[OOC: suggested soundtracks:
My Sleeping Karma by Satya
Here Be Dragons by The Kilimandjaro Darkjazz Ensamble
The Iron Horse by The Sound Defects
Sunset Mission by Bohren & Der Club Of Gore]

You don’t know that much about the Badlands. You know just that they are a vast, barbaric steppe region, dotted by occasional stunted groves and bordered eastwards by a gaunt woodland. The Badlands are inhabited by superstitious folk that don’t recognize any authority from external lands, including Baron Tyntern. The people of these lands dwell in sparse villages, apart from the Kugic nomads who wander this land hunting and occasionally trading their exceptional horses. Ignorance, suspicion and cruelty reign here, just as if a dark blight had been cast upon the land. For sure, crossing the Badlands will be a harsh trek for you.

It is mid-day and the path splits in three: one road goes straight north, another one goes west and the last one goes east.
In the center of this broad crossroad there is a tall wooden obelisk, decorated with antic and scorning faces of demons and humans alike. It’s very windy here, and small whirls of dust chase each other relentlessly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:42, Sat 22 Dec 2018.

Garl’s head still aches from the intense effort of learning three new spells from the tome, which was destroyed in the process.  He is grateful for the opportunity, of course, but he also wishes that learning was less painful.

He carefully explains that if he shouts FORK, he means that they must immediately shut their eyes, since that will mean that he is casting a spell which can blind anyone who fails to do so.

After doing this, he suggests travelling west, for no particular reason.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:11, Mon 17 Dec 2018.

Storm congratulates the Mage for mastering the spell. He is fine any direction and remembers the words of his Mage:

If there are no objections (and there won’t be any from Horace Greeley), we’ll go west.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Sat 22 Dec 2018.

After a half day march, without meeting anyone, the road splits: you can carry on west or you can take a new road going north.
It is now sunset and you are hungry.

Storm suggests stopping to take a break before continuing. He will refer to the map to see where to head.

[OOC: the Elves didn't give you a map.]

Robustous is happy to go what ever way the group chooses. He adds a ball of tobacco to his pipe and then  shrouds himself in the resulting smoke.

-

If tuebelves have given direction, Storm follows the advice. If not, he will determine a direction randomly.

Are you making camp for the night or are you carrying on?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:31, Tue 25 Dec 2018.

Storm suggests camping for the night.

Who has a bedroll? Who has a tent?

[OOC: please update your character sheets: you passed one full week with the Elves and this night meal. In total they are 15 meals that you have to deduct from what you carried from the Hellwinter Tower.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:04, Thu 27 Dec 2018.

Garl only had ten in his saddlebags and four in his backpack, not including the waybread.  We didn’t get/purchase any additional food from the elves?

Storm has a bedroll. If possible he will buy food on the way to augment his rations. Failing that, he will hunt for food.

No, you didn't purchase anything from the Elves (and so far you didn't meet anybody else), but they gave you the Waybread.

Can we hunt on the road? Storm has enough meals but he don't mind hunting or foraging.

Of course you can hunt on the road, although it will make yu much slower.

If we were running low on rations, I think we would have already been hunting while traveling.  I’d hate to have to use waybread before it’s necessary... but like I said, I only had room for fourteen rations.

During the trip with the Elves you din't have time to hunt: you were trained by the Elves, as mentioned, and a week travelling and training goes by quickly.
You can try hunting this evening (not much time, but...) or some companion may share his evening meal.

Storm shares a ration with his friend.

OOC: we need deduct 15 rations?

[OOC: one week (two rations a day) + this evening = 15 rations]

Are you camping tonight? Bedrolls? Tents? Anybody taking turns?

In reply to The Director (msg # 21):

Storm offers to take the first watch. He shares his food with the mage.

Should I cast Sentry?  And is the location such that I can cover us with less than four castings?

[OOC: The area of the Badlands is a kind of highland prairie, cold and dry, swept by the wind. Imagine some part of Central Asia.]

Garl offers to cast four sentry spells.  This will guarantee that the party will warned if an undesireable creature approaches.  However, if he does this, he will need an uninterrupted night’s sleep to regain his spell points.

Shall he do this, or no?

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 25):

Yes go ahead.

The night is cold, but not freezing as you were worried. At dawn you wake up and you still can't see anything around.
You can go back east, carry on west or move north along the path.

Shall we continue west?

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 28):

Yes.

Storm concurs

Do you want to march on at normal speed or you prefer going much slower, but hunting on the way?

Hunt along the way coz we don't have much rations left

I vote for hunt on the way.

[OOC: please you all roll 2d6 and let me know if you are using just SKILL or if you have specific Special Skills (or, better, Talents) that you can use.]

The only talent Garl has which could be applicable is Dark Seeing.

02:43, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 4 using 2d6.  Hunting.

Storm doesn't have any skill in hunthing having come from a farming background.

OOC:15:56, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 10 using 2d6.  Hunting
Not sure if awareness and trap knowledge can help?.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Fri 04 Jan 2019.

[OOC: 20:00, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 7 using 2d6.  hunting.]

You carry on west while hunting and Garl, surprisingly, is the only one able to get a catch (some birds), so you manage to proceed for a day without having to eat your rations.
You can't find any junction and it's sunset again.

In reply to The Director (msg # 38):

Storm suggests resting for the night.

[OOC: Are you keeping doing the Sentry routine as previously?]

I am ok with that

Another night passes uneventfully and, while cold, it is not unbearable for the ones of you without a bedroll and a tent.
As you wake up, you carry on along the path, still hunting on the way.
[OOC: please roll to know the outcomes of your hunting]

Garl will continue casting sentries covering all four directions on a nightly basis.

02:08, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 7 using 2d6.  Hunting.

