Holly's mood is obviously improved as she and the others exit the city and get out into the wilds again. She spends most of her days travelling close to Moonlight, using the Dun to keep pace with the others, but trying as much as possible to walk and stretch her legs.

With the coming of the Full moon she seems even more relaxed than usual.

"It is good to be out of that monstrosity" she says after their first day as they made camp.

I'm in favor of getting you guys out of Rankor and on the move as soon as possible, but there are a few issues first:

1) Mord needs to respond to Genessa.

2) Pay Idora.  6 nights.  You guys owe her 24 Fgp total.

3) Arthur - Some players expressed an interest in talking to this unlikable character for some reason.  If folks are willing to skip this, that's fine with me.

4) Training - Many of you are advancing to 3rd level.  This can be done outside the city easily enough.  There's more room, and most of you have outdoor skills anyhow.  I think a good way to simulate this is for Farden to run some mock combat drills over a couple of days.  That would help account for higher HP and increases in BAB.  The group could also try and establish some much needed combat cohesion in the from of a basic combat plan and formation.

5) Horses - Farden doesn't have one.  A light riding horse and saddle is 85 gold!  Can you scrape that much together or will you travel at walking speed?  You also owe Jeremy a gold piece.

OOC:

Do I owe Idora anything? You said I'd already settled with her.

Also, if there is no actual ramifications to visiting Arthur, then we can just say that we saw him before starting out. What's he like?

As for horses, the 50 GP from the letter delivery job combined with what I've got is enough to get one, but that pretty much wipes me out.

You settled up with Idora for your room and board from before you met up with the other Triplefang.  However, you've been staying in their room and eating at Iroda's table for 5 of the 6 days they've been there.  You might want to chip in something.  I think money is getting tight in everyone's pocket right now, though.

I'll post a short narrative about swinging by to meet Arthur later today.

Mord gives his word that the group will deliver the letter as instructed and return to report at the Harpers' Guild.  Genessa hands over the bound package and the pouch of 50 gold Ferisedan coins.

The group pays Idora and thanks her for her hospitality and then swings by the market quarter on heir way out of town to do some last minute recon on Arthur the Author.

Holly spots the booth first and points it out silently to the others.  It's a very non-descript wooden vendor stall with no sign, decoration, or obvious wares.  You walk up to the stall and Snow introduces you to Arthur.  She tells him that you're Triplefang travelers and that you've agreed to deliver his letter to Pippen.

"Newcomers to the city, huh?" He says, setting down the large book he was reading and picking up a smaller book.  "Oh that's wonderful.  Can I have your names, please?"

Arthur seems delighted to meet you.  You introduce yourselves and he makes note of each of you.

"Well, from the looks of you I doubt any of you can read, so my masterworks would go to waste.  Let's just do this right here and now, shall we?"

"I find it very appropriate that a bunch of inbred, halfwit, illiterate hayseeds with undeniably inferior parentage would be delivering my letter to that daft knob Pippen.  As mind-bogglingly unlikely as it would be to find someone lesser than that useless antisocial goblin-fucker to act as messenger, I have stumbled into the great fortune of finding as many such feebs as to count them on all the fingers of one hand, even though I'm sure the task of counting that high is beyond the sharpest of you dim, flickering embers.  At least one of you bumbling oafs would likely find some damned-fool way to perish just walking across a pleasant field, but with all five of you there's a chance one will actually make the trip without drowning after picking a fight with their own reflection in the crystal clear waters of Loch Grimikel, or burn to death cuddling too close to the campfire, or choke trying to wear your trousers as a blouse.  Yes I am heartened that, put together, you all may just be able to do the simple job of one child half your age."

Arthur draws in a long deep breath and continues.

"And may I make a suggestion on how to spend your gold if you return?  Two coppers for a thick sack to put over the face of one of these near-feminine horrors, and the rest on a sizable dowery.  There are a few men here in Rankor who might be gullible and desperate enough to marry her sight unseen, assuming they didn't have a functioning sense of smell.  A few whacks with a stout branch wouldn't do either one's looks a bit of harm and might well keep her from scrapping the deal with her infernal braying.  The prospects, however, are less bright for you three intolerable meatheads.  There are animals found on any farm with more ability to contribute to society, and I'll add that any sane woman would rather bed those domesticated creatures than endure disgusting, fumbling coitus with the vile likes of you.  Sadly, I fear the only likely outcome is that you pathetic and totally unappealing Triplefang, completely unable to find equally wretched spouses, will mate with each other and produce another generation of even less viable, backwards, deformed morons."

