impatience  ;) ]

ooc: True for combat Move, untrue for converting Move to MPH, depending on which set of GURPS Rules for long-distance travel you're using. The system contradicts itself in several places.

I think DF2 and DF16 differ in several places regarding it.

OOC:  The biggest contradiction is between Basic and High Tech, Basic is double the travel distance of High Tech (if you presume a 10 hour hike/march per day).  This is because the Basic Set was going under some crazy ideas that marching 50 miles in a day is routine.  High Tech sets this "right" as it has a more "realistic" daily speed (25 miles in a ten-hour day for 'regular' Unencumbered folks).

However, both keep to the 'rounddown' approach to Move (Basic Set by referencing the Encumbrance rules, High Tech by using Move, instead of Basic Move).


OOC:  Yeah, DF2 simplifies Travel Time to a GM Fiat plus/minus a modifier (since nothing really important is meant to happen outside the Dungeon), and DF16 gets back to the nitty and gritty, by figuring out MPH (using High Tech's 'realistic' speeds).  However your Move is always a whole number, you always rounddown after Encumbrance.  You only keep the fractions that arise during the steps to figure out base and modified Travel Speed and mph.

So Azrael has a Move of 4.  Hiking (x1) down a Road (x1.25) gives him a base Travel Speed of 5.  Then we have to add all Modifiers: Hiking* (-10%) + Navigation (Golden Path Bonus**) (+10%) + Weather** (±0%) + Tracking (±0% - we're not tracking) = ±0%.  So it remains 5, which is then halved to find the mph:  So Azrael's walks at 2.5mph.

Christine and Jednesa's base Travel Speed is 7.5 (yes, that's with Jednesa pushing the cart), figuring everyone again fails their hiking rolls, leaves them walking at 3.75mph.  If Christine and Jed succeeded at Hiking rolls, they could be power-walking at 4.5mph (4mph is a high average human walking pace).


* Presuming he again fails his Hiking roll.
** Presuming an automatic Navigation Success for "walking down a road till you get there" and no bad weather (and no "Wind At Your Back" bonus as we have no Druid, Weather Witches, or such to make the day better than 'Passable').



Having typed all that... I have no idea if our Narrator is using the 'nitty and gritty' system from DF16 or the fiat system from DF2.  He might have just decided it "takes 3 days to get there" and not be worrying about travel speed or distances.

ooc: That's why I posted my move with the decimal. He can do whatever he wants with it.

In reply to Malga'Mar (msg # 264):

"These children are my creations, the result of much research. As I said, happy to compare notes."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 278):

Occ: unless time sensitive or pursuit based, I go with
 "takes x number of days" also, as this is going to be an 8 hr day, i need 8 control rolls for the elementals.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 279):

The day winds down as you come to the edge of the forrest.
Time to look up a place to break camp.

ooc: What comes after the forest?

In reply to Azrael (msg # 281):

Abandoned and overgrown farmland, with small patches of cultivation around small scattered homes. In the distance, an untended vinyard.

"You guys want to camp in one of those farmhouses?"

In reply to Azrael (msg # 283):

"Sounds good to me."

[Private to GM: I will roll every morning then, right? Also, what take x number of days?]

"House look small.  Break easy.  Jednesa sleep outside with cart."

"I remember the days of sleepin' under the stars," says Walter as he gathers his personal gear from the cart.

"These days, my old bones prefer a roof over me head.  Maybe some wine left behind from the vineyard's finer days!"




ooc: Is there any farming equipment around?

"I too remember it as if it were yesterday," Azrael said.

Malga'mar stays quiet.  At first, he stands near Jednesa.  After a few others declare their intention to sleep in one of the houses, he collects his gear from the cart and moves to stand near Christine.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Fri 06 May 2016.

In reply to Malga'Mar (msg # 288):

Christine sets up camp in one of the rooms, asking she only share it with Cris, and volunteers for the first watch, keeping her fire elemental with her for the watch.

"When it comes to sleeping, a girl needs some privacy." she explains.

Before anyone enters the house, I say a prayer in the doorway for the family that vacated it and for those in my group.

"I'll take whichever watch is needed if it's needed."

In reply to Dareos Madrigar (msg # 290):

A woman living in the farmhouse, which has land cleared around it, it a bit taken aback by your decision to camp thete.

"Hello," Azrael greets her. "We were wondering if you'd be willing to put us up for the night, either in your home or in your barn. We can pay."

ooc: Not using any skills, but Charisma 1 for the reaction roll.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 292):

The woman seems intimidated by the armed men and the ogres.
She recoils in fear.

"Ah, geez." Azrael scratches his head. "Sorry, we didn't think anybody lived here, on account of the state of your vinyards. We've been sent by the church to solve the problems at the old Abbey."

In reply to Marcella (msg # 293):

"Its ok. We mean you no harm." Christine tries to reassure her.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 294):

"I have only my kitchen garden. The vinyards belong to the Abbey."

"We have no desire to trespass, so if you would not have us, we will be on our way," Azrael said. "But before we go, what can you tell us about the Abbey?"

In reply to Marcella (msg # 296):

"Have you seen any dangerous creatures around? Apart from people sent by the Abbey to reclaim it, that is..."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 297):

Her eyes flit to the side and she appears to listen to
something unseen.
"There are bad things there. It isn't safe."

In reply to Marcella (msg # 299):

"Neither are we safe,if you are evil. That is why we are going to deal with it. What do you know about it?"

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 300):

"What do you mean? Brother Michael says I am not evil."

In reply to Marcella (msg # 301):

"Nobody says you are evil. We just want to learn about the evil."

"Brother Michael?" says Walter curiously.

"He be a priest from the abbey?"

In reply to Walter Goldman (msg # 303):

"He was."

Jednesa looks for a place to back the cart up against, does so, and then smooths out a space in front of the cart for eventually bedding down.  She yanks another hunk off the donkey carcass and settles in for dinner while the small people deal with the small farm person.

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 305):

Azrael waves at his ear as if swatting at a mosquito.
[Private to Azrael: your annoying voices are getting louder, and they seem to be angrily reacting to someone unseen]

"One sec." Azrael concentrated for a moment.

[Private to GM: ooc: Casting Astral Vision. Success. 4fp spent. He can now see insubstantial beings.]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:59, Mon 09 May 2016.

In reply to Azrael (msg # 307):

Azrael's eyes open wide.
[Private to Azrael: there is a shadowy robed figure standing beside Marcella]

Azrael speaks softly, focused on a point next to Marcella. "Who are you? What do you want?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Wed 11 May 2016.

I take a step back as if it will make it easier for me to see who he's talking to.

In reply to Dareos Madrigar (msg # 310):

azael is looking at something you cannot see.
[Private to Azrael:the robed figure raises his hands above Marcella's head and makes a sign of blessing.]

Walter leans closer to Azrael and whispers,"I be Walter, and I want to dance."

With a brow raised in bewilderment, Malga'mar walks to a position halfway between where Jednesa is with the cart and where the rest of the party is standing.  He looks around; his odd eyes scanning his surroundings.

"I'm talking to the ghost, Walter."

In reply to Azrael (msg # 314):

"That is Brother Michael. He is warning you not to
go to the abbey."