Robustous trudges on with the others keeping the edge of his axe sharp and his pipe lit. His eyes are always on the surrounding terrain both to help with hunting and to keep an eye out for danger.


-

Storm continues to do his best to hunt for more provision for the party.

OOC:
17:45, Fri 11 Jan: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 6 using 2d6.  Hunting.

This time you are a bit less lucky with hunting and you manage to get just a pigeon, that is enough for one day of march of one of you. You will have to decide if you want to eat more provisions or if you accept losing some STAMINA due to hunger.
At the end of the day you reach another junction: the path that you followed so far leads north west, while the other path goes north east.

Storm eats one of his meals.

If we skip meals, do we recover lost stamina while sleeping?

[OOC: You can recover lost STAMINA if you sleep in a bedroll in a tent, otherwise you just hold on, hoping the night is not exceedingly freezing.]

Does anybody have a meal to spare?  If not, I’ll have to eat an elven waybread.

I have one last meal only. You can have it.

[OOC: OK, ready to sleep?]

Storm suggests a watch. He offers to take the first watch.

The night passes swiftly and it is cold, but not freezing, luckily.
During the first watch a few wolves pass by, but the fire and the watch are enough to keep them at distance and eventually they go away.
The morning after is cloudy and windy, but there is no rain.
How do you want to proceed?

Storm suggests continuing forward and hunting for food.

So you carry on north west?

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 55):

"Agreed and lets be quick about it I did not like the wolves sniffing around our camp last night.."


-

[OOC: Please roll for hunting as previously]

Storm does his best to hunt.

OOC:19:58, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 10 using 2d6.  hunting.
19:58, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 11 using 2d6.  hunting.

18:14, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 9 using 2d6.  Hunting.

[OOC: 20:20, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 5 using 2d6.  hunting.]

Robustus catches a skinny hare and that's just enough for the three of you.
You keep looking around, but can't see anything worth noting.

It is evening again.
[OOC: shall I go with automatic rolls and sentries until something different happens?]

OOC: yes please :) this is taking forever lol

The night passes without any issue and it is not too cold.
You follow the path as it bends north, towards a group of hills, and manage to find enough game on the way.
You camp just at the foot of the hills, where a side path goes west and then turns north towards the hills as well.

[OOC: on one hand you have been a bit unlucky at missing more interesting encounters, on the other hand having to hunt makes progress slower. Hopefully, as I can make more rolls, the story will progress a bit more smoothly]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:56, Tue 29 Jan 2019.

Once again you are visited by wolves, but the campfire and the sentry are enough to keep them at distance. During the night, the temperature is slightly colder than the nights before and there is a light rain, but it is not too bad, even if some of you don't have bedrolls and you don't have tents.

It is dawn again and yo have to decide if you want to proceed straight north into the hills or take the side path that goes west and then turns north as well.

In reply to The Director (msg # 66):

"Shall we skirt the hills ?" Robustous asks as he works to pack up their camp.

-

Storm is agreeable to the suggestion and says so.

The sidepath leads you to a gloomy cave, where the path ends. You can see it three or four hundred steps forward.

Storm suggests exploring the cave.

Are there any tracks, or other tell-tale signs that this place is inhabited?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:48, Sat 02 Feb 2019.

"Either we find something to further our quest or we have some shelter, either way I say we enter the cave."


-

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 71):

[OOC: please roll 2d6 for looking for tracks (Awareness roll)]

03:21, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 4 using 2d6.  Awareness.

You notice big, clawed tracks going in and out of the cave and you can spot some scale that must have fallen from a big wurm. There is also some sulphuric smell coming out of it.

Storm wonders if it's a dragon.

Garl quietly informs his comrades about his discoveries, and then suggests that one of them... preferably the sneakiest... enter the cave and scout it out.

However, he cautions them that the cave may be trapped, or have an alarm of some kind.

Storm waits to see if anyone volunteers.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 77):

"Sorry sneaking around really is not my thing and if this is a dragon, best we leave it alone."


-

Garl smirks.  “Must I do everything myself?  And you call yourselves adventurers.”
This message was last edited by the player at 08:32, Thu 14 Feb 2019.

"I'll do it! I have some training in sneaking and trap knowledge," storm says.
With that he carefully sneaks into the cave.

[OOC: please make a Sneaking roll]

I rolled a 7 but my skill is 8 and I got one point in sneak.

As storm enters the cave Andor found somewhere to hide.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 7 using 2d6.  Hide.


-

Garl also attempts to hide, as he awaits their scout’s return.

06:10, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 4 using 2d6.  Hide
This message was last edited by the player at 11:11, Fri 15 Feb 2019.

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 83):

The gloomy cave goes straight into the side of the hillwith no side passages. Quite soon, when still some light from outside can penetrate the darkness, you see a terrifying creature: it has a fat-bodied snake, with four large heads on long necks connected to the single main body. The nightmarish beast is seven meters long and is covered in green-brown scales which drips mud and slime. Right now it doesn't seem to move.

Storm retreats carefully from the cave and finds his companions, informing them that he has found what seems to be a 4- headed hydra. He thinks the globe might be useful against it

Garl asks Storm if he saw any treasure.  Not much point to slaying this beast for free, afterall.

OOC: do I see treasure? Roll 5 for awareness.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:22, Sat 16 Feb 2019.

Storm didn't see any treasure, but it could be deeper in the cave or hidden somewhere out of sight.

Garl taps his foot.

Storm asks if they should kill the hydra. "Perhaps that's our quest. We are bra every knights," he whispers.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 91):

You hear some soft, hissing noises coming from the cave.

Is there anything Garl can use for cover, besides the warm bodies of his companions?

