"Please, hero. I need a favor of you.

Their numbers are growing at an alarming rate, it's only a matter of time before they'll strike. Hero, I need you to go out there and disrupt their activities, kill them, destroy their camps, do whatever it takes to stop those vicious barbarians. I won't be able to join you, but I have full confidence in you. I know you'll succeed.
We're counting on you to deal with those barbarians. I'm not asking you to kill all of them, just make sure you do what I ask of you.

I'm afraid there's not much left I can reward you with, but I think I can still make it worth your troubles. Good luck hero, not that you need it, but a little extra won't hurt."

 - Righteus Wizard Denys

Wandering goblins have been reported in the NW hills. Denys wants Reynard to harass them. He doesn't know why.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Thu 19 Mar 2020.

Denys is a young and handsome human magic-user with slender face, narrow chin and blue eyes. his hair is curly and blonde, trying to escape hood of his robes, which are light blue.

He carries a very ornate staff made of light brown wood.

He himself won't be coming but he has recruited 4 other persons for the quest:

• a fighter; Threateningly Smooth Edmond Berney (Longsword, Dagger, Leather Armor, Failed Temple Acolyte, Skull necklace)
• a fighter Hastily Quaint Alan Goode (Longsword, Dagger, Leather & Shield, Scribe)
• a magic-user; Awkwardly Lame Martha Quatremaine
• a dwarf; Abnormally Drab Embrek

This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

CF:3
Scene setup: (Day 1) Party travels on trails 10 miles via Castle Conon to village of Thistleby. Scene Unaltered.

They get there without problems. Thistleby is tranquil farming village without Inn. Reynard tries to talk a permission to sleep in a barn, but is denied. The villagers shy from them and they have no roof over their head.

They make an outdoor camp behind a barn on the edge of the village.

CF->4
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:05, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

CF:4
Scene setup: (Day 2) Party travels on trails 10 miles from Thistleby to town of Old Watch on a hill. Altered Scene. NPC action (Joan) : Carelessness Misfortune

Joan wants to visit West Abbey close by to South-West. Reynard tells her she has to do it alone - rest of the party continues towards Old Watch. Joan says she'll catch others at Castle Ayes later and departs, heading to West Abbey.

CF:->5

Scene setup: (Day 3) Party travels west on a trail to town of Old Watch. Altered Scene. (Ambiguous event : Passion Good) = They travel eagerly and in good spirits, reaching Old Watch in the evening.

They expect guards at the town gates, but nobody is there stopping them. They all stop and listen. The town is eerily quiet. No people moving - only gust of wind in disappearing daylight. Then they notice it; bodies of gate guards, lying on their face in the ground, in a pool of blood. A violent death.

Move toward a thread (Goblin Threat) : Dispute Investment

They hear quarreling. Somebody is arguing over possessions, or treasure. As they walk towards it, they see seven human figures. Four of them are carrying a chest out of nearby building. They all have dark hooded cloaks. A band of thieves, or rural bandits.

End Scene. CF ->6

Day 3, late evening / Old Watch
Scene setup: Encounter with the thieves. Scene Unaltered.

Reynard: Halt! What are you doing?

(Neither side is surprised.)

The thieves drop their chest and bolt at opposite direction, quickly vanishing into deepening shadows.

The party approaches the chest. It looks deadly. Sharp metal spikes protrude from it, requiring careful handling of it. The thieves have already unlocked it, and contents of the chest spill on the ground when they drop it. Silver and Copper coins. The chest must have belonged to a merchant or town guards, keeping their salary money.

Edmond & Embrek rush to collect the chest while rest keep eye out for possibly returning thieves.

The building is lit, and seems to be an Inn. Green and gold sign saying "The Tipsy Bells" is on the wall by the main entrance.

The party takes the chest and enters the Inn.

End Scene. CF -> 5

Day 3, late evening / Old Watch, The Tipsy Bells Inn
Scene setup: Encountering tied up prisoner within the inn. Scene Unaltered.

