The party starts to head back to North Shire, who and even what Victoria maybe is a topic of obvious discussion.  While she has identified herself by name,and stated she is human, it's well known to all in the party, that many very not so human things travel the Valley in the guise of human appearance.

Damien, the spearman however, is very human mortal, and in possession of something rare among humans in the Valley, a morale compass.

So as they close on the fringes of North Shire, left with the decision to release or slay him, the party opts to let him go, to improve the morale compass among humans hopefully.

Victoria is another matter.  Bought to the valley by followers of Nyx she wears the guise of the innocent and harmless, a disguise often cultivated by the most dangerous of things.

So with little more to be done, they throw a cloak over her, tell her to act normally, and not be startled by anything she see's in town.  Better yet, keep the hood of her cloak drawn low so none can easily see her and to narrow her field of vision as a bonus is a better suggestion.

The walk through town is brisk and straight forward.  The town is ALWAYS busy.  Day or night, dusk or dawn, something was always stirring and moving in town.  One hour or the next was the same, and none really safer or more dangerous to bring Victoria through it.

It's generally agreed by silent glances and nods that you all disavow knowledge of Victoria, and if things go south, leave her alone to deal with what comes.

Happily... it doesn't come to that.

You all move through town, surrounding  Victoria to obscure her from sight, chatting amiably about your most recent mission and your desire to fill Joan and Rifnox in on your findings of Ghost Mushrooms.

Sanctuary is found for the party in the form of the Temple dedicated to Creed.  The divinity of Law, Order and Justice.

A binding order, and a place that's is respected.

Tending to the injured, arbiter of disputes, and the final sanctuary of those claiming innocence looking for asylum to clear their name.

It's a small but influential order that helps to keep the 'daytime' peace in North Shire.  While their numbers are few they walk with a certain authority in North Shire.

Among their number, the party calls friend, and sometime fell adventuring Guild Member Jeanne d'Arc.  Jeanne is a  acknowledge Champion (Paladin) of Creed, and traces a celestial linage that puts her akin by blood to servants of the Divinity of Order.

Rifnox another sometimes fellow adventurer, was a Kobold with some arcane talent, that was in her care.  It was well past noon, but still a bit before dusk when the party arrives.  Very near to dinner time it would seem, so Jeanne was done with her duties for the moment, and free to break bread with the party.

Meals were simple and plain, but available with a small donation to the temple.  For those down on their luck, it meant a free meal.

Bread, a little cheese or butter for flavor, and a tankard of water were on the table and provided to all.  It was 'their' table, and as such everyone had a place to claim for their own.  Jeanne took her seat at the head of the table to say 'grace'.  Brigitte had the floor space and an entire side of the table for herself.  At the other end of the table, we assorted stools and raised benches for those vertically challenged (Abyss actually had a stool on the table and a small table to eat off of).  Along the edge opposite Brigitte sat the more 'normal' sized members of the party.

* Amen *, Jeanne comments quietly finishing grace, and looking up with a serene smile, glancing at  Victoria and then the rest of the group.

"It seems your field trip was successful, you've made a new... friend ?"

Victoria had taken the tiara and put it in her pouches, knowing that being a Princess meant nothing in this land of creatures that hated her kind. And she traveled as they suggested, staying hidden. Goodness knows, she didn't want to be seen or noticed. Or anything. Despite the nice treatings of Brigitte and Maybelle, and the others... she really believed she would be killed. And she was too scared to be more scared with the idea.

Having come to a temple of Creed, she could at least hope for justice. Or at least, a painless death. She ate and kept her head down, trying not to shake. Truly, she hated feeling so weak, but what else was there?

Maybelle had taken a seat beside Victoria, boxing the girl in with Brigitte after making a motion to the woman's seat for Victoria to sit beside. She seemed... not quite comfortable with the pair, but more so then many of the others. Absently she reached up and pat Victoria gently on the head, much like an adult would a child.

"This is Victoria, she was forced into the valley by a human ritual. She seems human but talks about weird things like tiara's and other things. We figured having her examined by the church of Creed was the fairest way to make sure she was of no danger, and.... since she didn't seem to like the idea of being a pet. Maybe a local holy symbol of Creed to show she's been judged afterwards around her neck would make her a bit safer at first glance?"

Maybelle was pretty sure Victoria was a human, albeit maybe one who had fallen on her head one too many times. But as Brigitte pointed out not all humans were monsters, much like the one they let free. Maybelle was hoping Victoria was one such human. Good humans, and wasn't that a rarity, gave hope that maybe one day that race of monsters would get a clue and stop their genocidal ways. And then maybe Maybelle wouldn't fear them quite so much.

"Human you say?", Jeanne normally soothing voice takes on a carefully toneless pitch as she looks Victoria over more wary and critical.

"If this is so, she will have to prove to more than me that she means no harm, and Sol and Creed's protection while widely acknowledge, is not completely respected by all in the valley.  Particularly after nightfall.  Even with the acknowledgement of Creed upon her, i suspect many would not honor the judgement and take action anyway.  After many wrongs inflicted, one could hardly them."

Andrew adds in.
I scouted the area before the battle and The Human was not in crematory at that time.
I also work out they trying to summon something.  The humans that did the summoning seemed think this lady had great power.  Which at moment seems to be far from the truth.  If what she says is true.  Which it may be.  She normal human from her lands.  She comes from a land or world where human and other races get on.  Something I read in the libraries of my people.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:44, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

"It may be as you say, but some great evils are born from the appearance of frailty and innocence.  Biding their time and gathering their strength over time until they are ready."