Storm asks if they could lure it out and ambush the beast.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 94):

Being a cave, there are several rocks around that can be used for cover.

Garl finds a big one and crouches behind it while continuing to oberve the mouth of the cave.

Right now Garl can't see anything in particular, but he can hear hisses and sighs.

Garl casts Mirror Selves.  Then he warns his companions that he intends to cast Flash! as soon as the hydra emerges.

Storm hides behind a rock if any and taps his sword against the rock to lure the hydra out.

You hear a massive noise from the cave and, in the shades inside it, you realize that something is moving.

Storm continues to tap for awhile before getting ready to fight with his twin blades. He will prepare a flaming torch if there is ample time.

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 102):

You can prepare the flaming torch.

The HYDRA resembles a fat-bodied snake, with four large heads rising on long necks from the body. The nightmarish beast is seven meters long and is covered in green-brown scales which drips mud and slime. Each of its heads makes a separate attack.
[Private to GM: HYDRA'S BODY 0 9 -
First HEAD 9 5(0) 1
Second HEAD 8 5 1
Third HEAD 7 6 1
Fourth HEAD 9 5 1
Fangs 3 3 3 3 4 4 5]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:53, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Do we get a sneak attack on it? Storm will use a blade to strike and his torch to seal the wound.

You attack from hidden spots, so you have surprise attack.

20:25, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 1 using 1d6.  damage 2.
20:25, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 3 using 1d6.  damage 1.
20:25, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 21 using 2d6+10.  attack 2.
20:25, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 15 using 2d6+10.  attack 1.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:26, Fri 01 Mar 2019.

Garl shouts a final warning (both to caution his comrades and to draw the attention of all the hydra heads) and then casts Flash!

[Private to GM: 18:17, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 8 using 2d6.  Hydra LUCK 9.
18:17, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 7 using 2d6.  Hydra LUCK 7.
18:17, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 12 using 2d6.  Hydra LUCK 8.
18:16, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 4 using 2d6.  Hydra LUCK 9.]
As casts Flash!, the four Hydra's heads are invested by a powerful light and the third head is clearly blinded by it!
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:40, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

OOC: 18:20, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 8 using 2d6.  LUCK roll.]
While Garl and Storm close their eyes on time when Flash! is cast, Robustous forgot the signal and was just lucky to avoid getting temporarily blinded!

[OOC: 18:24, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 12 using 2d6+10.  attack hydra.
18:24, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 1 using 1d6.  damage/armor.
18:24, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 4 using 1d6.  fumble.]

Robustous attacks clumsily and leaves himself open to the Hydra's attack.

[Private to GM: 18:43, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 6 using 1d6.  Hydra damage 4.
18:43, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 5 using 1d6.  Hydra damage 3.
18:43, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 3 using 1d6.  Hydra damage 2.
18:43, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 1 using 1d6.  Hydra damage 1.
18:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 18 using 2d6+9.  Hydra attack 4.
18:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 15 using 2d6+4.  Hydra attack 3.
18:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 14 using 2d6+8.  Hydra attack 2.
18:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 13 using 2d6+9.  Hydra attack 1.]
Storm hits twice the first head of the Hydra, chopping it off at once!
The second and third (blind) heads of the Hydra go for Garl, but they are puzzled by the spell that makes Garl appear to be in many places at the same time and can't cause any harm to him.
The fourth head of the Hydra bites Robustous, causing him serious damage!
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:53, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Robustous' body has deep bite injuries and he falls back as he is overwhelmed by pain! [Private to Robustous Clovetrue: You just lost 10 points of STAMINA and one point of SKILL!]]
Not many people would have survived such devastating injuries!

Storm continues to strike at head.

OOC:09:12, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 4 using 1d6.
09:12, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 2 using 1d6.
09:12, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 16 using 2d6+10.
09:12, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 18 using 2d6+11.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:50, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Robustous falls back out of range of the monster as he tries to stop his guts falling onto his shoes. He readies his spear and throws it at the monster.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 15 using 2d6+10.  Attack.
Robustous Clovetrue rolled 1 using 1d6.  Damage.


-

[OOC: if possible, I'd appreciate if you let me know what "head" you are targeting (or you can target the "body" instead). Otherwise I'll assume you attack the head that is attacking you, just to keep it simple (as long as we have at least as many heads as characters!)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:37, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Garl takes a few steps back, and then casts Lightning Blast at the body of the hydra (taking care that none of his companions are in the way).

21:53, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 9 using 2d6+2.  Damage.
21:52, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 6 using 2d6.  Cast Lightning Blast.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

[Private to GM: 12:43, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 14 using 2d6+9.  Hydra attack head 4.
12:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 15 using 2d6+8.  Hydra attack head 3.
12:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 8 using 2d6+4.  Hydra attack head 2.]
The Hydra attacks with three heads, but you manage to avoid all her attacks!
On the other hand, you all strike and, while Storm chops off another head, the combined attack of Garl and Robustous on the soft underbelly of the horrible beast kills it at once!

Garl examines the beast carefully, knowing that great wyrms sometimes have jewels or other precious items embedded in their flesh.

Storm searches the cave for loot, doing so carefully.

Robustous checks out the cave to make sure there is not another hiding at the back.

-

The loot is indeed rich!
You find:
- a leather pouch with a small parchment saying that it contains one portion of Dust of Transformation (Horse)
- 150 Gold Crowns
- a Ring of Negation (one charge: protects from one curse, one spell or magic effect and then becomes a normal gold ring worth 3 Gold Crowns)

How will you split this loot between yourselves?

I’ll pass on the ring.  After all, I did just learn Counterspell.

Nor do I particularly want anyone riding me.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:01, Tue 19 Mar 2019.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 123):

Same I'll pass on both the magical items.