They enter dimly lit inn. Tables and stools are in their place and lit lanterns spread dim soft light to interior room, open to second store. Building is made of heavy timber. Four wooden pillars support roof. To right of entrance is long bar desk (wild west style).

At the pillar closest to the door is an old man tied to it with long rope. He has gray messy hair and beard and is dressed in dirty gray peasant clothes.

"Please help me."

"Who are you? Did those rogues tie you up?" Reynard asks.

"I'm Father Brooks, priest of the town. And yes, of course those scoundrels tied me here before they went to steal our town watch payrolls!" Lazily Dark man says.

"Would you mind cutting me loose, please?"

Reynard steps fort and using his dagger cuts the robes.

"Where are rest of the villagers?"

"The bandits threatened to kill them, unless they left." Father Brooks says massaging his numb wrists. "Did you kill them?"

"They fled when they saw us, but they can come back any moment when they realize it's just us - no other soldiers. Where did the villagers go?" - Reynard.

"Castle Ayes or Castle Conon, where else?"

Reynard cant' tell if Brooks tells the truth.

"We didn't see anybody on road from Thistleby."

"They've likely gone to Ayes then."

"Did you recognize any of those rogues?"

"Never seen any of them before. They're not from here, that I know."

"Very well. Embrek, watch the door. Edmond, watch the windows. They can come back."

End Scene. CF -> 4
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Wed 01 Apr 2020.

Day 3, late evening / Old Watch, The Tipsy Bells Inn
Scene setup: The party makes dinner and prepares to rest. Scene Unaltered.

There are supplies at the inn. Martha creates dinner while Embrek stands in watch by the door. Rest of the party sit at table with Father Brooks. There is no sign of the thieves.

Brooks agrees to stay with them, for his own safety.

After dinner they retreat to upstairs occupieing two rooms; one for men and one for Martha who insists she will be ok by herself.

Night comes.

End scene. CF -> 3

Day 4, Town of Old Watch, Morning
Scene setup: The party explores the abandoned town. Altered Scene; NPC action (Emberk) : Procrastinate Danger

They gather to hall for breakfast, prepared by Emberk now since Martha memorizes her spells. The dwarf is anxious to continue, press forward instead of exploring the town. He feels they should not lose time in face of the Goblin Threat.

Reynard agrees. They can always come back later. They ask Brooks to join with them, but the old pries says he is not adventuring type and that he'll wait the villagers come back soon.

They discuss about the thieves, but there is little they can do. Their mission is priority.

After meal they take money chests to Brooks temple and advice him to hide it. They bid farewell and head west to hills in search of the goblins.

End Scene. CF -> 2

Day 4, Hills, Morning
Scene setup: Party travels west to hilly wilderness in search of the goblins. Scene Unaltered

Wandering monsters check: a small Gold Dragon encounter.

The dragon appears to be sleeping.  They notice it from 140 yards. They decide to evade the dragon, not knowing ANYTHING about gold dragons. As they try to evade, the dragon wakes up. Its rumbling voice echoes as it inquires why the adventurers bother it.

Dragon/lawful/weak

Reynard apologizes, saying they didn't mean to bother it.

Dragon acts out of self interest = The gold dragon ask the party if they've seen another dragon here, another larger gold dragon.

The party has not seen such. Reynard asks it the dragon (here, small) is in need of an assistance?

Dragon asks his name, which Reynard gives.
The dragon doesn't give their name in return, though. It loses its interest on them.

Reynard asks if it has seen goblins here? Dragon replies by demanding them to leave. Which they do.

End scene

CF -> 1

Day 4, Hills, evening
Scene setup: Party set a camp for the night.Scene Unaltered.

Each takes 2 hour watch. The night passes quietly.

End Scene. CF = 1

Day 5, Hills, Morning
Scene setup: Party travels west in search of Goblins.Scene Unaltered

It's a hot day. They march 10 hours without seeing another sign of life. Tired, they prepare a camp and chew their rations. Their camp is up on a hill. Air is hazy, and they can't see Sylvan Woods south.