Jeanne's eyes avert downward for a moment in thought, "I know this better than most."

Andrew nodd in agreement and added.
I remember odd plant with red flower by at pathway sometime back.
I even watered it once is passing.  Turned out to be some necromancer creation and once it grown enough started to suck the life out of anything living in area.
Took ages to get the root up.

"Given that my own people were just as warlike as the humans as little as 80 years ago, I'm prepared to give her a chance to prove herself at being civil. Many of the races here in the valley were either crossbred with humans, or came from a common ancestor, although few would care for that fact." states the gorilloid.

"So much more the sin that they make war upon themselves and treat each other in such a manner, i'm certain that those of mixed blood, are regarded even lower.", Jeanne comments quietly resting her head on one hand she tilts it regarding Victoria curious.

"I sense no evil intent upon her, at least not yet.  I'm not so naive as to presume that is a permanent state, but it is something consider, at least for now.  I'm not ready to smite her down, nor am i ready to put the weight of Creed behind her existence.  What are you proposing we do with her?", Jeanne was mildly impressed that the party had not butchered Victoria and claimed the wealth of her possessions, so they obviously had plans for her.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

Nisor was out of one fire and into the next. As a half-undead he had always been mindful of those who wielded the power of the divine and doubly so against those who wielded the unlife-extinguishing power of positive energy. Now he was within a temple dedicated to such a divinity and eating at the table of one of their chosen.

He trusted Jeanne, at least as much as he could, but he didn't put on aires about being overly comfortable either. Electing to sit as far away from her as possible Nisor ate his humble meal. When conversation turned to the nature of Victoria he interjected.

"We should observe her. Whatever she is, human or otherwise, good or ill, the fact remains that she was brought her through a summoning ritual. At the very least her presence should give some insight into how that was possible and what sort of magics sustain her presence here."

"That's all good and well, but unless you want me to lock her up in a holding cell, she won't be able to stay here.  Perhaps some place safe and out of North Shire... Maybelle's farm if she can clear it with her elders or your haunt if you want to ... observe ... her more?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

Nisor considered the options. Maybelle's Taur farm could be useful but the likelihood of Victoria being discovered was higher.

"The haunt is deserted save for the geist who dwells within it. It'll be a much more secure place to keep her."

He looked to his allies for agreement or dissent.

"I think we should ask her?"

Maybelle chimed in after a large sip of water as the group considered where to keep Victoria. She had given it a bit of thought while the others spoke, the 'princess' lost in a strange land and now her fate being decided for her. The 'Taur took another gulp of water before giving a little shrug.

"We've proven she's not dangerous. Keeping an eye on her seems the right choice, but if she's not dangerous now then the choice is kind of hers ain't it? Nisor's haunt, even if she appears human the 'Taur have long memories of a few good ones. We certainly never mind Brigitte's family coming to trade. The church, risking staying in North Shire, heck even following the other human's examples and fleeing it on her own. Unless she's a child and I'm just not recognizing it cause of her body, I'm hoping she's grown enough to tell us what she wants."

Maybelle paused here and considered it, giving her chin a light tap before nodding her head quietly. "If'n she IS a child, I'd suggest the homestead. A strong sense of family is usually helpful in raising someone right, at least that's what the 'Taur feel."

"How exactly have you ... .'proven' this?  If she's out to be dangerous, do we really want her at the Taur farm?  You're staking the well being of your herd on your judgement.", Jeanne remarks of handed, always watching Victoria with care as she spoke, with a certain intensity as if she were being watched and judged on every action she made... didn't make, and possibly even her thoughts and intentions.  With the chosen of Creed one was always careful about being judged too harshly.

"Though indeed... by all means, perhaps we should ask her?  Do you have a voice?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

Gar nods. "My forge and home are within the city boundaries. She doesn't look like she'd be much use at my forge, unlike some of the Warriors the invaders had. I could not justify her presence if she were discovered. I hate to suggest it, but didn't I hear that one of our scouts had something that made them appear human, in case he came across any large group of them?"

Nisor nodded to Maybelle, conceding any counter-argument he may make. To be quite honest he didn't want Victoria in his haunt but it did make more sense to him then keeping her in the city or with a homestead. At worse she proved to be terrible evil and destroyed the haunt and killed him. That would still only be one life over potentially dozens if not more.

Maybelle sighed and gave a little shrug, looking at Jeanne d'arc with a solid look. The woman made a damned good point, but the 'Taur were just generally helpful. Especially Maybelle.

"S'why I brought her to you, I'm trusting your judgement here. And then I'd ask the elders and druids to look her over. I'm a little too... I look at the good side too easily. Why i'm asking you and others for input. Better to admit my own flaw and get help, yea?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

Andrew Turned to Victoria.
Putting aside your human.  You been dump here and I dough there is a way home for you for year or two.  What skills and knowledge do you have that you can make living out of.
You must have had some role with in the place you came from.

"I believe the adjective you're looking for is optimistic...
 Though... those of lesser character might apply naive."

Jeanne wasn't an inquisitor, but since the insurrection incident, she was certainly capable of passing for one.

Brigitte put a big hand on Maybelle's shoulder, offering her support. She didn't have a whole lot to say in these kinds of situation about Victoria. But she was loyal to her friends.

"'Belle's a good girl and she's my friend. Call her what you gotta, but she's got a good heart and that counts for more than most folk will admit."