-

same I have no interest in the items too.. haha we can feed the hydra w the potion n chop it up into horse meat for food

Surely somebody wants the items.  That ring might turn out to be a life saver.

Haha maybe we waiting for a more powerful item? Like you got ur staff, I am wafting for a sword co I am a melee guy

Sure, but more importantly, I already know Counterspell.  This ring is for repelling curses; therefore, it's probably better for someone else to have it.

If nobody else wants the Dust of Transformation, I'll take that.  (No horsie rides, though.)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Tue 19 Mar 2019.

Storm takes the ring, having given up the magical dagger once.

How do you split the gold?

I'd be okay with letting Robustous have it.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Wed 20 Mar 2019.

Sae. Ihave 100 crowns now. SHall we continue?

You go back to the main path and cross the norther hills while still hunting and foraging. It takes you four days, but the weather never becomes so bad that your bedroll is not enough to protect you from the cold and you manage to hunt just enough to keep going.
During the second and third nights you are visited again by wolves, but the campfire and the watch are enough to keep them at bay.

Finally, the path splits in front of you, as you approach a big body of water: going still north, after crossing the stream, will take you to some stone buildings that you can see in the distance, near the water, while a longer path to the east seems to lead to some kind of stone jetty on the same water.

Maybe try the East?  I have a weakness for stone jetties.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Thu 21 Mar 2019.

In reply to The Director (msg # 133):

"Lets try and see if there is anyone in those buildings who can tell use where we are. I also need to rest some more in shelter to regain my strength."

OOC: Were we able to recover any HP ?


-

[OOC: during last four days travelling you recovered one point of STAMINA a day. Sorry for forgetting this detail]

[OOC: I guess Storm's decision will dictate the direction... ;) ]

I’m down with investigating the buildings first.  The stone jetty can wait.

Lets do it we investigate te buildings.

You arrive at night at Kranoc, an abandoned ferry station on the Lake Okranoc (at least, these are the names that you can read on some indications). The station consists of a wooden pier and of a big stone building which probably was - decades ago - a tavern with some rooms upstairs.
A cold wind blows from the lake, and it dangles a boat bell somewhere around.

Robustous begin a systematic search of the buildings to make sure they are truly alone. Once he either finds something or not he will then look to find some shelter from the wind and perhaps start a fire.


-

Do the other companions follow Robustus or do they leave him searching alone?

I accompany him into the building, keeping a wary eye on our surroundings.

As you enter the "tavern", you see a dark-robed figure sitting on a rotten table in the middle of the room. Another empty chair stands in front of him. The mysterious figure is casually playing with some silver coins. When the last of you has entered the room, all the doors suddenly slam shut.

Then, the figure speaks: "I am a Krimer, a Servant of the Void, and what I am about to tell you is everything you are allowed to know. A game of chance, one on one, must be played in order to quell my dark urges. Here there are eleven gold coins on the table. Our game’s purpose will be to leave the opponent with just one coin on the table. In his turn, each player must draw out from the pile of coins one to three coins. Then it will be the opponent’s turn. If I will be able to defeat all of you, then you will owe me something that belongs to you. If even one of you defeats me, I will give you a gift and I’ll let you pass. You may draw first, if you like..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:15, Sun 24 Mar 2019.

Do I know anything of this Krimer, or of Servants of the Void?

15:32, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 6 using 2d6.  Magic Lore.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Sat 23 Mar 2019.

"I will take two." Robustous answer looking at the coins as he spoke.


-

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 146):

You know nothing about Krimer, but you know that the Servants of the Void are some kind of Demons looking forward to harvest souls by proposing "deals" to mortals, but they are also very trustworthy and they stick to their "deals".
The risk of losing your soul, however, is high.

Krimer seems satisfied that Robustous sit at his table and started a game.

From eleven coins, Robustous took two and left nine.
From the nine coins left by Robustous, Krimer takes one and leaves eight.

OOC:: so he will play with each of us individually?

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 150):

[OOC: it looks like that]

"I take three."

-

Garl watches the game with profound concern.  The stakes are much higher than his companions realize!

"I'll take 3 as well."

Krimer turns to Storm: "One at the time, please."

Garl tries not to look into Krimer's soul-hungry eyes.  Instead, he focuses on the coins.  He thinks Robustous has the right idea...
This message was last edited by the player at 09:58, Sun 24 Mar 2019.

Storm looks away ashen faced.

"Perhaps I should have the next game," Garl says quietly.

From the eight coins, Robustous takes three and five are left.
From the five coins, Krimer takes one and four are left.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:41, Thu 28 Mar 2019.

In reply to Robustous Clovetrue (msg # 152):

[OOC: sorry, I initially missed this post... :S ]

In reply to The Director (msg # 159):

Robustous takes three, leaving the demon with the last coin. He places the coins he took back on the table in front of him should they be needed for the next game.

There is no emotion in his face, but perhaps a fleeting look of relief, or maybe not.


-

Garl looks Krimer in the face and tries to gauge his reaction.

Krimer nods and waves his hand without showing any feeling.
On Robustous' left wrist suddenly appears a strange symbol, a kind of sigil.

Suddenly the doors, that slammed shut before, open.
"If you want, you can all go. If some other of you want to challenge me, you are free to take a sit."

Garl sits, but not without some trepidation.  He thinks he knows how to beat Klimer.  Robustous has done so already.

He continues telling himself this...

Robustous rubs his hand before asking "So can you explain your "Gift" ?"  He sets to preparing his pipe, stuffing it with tobacco and then lighting it with a match.

As he exhales a large cloud of smoke that seems to cling to him as Robustous then asks another question. "You said you would tell us all we are allowed to know ?"


-

Storm waits for his turn.

