In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 232):
Beneeix aquest aliment, pare al cel, i les mans que van ajudar en la seva preparació. Amén..

Iskander murmurs something that sounds like a prayer in his native tongue, and crosses himself, before taking up his rice spoon.

Chye sits indian-style, with two bowls, one on each knee. With his chopsticks he grabs rice, cabbage, and fish, from each bowl, and dips them in fermented fish sauce, intermittently.
"美味しい!"
*tasty!*
This message was last edited by the player at 23:49, Mon 08 July 2019.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 234):

After eating, you resume your journey. Make a per roll as you leave the forest

Ales perceives something is off....

(Ooc:12:45, Today: Ales Konstantin rolled 7 using 3d6.  Perception check vs 13.)

In reply to Narrator (msg # 235):

17:51, Today: Iskander rolled 12 using 3d6.  percepton ~ 13.

17:52, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 4 using 3d6.  percepton ~ 12. CRIT!

Chou-Zhen looks around as the group gets under way.

OOC: Chye, I think 4 is only a crit for skill 14 or higher.  Still a good margin of success, though.

[Private to GM: 18:45, Today: Chou-Zhen Mou rolled 8 using 3d6.  Per (10) while leaving the forest.]

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 239):

really? i always thought 3-4, was considered a "natural" crit

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 240):

3-4 is a crit, unless the effective skill level is 3. If the skill is 15, 5 is a crit, and 16+, 6 is a crit.



Chye spots some spoor, oversize wolf droppings, less than a day old.  A tree is marked with urine from about five feet off the ground. While the leaves obscure footprints, you can tell that dire wolves have been in the area, at least two, and you also not that there is also spoor of a dire rabbit... although those look to be about two days old, and it looks to have been disturbed, as if the dire wolves were nosing it about.

A little further to the west, there is a clearing with slightly muddy ground, and you can see the prints of about four dire wolves heading in that direction, again, probably right after the rain from the other day.

Chye kneels and holds up his hand.
"Ho! Chye see something.. Monsieur Hood mentioned there be wolves to be wary of, and he was right. You know, we could probably track them to their den and wipe them out. They're a danger to travelers on the road, and it would be a good service to rid them. Besides, Chye think they will tail us, for the Oxen they'll be smelling anytime now..."
Chye stands up and dusts off his hands, and gestures all about.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:47, Tue 16 July 2019.

"I agree with Chye. Though I dislike the idea of battling with such beasts, I believe it will be the best in the long run in terms of accomplishing our mission and keeping the people of the area safe."

"I agree.  Though I would not wish to delay our primary mission, wolves of such a size are surely a danger to the people we are here to assist.  Of course, these great rabbits would eat crops to the point of starving people, too."

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 244) anyone have naturalist?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 245):
18:15, Today: Iskander rolled 10 using 3d6.  13-6 (naturalist default, from practical experience). failed by 3

18:14, Today: Iskander rolled 14 using 3d6.  14-4 (research default on naturalism, through textbook knowledge). failed by 4
Despite his worldliness, Iskander is unable to predict the behavior of these dag-blasted dire wolves.
"Hmm.. Had I as much experience with nature, as I with geography, I'd be on good authority, els meus amics.."

This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Wed 17 July 2019.

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 244):
"Chye imagine you're right, Chou-Zhen san. Chye imagine they bait those rabbits and catch many of them, and breed them for their meat! Mmmm.. need fat though. Wrapped with bacon, or nicely rendered salt pork, would make for good eating.. that size, meat likely tough, and stewing or braising may be best way to go...."
Chye licked his lips.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:14, Thu 18 July 2019.

Chou-Zhen's queue lashes briefly as he thinks.

[Private to GM: 18:49, Today: Chou-Zhen Mou rolled 7 using 3d6.  Naturalist (dire wolf and dire rabbit) (default 7).  Well, who knew?]

In reply to Iskander (msg # 246):
"This is no time to be thinking about ways to prepare dire rabbit, Chye. Our oxen must be protected from these wolves, but we should see them coming, now that we've left the forest."

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 248):

If no reports of the wolves attacking the vilage have reached Sakemoko, there may be something that keeps the wolves away... Flooded areas like rice paddies are notorious breeding grounds for biting flying insects, it is possible that those too are megafauna.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 250):

OOC:if they raised fish in the rice paddies, and then released ducks, after their harvests, it would cut down on the strix, as the fish and ducks would eat their larvae and increase their
rice yield with both their droppings, and add fish and duck to their menu and exports.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 251):
Stirge Larvae are bigger than ducks...there may be another method...

"Our master said nothing about problems with bear-sized wolves or sheep-sized rabbits.  I believe we might do well to leave the wolves undisturbed. Monsieur Hood and his men seem to manage."

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 253):

You head back to the road with the ox carts. The catfolk are a little jumpy.

"Let us arrange ourselves so that we have look outs on all sides, as we move. Anyone that can use a bow would do well to sit on top of the wagons, for the best vantage point. I'd like to see them coming, before they pounce. Dear Catfolk, do let us know if you smell anything awry.."
Iskander suggested.

Chou-Zhen takes up his previous marching position, near the left rear wheel of the lead wagon.  He walks with his leather whip loose in his right hand, and continually scans to the left side of the road (trusting others to watch the right).

Chye climbs up on one of the wagons, and readies his bow.
"Good Idea, Chye think."