Rfnox, who been sitting near the fireplace, had been listening to the conversation but had been keeping quiet for while. Turning on the stool he was sitting on, he cleared his throat a bit "So, seems you had quite the find in your search for the mushrooms" he chittered, giving a big grin, showing his small sharp teeth.

Hopping of the stool, spilling a bit of water from his tankard, he walks over "If it hadn't been for that wound, I would have come with." he huffed, rubbing his side before giving a nod at Jeanne d'Arc "Thank you again for the help".

"It was nothing.", Jeanne nods making an absent gesture of dismal of the good deed.

"I didn't even have to call upon any divine blessings or miracles."

Victoria listened to the discussions, most of them about her, shivering slightly with fear. It was true. She was in a land of strange creatures and all thought she was a monster. But it was Andrew's question that caught her attention.

"I... I am a Princess. My Mother and Father are Queen and King. I... I know some magics, some mental things, I can use magics. I fear I am not much of a fighter. I was supposed to be married..."

She looked back at Jeanne. "I have never killed anyone. I have never deliberately hurt anyone. Truly, I was snatched from my lands, where I was..." She seemed to be trying to remember. "I was going to visit Elves, I think. With my betrothed, who was from the Eastern lands. I don't know why anyone would summon me, unless it were to kidnap me and hold me for ransom."

"She seems for the moment... harmless.

 I see no reason to smite her at this point in time.", Jeanne speaks slowly with some reluctance.

"What lands are you from.  What elves did you seek.  What betrothed did you travel with?", some of the tension seems to have faded, though there is still an underlying hostility from Jeanne.

Nisor looks to Victoria with steadily narrowing eyes. A princess?

Was she a demon princess? An outsider noble? A misbegotten aberrant under the guise of royalty? A possessing spirit in the body of a princess? Or perhaps some sapient magical phenomena which believed itself a princess.

Nisor contemplated the possibilities while he combed through his memory.

Nisor tries to remember if any planar beings are known to disguise themselves as nobility to garner favor. 16:02, Today: Nisor rolled 16 using 1d20+8 ((8)).

There was a pause as Victoria seemed to collect her thoughts, before Victoria has a chance to voice them, Jeanne presents her with more questions.

"You mentioned you were skilled at magic... and... mental 'things'.  Please... elaborate.  I'm sure many at the table would have an interest."

So many questions. So many suspicions. Victoria hardly knew where to begin.

"My... My betrothed was Lee Yuan. He was from the East. We were betrothed to cement... peace?" Other things were pulling at her head, so the latest question was a relief.

"I can... I can do magics. Make others sleep. Strike them with frost or fire. Charm them. As... As what we call a mentalist, I can bend others to my will, daze them. As a Crown Princess, I was to be able to defend myself."

She looked around, a bit of determination coming to her eyes. "Truly, if I wished harm, would I tell you what I can do? Knowing these things, you could bind me, blind me, kill me. I have no reason to tell you these things other than to put myself at your mercy. All I can do is hope..."

She sighed, then held out her hands. "Do what you will with me. I just ask, if you do not believe me, if you fear me, then kill me quickly. I do not wish to suffer." She bit her lip and firmed her chin, as if she suspected just that might happen.

"Wel now, seems she got some spunk after all" Rifnox said as he walked to Victoria. Standing close to her, he pokes her side a bit "As long you don't use your powers on me, princess" he said, narrowing his eyes before giving a slight grin "Then I will allow you to bask in my presence and grace you the right to stay alive".

Maybelle flashed Brigitte a warm smile at the statement she was a good girl, but quietly nodded along to Jeanne calling her Naive as well. She knew she had her own faults, she was a little too trusting after all. It's why she asked others for judgement rather then trying to pass it herself.

Quietly she munched on some sliced fruits, albeit she visibly startled at Victoria's admission of mental powers. It was only the further emphasis that if she had planned to use them why admit it that helped calm her down. None the less she looked a bit more uncomfortable then before. Trying to figure out something else that struck her as odd.

"Betrothed? That's a word I haven't heard before. I don't think. Whats it mean?" She didn't seem to want to focus on the idea of Victoria being killed if she was dubbed a threat. Admittedly though she probably wouldn't fight for the human, not yet anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:31, Sat 02 Feb 2019.

She visibly cringed with Rifnox's poke. But she looked at Maybelle. "Betrothed means I am engaged... am to be married. In other words, an agreement has been made for this man to be married to me. Does that make sense?"

"Ah, I knew engaged and married. Though they're not terms 'Taur use often. Just never heard it referred to as betrothed. Makes sense."

Maybelle brushed her hair back absently as she helped herself to a few berries, seeming to mull over the concept. Finally she gave a little shrug.

"I tried to wrap my head around marriage before because of Brig's parent's, but I guess it still just seems odd to me. But hey to each their own yea? I know its important to many. I'm sorry you got called away from your lover though, that must be rough."

She blushed. "He was not my lover!" she replied with a blush. "We were just to be married. My goodness, we never even kissed! He was a nice man, but we didn't even know each other."mmmmm

"But I thought marriage was between lovers? Is it different where you come from?"

Maybelle seemed confused a moment before sighing, what was wrong with humans. Sure she get the whole ideal of marriage, a lover who would always be yours. But she wasn't sure she'd ever fully get why it mattered to them so much. Whatever. Playfully she waved a finger at Brigitte on the other side of Victoria.