Garl begins by taking two coins.

In reply to Robustous Clovetrue (msg # 165):

"That's the Sigil of Death and it will once protect you from the Grim Reaper."

There are eleven coins on the table.
Garl takes two, so nine are left.
Krimer takes three, so six are left.

Robustous leans against the wall enjoying his pipe while watching the game unfolding before him. Another stream of smoke exits his mouth and envelops him, the smell seems to be a heavy mixture of spices to those close by.


-

Garl takes one.

Girl takes one, so five are left.
Kramer takes one, so four are left.

Garl takes three, and folds his hands.

Once again, Krimer nods and waves his hand without showing any feeling.
On Garl's left wrist suddenly appears the Sigil of Death as well.

Storm sits down. He will take two coins when he's allowed to start.

From eleven coins, Storm takes two coins, leaving nine coins on the table.
From the remaining nine coins, Krimer takes one coin, leaving eight coins on the table.

[OOC: what is your next move?]

Storm takes three coins.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:01, Tue 09 Apr 2019.

From eight coins, Storm takes three coins, leaving five coins.
From five coins, Krimer takes one coin, leaving four coins.

Storm takes 3 coins, leaving one and rests his arms on the table

So far, so good, Garl thinks.

Once again, Krimer nods and waves his hand without showing any feeling.
On Storm's left wrist suddenly appears the Sigil of Death as well.

"Now you can go" he says. He sits down again and carries on playing with his infernal coins on his own!

Storm wonders what these sigils do.

Garl may make a Magic Lore roll to figure it out...

14:04, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 12 using 2d6.  Magic lore.

Garl thinks about these sigils for a long while, but can't remember what are their meaning and actions.

Storm asks Krimmer if he could tell them more about his gift and how they may use it.

Trimmer seems displeased to be disturbed, but anyway stares a you for a while and then says, grimly: "You will know when you die!!!" and then he laughs wildly. You feel your skin crawl.

Thankig him, Storm scurries away.

As you go out of the building, you realise that it is dawn and you haven't slept all night, but you don't feel particularly tired, nor hungry. Just strange.
In front of you there is a lake and you remember that there was a road following the south coast of the lake to a stone pier. If you want to abandon this place, you can either go back from where you came or continue towards the pier.

In reply to The Director (msg # 191):

"Lets us look at the pier before deciding where we go next. I hoped the demon might give us some guidance on that fact as he promised." His pipe in his mouth Robustous set off with a trail of pipe smoke behind him.


-

Storm agrees with the suggestion and moves towards the pier, weapons ready.

Garl agrees, and heads to the pier with them, staff and spells at the ready.

By the time you reach the pier it is early afternoon, but you are lucky and can catch some fish in the lake for lunch, so you are not hungry.
This stone pier seems long-abandoned, but a vey slim man with a black hood approaches you as soon as you reach the pier. He says he's the ferryman and offers to transport you with his agile, flat-keel boat anywhere you want on Lake Okranog for only two Crowns each and three Crowns for horses.

How does the man look like? Storm is ok to travel if his friends are.

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 196):

"Where to ?"

-

Just to explore? Get loot kill monsters

Turning to the boatman Robustous asks "What are some destinations on Lake Okranog boatman ?"


-

The ferryman is short and very slim. His hood doesn't let you see his face very well.

"Across the lake there is an ancient Elven settlement." says the ferryman.

In reply to The Director (msg # 201):

"That sounds like us." Robustous hands the man two coins and then asks "Have you ferried anyone else to these ruins recently ?"


-

Garl's pointed ears perk up at the mention of the settlement.  Ancient Elven ruins can be good places to find magical treasures.  "Did this settlement have a name?"

Storm hopes to find another magic blade or armour to make him tougher.

In reply to Robustous Clovetrue (msg # 202):

"Sorry, but I'm a professional and I don't talk about my previous clients with other people. I think you'll appreciate this as well..."

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 203):

"We don't know the ancient name of that ruins, but we call them just The Elven Town."

In reply to The Director (msg # 205):

Robustous gives a shrug and takes a seat in the boat. He looks out across the lake trying to pick out their destination.

-

Storm pays and boards the boat.

You all pay and embark.
The ferry proceeds slowly towards the Elven ruins, that are almost exactly on the other side of the lake (on its north-eastern shore): you can see them even if they are still quite distant.
[OOC: please make an Awareness test]

12:28, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 11 using 2d6.  Awareness check.

"Anyone see anything ?"

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 4 using 2d6.  Awareness check.


-

22:42, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Stormrider Sureheart, rolled 6 using 2d6.  Awareness roll.

While you are all looking far away, the ferryman sneakily takes off a knife and tries backstabbing Garl! He is taken by surprise!
{OOC: Garl, please roll 2d6 for your defence]
Robustous notices that something unexpected and dangerous is happening to Garl.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:12, Thu 18 Apr 2019.

17:18, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 8 using 2d6.  Defense.

Garl feels a terrible pain as he is backstabbed!
[Private to Garl Ligoosh: You lose 8 points of STAMINA and one point of SKILL!!! You feel the injury burning like hell!]
Robustious is too late to prevent the backstabbing, but he is reactive enough to be at melee distance for next round, while Storm didn't notice what was expecting and is just startled by Garl's agonising scream, with no chances of intervening at melee range on next round.

Storm moves toowards the ferryman.

His face ashen with pain and shock, Garl backs away and casts Mirror Image.  He can't believe what just happened!

00:13, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 5 using 2d6.  Cast Mirror Image.

The ferryman, perhaps surprised by Garl's spell, this time attacks Robustous, while Storm approaches.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:01, Fri 19 Apr 2019.

Garl drinks his Phial of Antidote.

Robustous swings his axe at the ferryman.