"Now be on your way lest your very presence become so appalling and offensive as to bring the commerce of this great city to a grinding halt and ruin us all."

He closes the small book and dismisses you with a shooing motion of the hand.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:38, Fri 28 Jan 2011.

Farden had been pleasantly surprised to find Arthur looking like such a normal person. When the flow of invective had first started he'd been startled and annoyed, yet as it continued he found himself struggling not to laugh.

When Arthur winds up, he stands his ground and asks, "Which child?" Once he has Arthur's attention, he elaborates. "The child you mentioned. The one merely half our age, yet such a paragon of virtue that he meets even your most exalted standards, that you would trust him with the mission which would task even the five of us to the utmost. Lead us to him, O wise one, so that we may forthwith entrust this quest in his more capable hands. And once he returns from this errand of the gravest importance, that we may carry him back to our lands to be hailed as the new king."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:03, Fri 28 Jan 2011.

Glumr burst out laughing when Arthur finishes his rant.  "Oh ho ho hahahahaha!  Those are some of the best I've heard my long winded friend." Glumr says to him.  "I now understand why your peers hold you in such a.....    regard.  Come my friends.  Let us deliver this cur's letter.  It is obvious he would not survive a night outside these walls else I would assume he would deliver it himself.  Maybe his craft is too important.  The gods know there arent enough words in these lands such as folk can make a living scratching them down instead of saying them in person."  He puts a hand on Farden's shoulder, not sure where he was going with his comments.  "Do not waste your breath on this one.  Based on the public opinion of him, I say this is the standard treatment he gives to all his guests.  Clearly a man without honor and respect."

6 GP paid to Idora - Level Up - Character sheet updated.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:49, Fri 28 Jan 2011.

Once Arthur is done with his diatribe he quickly returns to peacefully reading his larger book as if you were no longer there, which a minute or two later you aren't.

You give Colbein a wave on your way out of the city. Shortly thereafter you're at Jeremy's ranch.  You decided to set up camp nearby and do some basic combat training and drills for a couple of days.  Firstly, Farden gets an idea of each of your combat abilities:

Mord - A freakishly good physical specimen.  Mord is largest, toughest and fastest of the party.  His strength and agility rival Farden's.  He has a very powerful bow, but he is better suited to engaging and occupying the main enemy force in melee combat with his huge greataxe.  Mord has also been known to occasionally draw on the power of a berserker rage, but tends to keep this aspect under control most of the time.

Glumr - A quick, stealthy archer and scout.  Glumr uses an exotic sword when pressed into melee combat, but prefers to deliver pinpoint accurate arrows from a short distance.  His rate of fire is superior to most archers.  He is also an excellent tracker.

Holly - Fights with a sickle or sling.  She has the ability to summon animals or bring the powers of nature to her aid.  Most notably are her spell that animates plants to entangle everyone, and a fog cloud that obscures vision.  Holly is also a magical healer.

Snow - Has a host of cold based spells at her disposal.  Her snowball spell seems to have limited use in combat, but she has another that dazzles and incapacitates feeble minded opponents and she assures you that she knows a more damaging icicle spell.  Snow also has a tendency to rush into the front lines with her longspear.  She can be very effective against a distracted opponent in melee, but lacks defensive abilities.

How best to meld these abilities and talents with Farden's to create a fighting strategy or two?  In the past they've mostly fought in a chaotic ad-lib fashion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:53, Fri 28 Jan 2011.

OOC: Awww, I wanted to have it out with Arthur for a bit....

Farden considers the others' fighting styles. "I see the problem... there are three people who are better off working at range, and only two who are good in melee. Mord and I alone cannot defend the three of you against a determined opponent.

So, I'm thinking I'll work on defending Holly. As a summoner, she's the most vulnerable. Snow, you hang even farther back. Glumr will have to rely on his agility to maintain separation. And Mord... well what he does will depend on what our enemy is. Opponents who fight in melee, Mord can just stay close and defend Snow. Against an opponent with ranged attackers, it'll be up to him to hack his way through to them.

Either way, though, all of us have to be within a few feet of each other, so if one goes down, the others can help them. And finally, we need to try and focus our attacks. All of us should go after the same target so as to put them down as quickly as possible."