"See, marriage is confusing even when I know what marriage is supposed to be. Told ya so. At least now I don't feel bad for it taking me so long to get it when you tried explaining it to me."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:25, Sat 02 Feb 2019.

Andrew taps one of his claws onto the table.
Looks hard at the little Kolbold.
Ah  He says.  You have already come under her spell Rifnox.
Puffing yourself up like a mating grouse and telling us all you will let her live.
When it is not your place to do so.  She has made a fool of you already.  Even without trying.
As for her telling us she is a mentalist.  It could be one great double bluff, who knows.
So the question is what cards does she have in her hand.  Is it  just a two and three like she say.  Maybe she bluffing and really has the king and queen of hearts or is worse the Jack and ace of spades?

A wolf like grin appears on Andrews face.  The wolf-elf makes a sideways look at Victoria.

I say for what it worth, let her live or die by how she treats others.
Although I do know Lady's not going to like her.
As for marriage, I prefer the pack structure and three cycles of the moon.
Then one has a mate equil to ones status and no one is alone unless they need to be.
But I know my pure blooded kind like marriage it seems.

"I can offer her shelter and sanctuary for the night, but come morning we need to figure out what to do with her.", Jenna comments conversationally letting much of the stern tone fade as she does so.

Victoria was a pretty girl, and many of the males actively or passively were already smitten by her.  Even Maybelle seemed affectionate.  Was it just a natural inclination or... more?

Jeanne's offer was probably the 'safest' offer on the table, but would only be good for a night.  Come morning Victoria was going to have to figure out what she was going to do, else she was going to become a bounty for someone to turn in at the fort.  Not a pretty fate for Jeanne to contemplate, but perhaps... it wont have to come to that.

Jeanne turns a glance to Daubra, to get a sense of what she was thinking.  They often had similar outlooks, and Daubra had more interaction that Jeanne with the pretty princess.

"With Royalty, a daughter is often married to an ally to strengthen the bonds between the two kingdoms. I knew from an early age that I would have no choice for a husband. And as I grew older, I realized that I could not indulge my affections for another because my parents had already decide who I was to be married to."

She inclined her head to Jeanne. "I thank you, Mistress, for allowing me to stay even a night. I know that it is a burden, but I truly have no other options," She gave a slight sideways glance at Rifnox, despite other offers. I give you my word that I shall cause no troubles."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:34, Sat 02 Feb 2019.

"Who says you haven't fallen under her spell" Rifnox counters back at Andrew before listening in to the conversations.

Taking a sip from his tankard, he tilted his head a bit "If it's so much trouble that she is human, why can't we just disguise her as another race" he suggested to the rest "Heck, I even used a bit of magic myself pretending to be a halfling once.".

Andrew tapped another claw onto the table.
Lady will most likely be judge of that Rifnox.  So let hope she does not judge baldy.
The wolf-elf answered.
Then added.  Don't be silly Rifnox.  We all know your a halfling trying to be kobold.
We also know that your interest in magic just a front.  Deep down all you want to do is grow turnips and smoke weed.  Behind that magic of your, you are fat and hairy.  With chubby cheeks and stupid grin on your face.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:21, Sat 02 Feb 2019.

Gar says "don't dismiss the stupid grin. Most of his people have it, and it's their most disarming feature."

Narrowing his eyes, rifnox gripped his tankard more firmly "Says the mutt who likes to sniff others people behind and pisses against trees" he says before grinning "Bet you take the bitch of yours when nobody is looking cause who would love such a ugly bastard like you". Taking a long sip from his tankard, he then turned around and walked back to the fireplace "Let me know when you come to a conclusion with the human, I'll be warming myself by the fire".
This message was last edited by the player at 08:59, Sun 03 Feb 2019.

Andrew makes a nod to Gar and what he said.
As Rifnox turns away from the group Andrew add in as leaving shot.
Just to help with your education Rifnox.  You are wrong about one thing.
As my parents were Moon Mates at time I was conceived.  Then I was born in wedlock by common standards.  So I may be ugly but I am not as you put it a bastard.
You really should find out about someones genealogy before using such words.  You could up set someone if you don't.

This message was last edited by the player at 10:12, Sun 03 Feb 2019.

Nisor listened carefully but remained silent. What Victoria had said was unsettling at the least. An unknown, potentially hostile being that admittedly uses mind-altering magic. He considered his own words and thoughts up to this point carefully. Was he under some effect that he failed to resist? He didn't have wards against such things even if his natural resistances were high.

He gave a suspicious glance to his allies who had seemed to accept it and moved on, even bantering about trivial matters. Were they even still his allies or had they too be caught in the woman's magic? One thing was for sure he would be investing in a particular spell now.

To Jeanne's suggestion Nisor spoke.

"I think that's best. In the morning we can take her to the guild and have her registered as a trial member. From there she can stay were she wishes so long as someone watches her. I'd like to explore some avenues of investigation while we assess if she is to be trusted."

Were these his own thoughts? Or was it simply a disposition she was forcing him to take? Nisor knitted his hands together under the table. How distressing to question the sanctity of your own mind.

Daubra seemed nonplussed about it all so Jeanne was paying particular attention to the rim of her cup.  Really when talk turned to such vulgar discussions, she had little to say.  She found it embarassing for herself, and her companions and wonders what Victoria thought about it all.  Sadly... reading thoughts was beyond her.

Jeanne glances at Nisor and nods, "That seems reasonable enough.  What should we register her as?  Certainly not the ... truth ...", she says slowly.  It was akin to requesting a death sentence and volunteering for North Shire Militia duty to do so.