Day 5, Hills, Midnight
Scene setup: Wandering Monsters, Martha's Watch.

Martha's WIS = 12

She is surprised. It is very dark; no light other than their dying campfire. Encounter distance 20 yards.

A Small Red Dragon approaches their camp. It is hunting and has smelled them. It has 50 HP.

Surprise round. It breaths fire on them, killing ALL OTHERS but Reynard instantly (25 p damage even if Save passes. RIP.)

Reynard spends first of his Nine Lives^TM

End Scene. CF to 2
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Tue 14 Apr 2020.

Day 6, Hills, 3 AM
Scene setup: Reynard wakes up after near death experience. Unaltered.
Intervention points: 0 (changed Oracle to MUNE).

He wakes up. It's still dark night. The dragon is gone. He feels body on top of him, it's Alan Goode's charred corpse. Slowly he stands up.

They're all dead, charred black corpses. Sky is covered and it's dark, but he KNOWS they're burnt - he can smell their grilled flesh.

The dragon hasn't eaten or touched them. It just wanted to KILL.

On that spot Reynard swears an oath; He will FIND THAT DRAGON AND KILL IT.

Three more hours to sunrise. By hand he checks what supplies he has. Surprisingly little damage. His backpack is charred but holds together. Rations are undamaged. Waterskin has a hole but keeps little water.

He notices flicker of light. As he moved Alan's body and checked his gear, dry grass ignited again and fire is spreading. [Intervention +1]. He grabs what he can, his own gear and walks away back to east towards Old Watch. Fuck the goblin mission. He needs to get back to civilization.

End Scene. Intervention Points = 1.

Day 6, Hills, 8 AM
Scene setup: Reynard makes his way back towards town of Old Watch.
Intervention points: 1

Reynard can see from the grass and hills that summer is starting to turn to autumn. Sun is shining on cloudless sky, but winds are very strong lifting dust into air.

[Intervention points: +1; 2]

He presses on another six hours before deciding to stop for a lunch.

[Intervention points: +1; 3] - Intervention type: New Entity
Random sentence: "He had reached the point where he was paranoid about being paranoid."

For for a while he had had a sensation of something watching or stalking him. As soon as he sat down and was opening his backpack he heard somebody behind him. Reynard swung around only to see  a you girl look at him intently. The girl had blond hair and dirty brown clothes. Something was off in her, but Reynard couldn't tell what.

They talk, and the girl is interested in why Reynard is burned and what happened to his party. When it comes clear it was small red dragon who attacked Reynard, the girl transforms to her true form of small gold dragon and wants to know where the attack happened. Reynard tells it and the dragon flies off to that direction, hunting. It never introduced herself.

[Intervention points: +1; 1]

I roll 1d6 for "small" gold dragon from AD&D Monster manual scoring age of 6. Reynard scores another whopping 9000 xp (half of 18000) from this encounter.

Also [Intervention points: +1; 2]

End Scene.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:17, Thu 16 Apr 2020.

Day 6, Town of Old Watch, 6 PM
Scene setup: Reynard arrives to town of Old Watch.
Intervention points: 2

I the evening Reyanard arrives to Old Watch. He can see few towns people moving in the streets busy in their business, so the town is not abandoned (anymore).

As he steps on the main street a figure dressed in black blocks his path demanding nature of his business. Reynard request to stay in the inn to heal up. The cautious figure doesn't give permission saying he should leave. Reynard asks to see Father Brooks. The figure orders him to wait while he goes to fetch Brooks. Reynard sits by a building wall and drinks last of his water.

Few minutes later the figure arrives with Brooks but also with the thieves leader. The leader is surpricingly friedly and allows Reynard to rest in the inn and tells father Brooks to take care of him.

Intervention points +1,3 - Entity Negative "comprehensive sleep"

It's all feint. While the leader speaks other thief sneaks behind Reynard and knocks him out...