[OOC: 21:03, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 2 using 1d6.  axe damage.
21:03, Today: Secret Roll: The Director, on behalf of Robustous Clovetrue, rolled 20 using 2d6+9.  axe attack.]

[Private to GM: 21:05, Today: Secret Roll: The Director rolled 5 using 2d6.  ferryman attack.]
Robustous hits the ferryman hard while Storm comes to melee range and Garl (with his two mirror images) drinks a potion. [Private to Garl Ligoosh: You recover the point of SKILL that you have just lost.]
The ferryman, seeing that the situation is becoming bad, suddenly jumps in the lake!

Garl tries to catch him with Lightning Blast before he escapes.

13:17, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  damage.

13:17, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 6 using 2d6.  cast Lightning Blast.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:18, Fri 19 Apr 2019.

The spell reaches out from you hands towards the ferryman, that doesn't appear on the surface anymore. Only his hooded jacket floats momentarily on the lake.

OOC: seven serpent Air serpent?

Garl suggests they find a good place to rest and have a meal.

Storm searches the boat

You find just a message written in the crude Runes of the Dark Elves, which can be translated by Garl.
[OOC: Click on the link to see the message:
https://drive.google.com/open?...DlEw-5P-IgwSKzKOJbOU ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:59, Sun 21 Apr 2019.

“It’s a message.  It speaks of us... a fellowship of knights from Hellwinter, in possession of an important staff.  It speaks of one who has failed his task, and the writer also admits to having failed.

“No doubt the item referred to is the Staff of Hammaskar, which I wield.  Somebody wants it back quite badly.”

"Ah we must be careful then. This staff is indeed powerful and is necessary to open the library. Let's explore the elven settlement," storm says.

“How do we even know it exists?  It could be a lie.”

"Possible may be a trap but shall we explore a bit?" He asks

He smiles.  “I must admit that the temptation is too great to resist, even though these ruins may turn out to be nothing more than the feeble lie of a fiend’s minion.  Let’s do as you say.”

It takes a while for you to learn how to handle the boat and finally you land where you saw the ruins across the lake, but it is now late evening and you feel very hungry.
From the little that you can see, you have arrived at an ancient and long-abandoned Elven site and the ruins have unreal aura that permeates the site.

“We must eat and rest.”  Garl tries to find a good, defensible spot, and when they are ready, he casts Sentry spells.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 234):

"Agreed, does anyone see somewhere suitable ?"


-

Let's find some shade to eat

The ruins are a bit scary in the night, but they should provide a good protection from the wind.
Are you planning to sleep near the edges or in the middle of the ruins? or maybe on the boat? are you hunting / fishing or consuming rations?

In reply to The Director (msg # 237):

Sleep on the boat using the anchor to stay off the lake edge if we can. Both hunting and fishing if we are able.

Let's do some fishing before we rest.  But when we do rest, let's not do it in the middle of the ruins.  We should find a defensible spot, where I can cast Sentry spells effectively.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:09, Fri 26 Apr 2019.

You are particularly lucky with fishing, this time, as your catch is good, but you have to decide where you want to cook it, as on the boat there is no obvious facility and a fire may burn it.

Let us go inland to set up camp.

You set up camp inland, at some distance from the ruins. It is now dark, but the night is warmer than usual and there is no rain. The meal that you eat is perhaps the most abundant since you started this adventure and each of you recovers 2 points of STAMINA.
The night passes with no incident and dawn comes swiftly.

Storm suggests searching the settlement

Under the light of the day, it seems not much is left of the ancient Elvish settlement: just broken walls and rubble.

[OOC: if you want to do a more in depth search, hoping to get a stroke of luck, you'll have to make a LUCK roll]

Storm searches

OOC:19:50, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 11 using 2d6.  luck.luck=12

Do we see any inscriptions, symbols, etc. that Garl would recognize?

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 246):

Yes, you can see several Elven inscriptions, symbols etc. that are very faded and partially destroyed. They are too fragmentary to get a decent clue or indication from them. The ruins appear to be in fairly poor shape, at first sight.

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 245):

Storm luckily finds some lost underground room under a slab of stone. It looks well preserved, if not untouched, unlike the other ruins around you, that are in poor conditions.

Storm opens the slab with his friends.

Robustous also lends a hand with the stone block should it be needed.


-

You realise that you found access to a small chamber still untouched by the general decay, if not destruction, of the ruined Elven village! [OOC: each of you recovers one point of LUCK for this fortunate discovery]
This is an ancient Elven Alchemy Chamber, a secret cache for potions and magical remedies. However, none of the labels on the bottles are still readable.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:35, Wed 01 May 2019.

How many potions are there? Is there a recipe book that Garl can use to try to identify the potions?

Is there a way to test the potions without tasting them and risking poison?

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 252):

There are many bottles that are empty or open or broken, but nine of them appear still sealed and with liquid inside. You can't see any book around, right now.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 253):

[OOC: who are you asking this question to?]

OOC: you.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 256):

[OOC: actually, this question is not for me, but for yourself.
Of course, if you can't think of any other suitable way of determining what the effect of a potion (with a label so faded that it can't be read) is, the only alternative is drinking it.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:51, Fri 03 May 2019.

Storm asks if his friend can identify the potions. If not they can bring the potions along. He searches the room further.

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 258):

[OOC: please roll 2d6]

Garl informs Storm that he is unable to identify potions, unfortunately.

Ooc: rolls a 9

Storm can't find anything else of use in the secret room.

Storm asks his friends to search.

Garl searches.

21:16, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 8 using 2d6.  Search.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:17, Tue 07 May 2019.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 11 using 2d6.

None of you finds anything worth mentioning.