Jeanne was not a fan of dishonesty, and while she could be incredibly convincing when moved to it, she did not do so lightly or without good cause.  Someone else was going to have to register Victoria, she was not going to vouch for something she knew to be a falsehood.

"Daubra... Maybelle, i believe it will take two members to sign her in, could you please see to it, and... while you're there, perhaps see if theres a new mission available?"

Nisor looked to Victoria and considered a few possibilities.

"A Skinwalker. They typically appear to be human or at least humanoids. Combined with her status as a mentalist we could easily feign that she simply appears to be human."

Gar points out "that, or a Lesser Aasimar. They too approach human appearance."

Victoria, staying quiet as they talked about her fate, finally had to speak up.

"I really don't know what either of those things are. I am not sure I would know how to act. Perhaps I could be a part blood, like part Elf? I don't know, for I truly do not know how this world works."

"A skin walker... is a sort of shape changer... Much like Andrew here.", Jeanne nods towards Andrew, "They might appear human... or elvish... but take on a more savage true form when motivated."

"An Aasimar, are often called 'outsiders', and often serve as mortal agent to serve the divine.  Like... myself."

Andrew added an extra thought.  He asked Victoria.
You don't have any elven blood in your resent past do you?
I know from stories of before elves and high born human have often married.

Jenne gives it some thought before speaking out loud.

"I'm curious about these mentalist abilities you claim ... powers of ... persuasion?", Jeanne speak slowly, almost reluctantly.

"It would be easier for you to claim some kinship to the Aasimar, using these mental powers as proof.  Easier to feign than your ability to change your physical form... unless... your mental abilities extend to shape change.", Jeanne frowns in an unhappy manner.

There was a lot unknown about Victoria, and where there was the unknown there was room from deception... worse... where secrets were kept, led the path of Nyx.

She sighed. She was clearly tired and not sure what she should say. So she spoke as well as she could.

"My mental abilities are innate... I can sense thoughts, but I am not as well trained as I should be. Just say I can reach out and make one confused, or I can charm one, because I am beautiful. But to read thoughts, or change thoughts, or see through another's eyes... I cannot do that as yet. So if those around me think I am beautiful and they wish to know me better, that is because I am thought to be beautiful. If you are confused, or think you are in love with me, then that is me. But I am not doing that."

Maybelle stayed quiet because to be honest, she had no idea what Victoria could pretend to be. Being a 'Taur wasn't easy to hide or pretend what with the horns and hoofed feet. Finally she gave a shrug and spoke the thought that was on her mind, even if it might cause trouble.

"Maybe being human but willing is enough? Brigitte's parents had a hard time of it but eventually people accepted that there were exceptions to humanity. Hiding who she is might be easier, but if she wants to stay... Might be worth being honest and being herself. If the lie comes out, ain't no one gonna trust her."

Nisor looked to Maybelle.

"I can't say I am in favor of that plan but you do pose a good point. If you and the Taur will vouch for her I will have no objection to Victoria working with us, albeit from the front."

His point was clear, at least to himself. He wouldn't put his name and reputation on the line for Victoria. A lie revealed could be spun as a grand deception but the truth was what it was. If she was revealed to be more sinister in the future then those who supported her would at fault.

Gar shakes his furry head. "Her abilities as described seem more appropriate to Diplomacy than to combat. As such, I would suggest she would need the same protection from mayhem that a wizard or sorceror would require. Not a front-liner at all."

Jenne was sort of quiet, not quite willing to throw her opinion behind Victoria.  She had presented options for the others to consider, she really wasn't totally on board with this entire concept.  She had made the effort to champion humans and been burned for the effort, at the stake no less.

There was really one word that considered Jeanne, Victoria had said 'yet'.  Would she be able to at some point in the future?  Was she simply biding her time till that moment?  These were not comforting thoughts for her.

Victoria looked horrified. "I... I am not a fighter! Even my magics are not anything like what... what you all did. I am not fully helpless, but I dare say any of you could... could kill me and I could not stop you."

"No.  You are not.  You are potentially worse.", Jeanne comments quietly.

"Better you might have been to be a single lone sword, than one with the potential to sway a thousand such swords to a dangerous cause."

Sister Daubra spent most of the meal in contemplative silence. "Our priority should be figuring out where she came from and returning her there. If she's telling the truth humans sympathetic to our right to exist might be invaluable to ending the human empire's oppressive reign of terror. If she's lying it'll mitigate her opportunities to cause havoc and speed up revealing her deception and the justice that will follow. I am sympathetic, but my sympathy towards her begin and ends with her apparent innocence." She spoke softly and implied possible execution with a surprising lack of malice.

"Right.  Then we are in agreement.  We may consider the matter closed and we will add her to the chapter tomorrow, which should help keep her from being executed on sight.  We shall let her deeds speak for her, which will decide her fate, one way or another."

with that, the matter seemed to be closed.

XP for RP tally for prologue and chapter one to this point coming soon.

---

The night passes as to be expected, and the various characters part ways for the afternoon, allowing them some time to take care of personal matters.

They visit places they are inclined to visit when not out doing guild work, and enjoy the lifestyle that comes with the quiet between guild assignments.

The following day, as agreed, after breakfast, the characters meet at the guild hall.  The guild hall is a large, but otherwise unimpressive building.  Constructed (at least the visible areas from outside) from wood the main entrance leads to a reception area.