Snow objects, she 'advances' to the front mostly because everyone else takes a step back :P

Holly is offended when Farden appears to think she is the weakest link in the group, and the one that needs most protection. Knowing she had been particularly quiet while within the city, she was now on home ground from her point of view. "Farden, you'll find I'll save you more than you'll need to save me. I have Moonlight and my powers to protect me. I can handle myself in combat. Don't let the fact I am a girl soften your brains. I'd put myself against you in combat any day!" With that she takes up a defensive stance, her hands empty but ready to cast.

"He's certainly pushy enough to be a Triple Fang...", Snow frowns, not really sure if that was a good thing really.

Farden rolls his eyes. "I meant that summoning spells take the longest to cast, and are most subject to interruption. If, however, you have that much faith in your horse, then I guess I'm playing defense for Snow instead."

OOC: Summonings are a full-round spell. Means after your turn, if the enemy on their turn hits you, you have to make the Conc check against disruption.

"Cousins...  What I think Farden means is that your skills would be best used casting and using your ranged weapons and not trying to hold the combat line.  We all know that your are capable in a fight, but I agree with him.  The three of us should be behind Mord and Farden, using our ranged skills as that is where we are best.  Any of us can hold the line if needed, but punch for punch our skills are best from a distance."

OCC - Mord is our tank, and Farden's a figher.  Theey should be in the thick while we shoot and cast from behind.

Snow does have the rouge ability to do the back stabby thing which is pretty sweet.  But it's risky cause since she's a caster, a good hit or two could take her out.

Holly relaxes for a moment as Glumr speaks. "I have not sought the front line, and won't. That is Mord's fate." considering for a moment she adds, "And now Farden's as well, if I haven't chased him away with my insults! I am sorry Farden, it is just I am a little tetchy at the moment. That city was too big and close for my liking. But I shouldn't be taking out on you my cousins."

Stepping away, and moving to stand by Moonlight, she simply turns back and adds, "I'll be back within the hour" and starts Moonlight running with her alongside.

Farden stares as Holly takes off. "After all this talking... did she just go off on her own? No, she has her horse with her, a beast undoubtedly equal to two warriors, an archer and a sorceress."

He sits back down, and rubs his head as a man with a migraine. "Well, these are civilized lands. Hopefully she can't get herself into too much trouble. Snow, do me a favor and stay close behind me, alright? It doesn't matter if you're good with that spear, any enemy with a minimum intelligence will make killing or capturing our spellcaster his top priority."

OOC: It works out pretty well. Longspear's a reach weapon, so Snow can stay behind me and still stab at enemies.

"If... I dont cast spells how will they know i'm a spell caster?"

Farden was presuming Snow was an inexperienced dolt.



You notice this now but when you need someone to hide behind to shoot arrows, Snow and her long spear starts to look pretty good :P
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

"If you don't cast spells then you're not playing to your strengths." shot back Farden. Then he raises his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Look, I'm not your boss, I can't force you to do anything. If you think you'll be more useful in the front lines, go for it. But if it gets us killed, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so' in the afterlife."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:14, Tue 01 Feb 2011.

Snows scowls and narrows her eyes, "What would you know about casting spells, and the strength of a sorceress and what they can and cant do?"

Snow had to wonder what it was about Triple Fang men that made them think they were an expert on everything.

Glumr rolls up some leaf, leans against a tree, and lights it...  Enjoying a smoke and the humor of the situation while Farden and Snow go back and fourth.

"What I may know about magic is irrelevant. It is you who goes around introducing herself as a Frost Sorceress. So, I naturally expect your spellwork to be better than your spearwork. Or is it the other way around, and you just call yourself a sorceress to frighten the ignorant?"

Farden hasn't raised his voice. In fact annoyance seems to make his voice go lower, to a almost a hiss.

Snow makes a plucking motion in the air to draw one of air to draw one of her snowballs and flings it between Farden's feet.

"You should be plenty frightened then.", Snow mutters before departing to do what she does best (shop).

OOC: When Farden's doing this training you'd left Rankor and you're out in the fields near Jeremy's farm.  Shopping options are limited.  Although, the party did recently buy a horse for Farden here.

Farden seems disinclined to continue the argument as well. He turns back and starts doing maintenance on his weapons and armor.


OOC: If we did buy a horse then I'm deducting 35 GP from my money. Combined with the 50 GP for the letter, that should be enough.

OOC: I've been assuming it in your travel speeds.  Without it you guys will travel half as fast retroactively.