“So we’ve found nothing, and unless we can find some poor villager to test these potions, there is nothing we can do with them until we return to civilization.  Now what?”

[OOC: now what?]

"Let us continue with the search of the ruins." Robustous hefts his axe onto his shoulder and prepares to have a good look around.


-

Garl can think of nothing better, so he follows.  Besides... they did discover the potions.  It wasn’t as though they had achieved nothing.

Storm follpwsmtpo.

You can't find anything else relevant: just crumbled walls and broken stones.

Storm looks around, for nother place to explroe. Perhaps there is a tunnel or something.

Time passes and you keep exploring the Elven ruins, but you can't find anything else apart from crumbled walls and broken stones.

Storm asks if they should go back to the main land or explore further inland.

OOc: what's our objective this scene?

The cold night is falling again. Will you moving further inland without food and rest?
You find a road going out of the Elven ruins to east, north-east.

In reply to The Director (msg # 276):

We will bed down for the night in the room we found.

You are a bit scared about sleeping in an unknown ruined town, but the night passes with no problem.
The underground room is nice and warm, but you have to eat one ration.

[OOC: each of you recovers up to 6 points of STAMINA due to a sheltered night of sleep after so many days]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:28, Sat 11 May 2019.

“Where shall we travel next, friends?  For my part, I suggest we follow the road to the northeast.” He rubs his cold fingers together.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:02, Sat 11 May 2019.

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 279):

Agreed it seems to be our only option at this point."


-

Storm agrees and leaves for the direction with his friends

Around mid-day you find our that the road splits in two: one way goes north, to a wild rocky area, the other goes east, where you can see the smoke of a small settlement.

In reply to The Director (msg # 282):

"Settlement ? They might be able to aid us ?"


-

Storm suggests walking towards the settlement

You reach the settlement on the morning after, rested and in good mood after a good, although cold, night outdoors.
Udran is a small village of no more than thirty houses, but is nevertheless the biggest settlement for hundreds of miles and its inhabitants are welcoming people, keen on talking with all well-behaving strangers. They say that Udran is a small pilgrimage site as well as it hosts the Fountain of Saint Zenus. A small offering of 1 Gold Crowns is asked by the village’s Headman in order to accede to the fountain.

Storm suggests going there and buying lots of food.

One fresh meal costs 8 silver coins and one preserved meal costs 17 silver coins.

10 Silver= 1 gold?

Storm will buy the maximum number of preserved meals and one fresh meal to eat now.

[OOC: yes, 10 silver = 1 gold.
One ration, one place in the backpack.
As you can eat in abundance and in a warm and comfortable place, you can restore 2 points of STAMINA]

OOC:I can carry a maxium of 20 items still?

[OOC: just like at the beginning of the adventure...]

"Let us find and tavern and gauge the lay of the land as it were. We can get a meal and a drink."


-

Storm will buy the maximum meals he can carry and asks his friends to do so too.

Garl purchases three preserved rations, which is the most he has room for.  (I’m assuming we can’t get horses, or the like.)

Do I know anything about Saint Zenus?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:48, Tue 14 May 2019.

Two days from now a tribe of Kufic nomads will stop at the village and they usually offer, among other stuff, some of the finest horses of the region, although they are not exceedingly cheap.
For 2 Crowns each you may have a decent meal and sleep in the only tavern in Udran, the Steppe’s Sailor. The innkeeper will be very glad to offer a special stabling for your horses for 3 Silver Schillings each, once you will have horses.

[OOC: please roll 2d6 and note down whatever Special Skill you think may help]

How much is a horse?

Robustous finds a table or preferably a booth close to the hearth and orders a meal. While he waits he looks around at the other patrons looking for anyone who may be able to help them or who might have some news.


-

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 297):

[OOC: who are you asking to? Right now there is no seller in the village, they will come in a couple of days.]

In reply to Robustous Clovetrue (msg # 298):

The village is small and there isn't a lot to choose. The Village Header suggested you should go at the fountain of Saint Zenus and nobody else volunteered other suggestions.

Without a horse how many items can i carry?

01:06, Today: Secret Roll: Garl Ligoosh rolled 7 using 2d6.  Magical Lore.

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 301):

[OOC: a backpack can carry ten items, with a saddlebag (on a horse) you can carry twice as much)]

In reply to Garl Ligoosh (msg # 302):

Garl remembers just that Saint Zenus was some kind of ascetic miracle worker of the past.

OOC: The 10 items exclude weapons and armour right?

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 305):

[OOC: the ten items are the items in your backpack, excluding what you wear (for example the armor) and what you have in hand, like a weapon). AFF2 doesn't goo too much into encumbrance calculations of each single, but prefer staying pretty light on this issue]

OOC: means I can basically put 10 meals in backpack if my rope is slung on my belt and my bedroll is placed on top of the backpack?

"Perhaps the nomad horsemen will be able to help us once they arrive, they may know more of these lands ?" His beer arrives and Robustous drank it down deeply, ordering another before the waitress left.



-

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 307):

[OOC: no, that's cheating ;) Let's stay realistic.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:53, Sat 18 May 2019.

Thats how we go on hikes... hahahaha
okie 9 meals for me... I have no rope..
Thats 8 due to the elven rations.

[OOC: if you manage to buy a horse, you can easily carry twice as much]

Storm buys 8meals first and stores them in his pack

How much does he pay?

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 312):

You can pay the packed meals 5 Silver Schilling each.

Storm pays 4 crowns and stows the items in his pack.

Will you wait for the nomads selling horses or will you go before? If you go, where will you head to?

In reply to The Director (msg # 315):

I think we wait for the nomads as I have no idea where to go.

Let's wait ;)
I have only 96 crowns left. Hopefully horses are 50 crowns

Waiting seems sensible to me.  Besides, there is little room in my backpack, so I’d like to remain near the food for a while.