From there various rooms are accessed...  The Guild Tavern, Inn, Shoppe, and Administrative office are but a few possible locations.  The most noted feature of the Reception room is a wooden board with assorted notices posted, of outstanding assignments looking for chapters to fill them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:04, Wed 06 Feb 2019.

Jeanne spends a quiet evening with Victoria, filling her in on various things to get her up to speed on common knowledge of things in North Shire,and what is to be expected of her the next morning.  It's not challenging, and most of it is common sense.

They have a brief walk over to the guild hall, where Victoria will be given some paperwork to fill out to join guild chapter 0112, which all the player characters are a part of.  She is to provide a name, or an alias to be known as.  Her 'race' and 'gender and to state her 'profession' in town (as a sort of proof of residence), and her expected role in the Chapter (class) and general experience (level one would be novice).

Jeanne does provide Victoria with some advice, to go with the truth whenever possible, since it will reduce the amount of deceptions she has to keep track of.

Where race is concerned, she is uncertain of what you should use, but suggests strongly not to go with 'human'.

Profession, she suggests 'traveler' for the moment which was sort of true, that she was passing through and perhaps thinking of lingering to stay if she found the valley to her liking.

her role might be 'Arcane Spell Support' and her experience is 'Novice'.

---

Jeanne enters the reception area with Victoria, and provides the reception with a morning wave and hello.

"Good morning Christa.  I'd like a form for a trial membership for our chapter?", Jeanne gestures to Victoria as she talks.  Christa is a Sidhe, who was around a foot tall.

Christa nods and flits about behind the counter and returns with a form for Victoria to fill out.  A quill is on the counter as well as an inkwell for her to use to fill out the form.  As expected and explained by Jeanne, various bits of information are requested from her to file away with the guild.

Jeanne looks about but doesn't seem to see anyone else from the chapter around.  At least not yet.

To say that Victoria spent a restless night might be an understatement. But with the morning, she has regained a little of her stability, recognizing that even if she were a stranger in a strange land, she was still a Princess of the Rose, and needed to act like one.

She came out, her hair brushed and hanging loose down her back, her Tiara in place, her clothing as clean and neat as she could make it, and her red rose pin in place.

She listened carefully to Jeanne's suggestions, then put 'Lesser Aasimar, since she was (or had been) a worshiper of Luna, and put 'Arcane Spell Support' for her role.

Profession? She was not at all sure what to put there. It made her wish she had spent more time with the court healer, for that would be a good thing for her to do.

Jeanne gave Victoria some space and time to fill out the form, walking over to the bulletin board to browse the available assignments that were looking for a chapter to handle them.

Most of the easy ones for rewards, were predictably already taken and assigned.

What was left were busy work, that paid next to nothing, to really difficult that seemed beyond the scope of an novice chapter, to ... shady and questionable.

She was listed, for the moment, as chapter leader.  This was in name only since they decided on much of what was done together.  None of the others seemed to have the interest in taking on the role, so for the moment it fell on her.

Walking in the guildhall, Rifnox was mumbling something as he rubbed his eyes from any sleep. Spotting Jeanne and Victoria, he walked over to Jeanne and looked at the different jobs "Picked anything out yet?" He asked before looking back at Victoria "Something she can handle to prove herself would be a good idea".

Brigitte joined them as well, looking over the board. She was willing to help Victoria out. Sure, her dad's people were assholes, but maybe not all humans were? As a half-breed herself, raised as half-human among the giants she was pretty attuned to the prejudice against humans. Not that they didn't deserve it, but it hurt sometimes, when you were half that thing that everybody hated.

Nisor returned from his Haunt the next morning and kept to the side, lurking among the shadows. He rubbed idly at his head, a combination of the effects from the dazzling sun and the situation wearing on his mind. Victoria was still very much an unknown to him and he would need to take precautions to simply stay alive long enough to ensure that he could figure out what she was and what was intended for her, if not her own intentions.

Jeanne nods hello to the chapter members as they arrive.  She gives Rifnox a little scratch behind the ear hello, and wave to Brigitte as she stoops to enter the through the open double doored entrance.  The reception area was the only room in the guild hall for her to stand without having to stoop.  There was a high ceiling there, that extended past what should have been the second floor for members such as Brigitte to have at least one room to comfortably loiter in.  While she was smaller than a full bloodied giant, other rooms while high ceiling were still going to have her treading carefully to avoid hitting her head on the ceilings and what not.

"There are a few jobs...

 This one is still here... Patrol along the main road.  To deal with humans that make an effort to try and pass through them to get a foothold into the valley.  10 silvers a day, plus the usual 100 silver normal bounty on any bodies we turn in.", Jeanne isn't enthusiastic about this one.  It was pretty light pay, with significant chance for injury to occur.

"This one is almost as bad...

 It's spring, and one of the Taur homesteads are shorthanded and looking for farm hands to do work on a farm.", Jeanne glances at the door to make certain Maybelle isn't around before wrinkling her nose and shaking her head to indicate she's not thrilled with that one either.  "The coin is about as bad, and i'm... not much good on a farm."

"Then there's this one...

 'Looking for virgin to help with a ritual.'

 No reward is posted, but really... i honestly i think it sounds a little sketchy.", Jeanne makes an 'ick' sort expression before shaking her head in mild disgust.

"We'll figure out which one we want i guess when the others show up."

Well, she was no healer, and certainly no fighter. Diplomat didn't seem like a useful job. She shrugged and wrote down 'Counselor,' knowing that would mean talking and negotiating.