Intervention points: 0

Day 6, Town of Old Watch, 6 PM
Scene setup: Waking up as a prisoner.
Intervention points: 0

He wakes up in; 1 = a slave pit on ground, 2 = In a cage on carts, 3 = in an old dungeon beneath the ruins, 4 = tied to pillar in the inn; roll is 3

He hears shuffling sounds and notices he is inside a cell in an old dungeon with two other figures, dwarfs by they frame. Pain throbbing in his head he slowly pulls himself to a sitting position.

Dwarf One = Sadistic, Dwarf Two = Argumentative

Reynard feels fingers on his body and notices the 1st dwarf searching him. He pushes his hands off. "What do you think you're doing?"
The dwarf persists, trying to pull Reynard's belt of from his pants. Reynard pushes the dwarf away, harder this time. "Off me!"
The dwarf grunts but pulls away, studying Reynard with his gleaming black eyes. Reynard tries to ask who they're and how they got here, but the dwarfs aren't very talkative.
Hours pass, nobody comes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:06, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

Day 6, Town of Old Watch, 8 PM
Scene setup: Escape route?
Intervention points: 0
Seeds: decade, corner

Since the dwarfs keep to themselves, Reynard stretches his legs and walks around the dungeon. His eyes wander on the old stonework and he notices holes and cracks in one corner. There is a hole big enough for him to crawl through, provided he takes off his armor. In poor light he can see a short corridor, which could be open to a wider space in the distance. It is pitch black though, and he doubts entering there without a light source.

He decides to wait little longer and if nobody comes, he'll take his chances with the hole in the corner.

The dwarfs begin to show signs of activity, maybe due approaching nighttime. They surprise Reynard, when the other dwarf starts talking to him.

"Where do you hail from, human?"
[+1 Intervention]

"Uh? A-ok, so you can talk after all... I'm from Brasstower. Name is Reynard. May I ask who are you?"

"Garmund be my name. Came her to work, only to be intimidated by those fools who run the village now."

"And what do you do, master Garmund?"

"Jewelry is my craft. Ebtharm here, he is a fortune teller."

"Have you looked at those cracks, Garmund? To my eyes there is open space there, just enough to escape, maybe?"

The old dwarf perks up, apparently noticing cracks for the first time. "By Moradin's hammer! How come we didn't notice those, Ebtharm?".

[Can they escape through the cracks? - No.]

It didn't take for long for them to find out it was a dead end. Dismayed Reynard sat down on the filthy floor and Garmund looked as dismayed as ever.

[Does anybody come down there tonight? - Yes.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:53, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

Day 6, Town of Old Watch, 11 PM
Scene setup: dinner for the prisoners
Intervention points: 1
Seeds: arouse, dazzle, play

Reynard must have slipped into sleep. He woke on noise of approaching steps and bright light. He couldn't say how much time had passed since they tried to escape through the corner cracks.

[Male true neutral sorcerer(M-U) lvl4 - amused - royalty level wealth]

"Well well well, what do we have here... Are you folks awake?" Playful male voice asked.

Both dwarfs were soundly snoring. Reynard stood up. He was disappointed the visitor had not brought food.

"Who are you?" Reynard asked.

[MU Disposition +4 Aggressive, Takes something = casts Charm Person. Reynard fails Save.]

The man made a hasty gesture in the air and mumbles some words. Suddenly he seemed much more nicer personality to Reynard. A smile shined on the fighter's face.

"My name matters not, but if you insist you can call me Seers. What's your name, friend?"
"I'm Reynard. Can you tell my why I am locked up into this cell?"
"Come forth and I'll tell you." The Seer smiled. Reynard obeyed and stepped to the bars, his face one feet away from the Magic-User´s who opened the cell door with a key.
"You and I will do great things together, Reynard. Come, please." Reynard walked out of the cell. Seer locked it quickly before the dwarfs stirred.

"Follow me, Reynard." Seer said and walked away charmed fightger in tow.

End Scene. Reynard breaks charm after 4 weeks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:24, Sat 05 Dec 2020.