Two days pass swiftly, and you recover from the hardness and the injuries of your adventure [OOC: you recover up to 12 points of STAMINA and one point of LUCK, but you spend two gold coins a day at the local inn] then you wake up in the morning and find out that there are a few more guests at the Inn, coming from nearby settlements and that that some sort of horse fair is taking place at the crossroad in the centre of the village. A group of about twenty nomadic Kugic horsemen have temporarily settled here with their yurts and are selling their superb horses.

These horses are trained to perfection and all have special features that make them unique and precious allies when fighting or travelling. You may try to buy some horses, despite the rather high prices demanded by the nomads. However, the Kugic will accept any magical artefact (except for Potions and alchemical components) in exchange for a horse. The horses for sale are:

Horse          Horse’s Features                                                             GC
KHARAL     +1 Attack Strength                                                           210
ULAAN       May run at blazing speed, but only for a limited time    180
DORNOD   -1 on foes Damage Table when the PC is hit                  200
TEMUGI    +1 Damage with the lance                                                160
TUVA        +2 Attacks                                                                         165

If you can't afford their best stock or anyway don't want to spend so much, you can always buy some more common war horse at 120 GC or a draft horse at 50 GC.

The villagers suggest you should also buy a tent to protect you from the cold nights of the north and a tent big enough for a single person comes at 4 GC (4 places in a backpack), while for two is at 6 GC (6 places in a backpack). They don't have bigger ones at the moment, unless you want to ask for Kugics' yurts that can easily accommodate for all of you (and more), but need a draft horse dedicated to carrying them. [OOC: in the warmth of a tent you can remove STAMINA while resting during the night]

Once you have taken your decisions and done your trade, please let me know where you want to go. From Udram you can go back west from where you came and take the road north or you can go south.

Storm buys a tent for two and a draft horse and 4 provisions.

60 crowns should cover?

Robustous will ask for news from the Kugics.


-

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 320):

Storm buys what he wanted with no problem.

In reply to Robustous Clovetrue (msg # 321):

The Kugics obviously don't like talking with strangers, but you understand that they are worried about black magic becoming stronger and stronger over this region, but they don't know what to do about it. They very seldom go north beyond this village.

I’ll save my money.  Not that I have enough to meet those prices, anyhow.

I guess it means we go north? Shall we?

In reply to Stormrider Sureheart (msg # 325):

"Yes lets go North."


-

Will you go north as you went so far, moving half speed but hunting on the way? Who will sleep in the tent? This will allow recovering STAMINA during the cold, northern nights.

Yes and will save us rations

In reply to The Director (msg # 327):

Hunting as we go and Robustous will buy a one person tent as well as rations.

-

I didn’t pay for the tent, so I don’t expect to sleep in it.  Hunting as we go sounds good to me, however.

I have a 2 man tent, u can share mine.

You follow the road west and, finally, north, always hunting, resting in tents and eating Sentry during the night. After almost a week you reach what you immediately call the Sea of Dust.
These freezing, sandy plains are eternally battered by piercing winds which blow fiercely from the northern mountain rage. There are no landmarks and you imagine that yo can navigate this Sea of Dust only by relying on the stars, when there are no dust tempest and you can actually see the night sky and its stars.
You stare at the cold, sandy surfaces in awe.

[OOC: just remember that one night of good sleep in a warm tent allows you to recover STAMINA]

Storm suggests continuing in the direction

Garl isn’t so sure this is a good idea.  With no landmarks, it would be easy to get lost, and there is no natural shelter.  Conditions are very harsh.  And there may be other perils on top of that.

Storm asks Garl for suggestion.

Andor looks out over the plain before them. "That looks like a hard road." HE says to the others. "But I don't see any alternative...."


-

[OOC: so?...]

In reply to The Director (msg # 337):

OOC: Robustous is happy to go if that is the group decision.


-

Storm advises going north.

Eventually you decide to go north.
On the first day you can't find anything to hunt [OOC: please eat two rations or lose two points of STAMINA for each meal missed] but you can make some progress against the strong winds. You have a good night under your tents, that protect you against the cols gales and the Sentry spell ensures you can enjoy a full night of rest.
When you wake up, you realise there are no landmarks and you have only the sun and the stars for orientation [OOC: please roll SKILL+Navigation+Astrology to see how well you can navigate this hostile environment - not all of you need necessarily to lead the group, if you want you can just follow]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:19, Wed 29 May 2019.

Stom tries to find the way.

OOC:19:25, Today: Secret Roll: Stormrider Sureheart rolled 6 using 2d6.

Robustous will add his skill to the way finding.

Robustous Clovetrue rolled 3 using 2d6.


-

You are convinced that you made some progress, but it is difficult to say, as the land is still without any landmark and you still can't find anything to hunt. [OOC: deduct two meals from your backpack or two points from your STAMINA for each meal missed]
Once again it is evening and you pass a very cold night, but the warm tents protect you from frostbite.
At dawn, you have the problem of having to find the way again.

Garl suggests trying to turn back.  He’s running out of rations, and sees no particular reason why they should expect to find game any time soon.  Death seems probable, if they continue.

Sorm suggests pooling rations. He has 8 left.

Andor has 4.

“So you both want to push onwards?  I’m willing, although I fear that ill fortune awaits us.”

Garl is more than willing to pay some gold in exchange for rations.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Sat 01 June 2019.

This time you give up hunting and, at the end of the following day going north, you see in the distance the ruins of an ancient settlement!

Storm suggests moving forward to the settlement
He tells garl no need to pay for food though he wonders why the Mage doesn't not buy food

Your adventure continues here: link to a message in this game