She looked up as Jeanne was reading the 'jobs' for the group. And she blushed with the comment about needing a virgin. She certainly was not putting THAT down as a job!

Maybelle had been up early albeit other things occupied her time, including the making of her own breakfast. With her stomach and her rather firm dislike of meat, she ended up preferring to make her own food whenever possible. So why she was late was obvious, as was the scent of fresh apple and cinnamon filled pastry wrapped in cloth she was nibbling on as she entered. A quiet wave to the others as she walked over to consider the board.

She looked over the board before turning to the others, a bit miffed she hadn't known the other farmstead needed help. Sigh, her people could be so stubborn. But hiring hands was a pretty safe way to get around that with pride in tact. Carefully wiping her lips free of crumbs with the cloth, she turned to the others.

"Have we figured out what we're doing? We could do the patrol again, maybe bring a cart for the bodies from yesterday if still in tact and patrol the same area?" Maybelle looked the list over again and sighed. "And why are people so obsessed with sex? I don't get it. Are Virgins valuable or something? Why not just get aid from a race that doesn't do sex at all?" Much like marriage, some people's obsession about carnal affairs just confused her. So she happily took another bite of her food and mulled it over. Perhaps... yes. People were just weird.

Rifnox shook his head a bit from Jeanne's scratch but tapped his foot a bit as he checked the jobs "Wel, the virgin thing sounds weird, so no go on that one" he said and crossed his arms "<Goldenrod>And I'm not going to dirty myself with farming, so I'm voting on the patrol besides, I think it wil be a good chance for our princess to prove herself</DarkGreen>". He looked at Maybelle who mentioned bodies in a cart "Oh, wel some extra money sounds good, guess we can hit two birds with one stone that way".
This message was last edited by the player at 10:59, Thu 07 Feb 2019.

"Hey, don't look at me like that!" she replied considering the virgin post. "Just cause nobody 'round here is equipped to get the job done doesn't mean I need to be sacrificed to dark gods or something. Sheesh, you got a point 'Belle. Being from a race that doesn't do sex is sounds like it wouldn't be such a bad thing sometimes."

Now Victoria was beet red. "Can we not talk so much about virgins, please?" she managed to squeak out. Goodness, even the servants didn't talk about such things so much!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:17, Thu 07 Feb 2019.

At this point a tap tap - tap tap can be heard on the floor of the guild.
Two strong looking wolves come walking into the guild hall as if they owned the place.
One is silver colour all over and slightly bigger than the other.
The second is dark brown maybe black.  She is slightly smaller but also lot more sleek and faster then the silver wolf.

They both head straight to Victoria Edenburg.
The silver one in the lead.  It stops and sniffs Victoria then wait for the black coated wolf.
The black wolf stand beside first wolf.  Sniffs long and hard.
It looks across to the first wolf and shakes it head.  It then looks up at Victoria.
It slowly reveals it's teeth at her.  However it does not growl.
The look on the she wolf is unwelcoming.  The she wolf then covers up her teeth.  She turns to the silver wolf.  The silver wolf nods and move away from victoria to give himself some space.

Then the silver wolf shimmers and it form shifts and moves for few seconds.
Then Andrew is standing before the group.
The she wolf does not look pleased at him.
Look we been over this many times.  I know you don't like this form but I have to use it.
Andrew address the wolf.
He then turns to Victoria.
I was right.  Lady does not like you or trust you.  However she has decided she is not going to bite you unless you do something to harm any of the others in the group.

The elf-wolf goes up to the board.  Looks at it and smiles at Jeanne d'Arc.
He looks over to Victoria Edenburg.  Don't worry.  I sure our resident halfing.  Oh no sorry kobold will volunteer with this one.  It does not say what sex the virgin has to be.  Just a virgin so I sure our little kobold friend here will be all we need.

OOC:
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Thu 07 Feb 2019.

"Agreed... though i suppose that might have been an interesting way to prove your nerve and resolve.  I suppose we should just gear up and take our turn on patrol.  You seemed to have done okay at the field of the fallen.  We shouldn't get over confident though.  This could get messy and dangerous."

Jeanne looks around and notices Nisor, which meant at least half the chapter was here.

"We have a majority here, and if the other guys dont like the selection they can sit it out.", Jeanne takes the notice down and walks up to Christa at the counter.

"We're taking this assignment.", Jeanne fills in the chapters information turns it around for Christa to review.

---

There's a short pause to make sure everything is in order.  Christa stamps the guild seal on the notice, "How many members will be going on this one?"

"Counting our new recruit, I believe ten.  I will update you if the count changes."

"Very good.  Jeanne.", turning her attention to Nisor, "Nisor.  I need the reports filled for the last assignment.  Once you turn it in I can release the coin, and for those who prefer it, assign the guild credit."

As a scribe, Nisor was quicker, and had the neatest hand writing in the chapter, so Christa was always getting him to fill out the reports.

"This may be so, which would improve it's appeal to me if that were so.  I however after discussions with the others, was about to approve the patrol assignment."

Answer Jean.
Anything that is out side and in the fresh air with open roads and fields get my vote any time.
And ladies to.
The elf-wolf moves close to lady and she nuzzles his hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Thu 07 Feb 2019.

To her credit, Victoria did not cringe with the examination, but stood perfectly still. With Andrew's words, she turned to address both of them.

"As we have already discussed, I am not to be trusted, until I prove myself trustworthy. I accept that. But Lady," she continued, looking at the silver wolf, "I give you leave to bite me as you wish should I prove to be a harm to these others. Fair is fair."

Rifnox rolled his eyes as Andrew came in and called him a virgin "Oh, I was wondering why I was smelling wet dog" He said as he looked up at him "Don't you got some tree to piss against, also for your information, i'm no virgin ". Puffing out his chest a bit, he smirked "I had a few nice kobold ladies until..." he looked a bit distant before shaking his head "Anyway, when are we going on this patrol, the sooner the better".

"I wasn't sure what our assignment was going to be, so I still need to go back to temple to get dressed and gather my camping gear and I'll be ready.  Perhaps a hour recess and then we can depart?  Nisor still needs to turn in the report and ghost mushrooms from the last assignment, so we wont be able to depart immediately anyway."

Jeanne lowers her voice and steps closer to the others to remark quietly, "Good humor not withstanding, please keep voices and comments down regarding our new 'trustworthy' companion.  It would not do to draw attention or speculation on this issue too closely."

Jeanne then waves at the Guild Tavern, a fine place for food and drink for those who have not eaten yet, "I suggest we meet here in a hour and depart together?  Some one should check to make certain Victoria is prepared for a prolonged stay in the field."

In reply to Jeanne d'Arc (msg # 74):

Nisor, his head leaned into his hand, waved apathetically.

"Yes, yes. Quite right. Consider it done."

Done after the sun set at least. He needed to get himself a proper cloak; this was becoming ridiculous.

"If I can pick up a set of studded leather in my size, I can easily scout ahead, unless you have someone more adept to that role" mentions the gorilloid fighter.

"We may wish to invest in a Cart depending on the cost, we can take turns dragging it behind us and removing the tracks depending on where we are. It couldn't go with us in the deep woods but hiding spots are fine and it would help with our baggage and moving camp quickly."

Maybelle seemed to consider it, but offhand she was pretty up and ready to go as she finished off her apple pastry. She had never settled down all things considered and unpacked her gear from the previous day so she was ready to go back out if needed.

"I think the cart is a good idea but I'm not going to pull it" Rifnox said as he crossed his arms "I'm find with removing some of the tracks and keeping a eye out for any dangers". Stretching out, he then headed towards the Guild tavern "Wel, i'm getting a little more to eat before we go, I'll see you all later when we leave".

Nisor moved to be with the group as his headache finally subsided.

"I agree with Maybelle, a cart is a long-term investment that should prove useful to us; especially if we are moving forward with this extended scouting expedition."

Victoria arrived, prepared for travel and not sure what anyone else might think. She wears her traveling clothes, hastily cleaned, a cloak, her tiara, a couple of pouches, a rather decorative rapier and dagger. Her shoes look fairly sturdy, and also stylish. Now that she has slept, she moves rather lithely, and hums a very pleasant song that stops as the approaches the group.

"I'm... um... ready. Where are we going?"

Andrew walks up to Maybelle and takes her hand.
He places in it a small bag with metal object in it.
This should help. He tells her.

OOC:
Andrew give Maybelle 50gp.

The characters do some last minute shopping to gather provisions and what not for the trip.  You all set out on foot (NO CARTS...NO WAGONS...)

During the trip, Lady is in and out making appearances as she feels like it, and hunting and foraging for herself while away and coming back when she's generally fed and comfortable.

Depending on your point of view, the southern area of the Misty Valley is dominated by several small mountains, or really large hills.  On and around these rocky features a forest of Ever Green trees grows all year round.  At the moment it is early spring, and while there is still a nip of frost in the air, the life threatening bit of the long nights seems to be passing as Nyx's hold wane's to be replaced by Sol's warming presence.

The hills are dominated by the smaller black blood races.  Goblins and Kobolds clans are rife through the area, and populate at impressive rates allowing them to keep up with the casualites of constant warring with the humans.

Rifnox is actually your best spokes person and manages to get a lay of the land.  Warnings of which areas to avoid and which are safe to patrol are given in rather vague terms.  All the clans seem to have inflated sense of self worth, and lay claim to large territories than their ability to safeguard.

The chapter avoids the open fields and sloped rocky terrain for the compromise of cover and easy footing that the woods provide.  It's a good two day travel to reach the fringes of what can be considered the valley.  Right on the edges of contested space between what the Humans can safely claim, and the wilderness of the Misty Valley.  Less than a mile away was their newest infringement, a fortified building of some sort.  While not quite a fort, it was definitely more than a simple homestead.

It's late afternoon, and close to dusk of the second day of travel.  At this point you should be looking to make camp before it gets too dark to be picky.

---

Make a Survival Roll to find a decent camp ground.  DC 15 will be comfortable, DC 20 will be concealable and out of the way, DC 25 will be a perfect out of the way place that's is to defend.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:05, Mon 11 Feb 2019.

Nisor was relieved that his cloak was finally repaired and that he was able to purchase a decent pair of shaded glasses. It made the trek through the hills all the easier as he wasn't dazzled by the sun or nursing a terrible headache. All the same he might be more frightening then he desired now that he was garbed like death themselves.

Still he kept his mind focused on the task and surveyed their surroundings for a suitable campsite.

13:07, Today: Nisor rolled 23 using 1d20+7 ((16)). Survival. So concealable and out of the way but just shy of perfection.

Gar tries to make a few suggestions, but nothing that Nisor hadn't already considered. For this journey, Gar has donned a set of studded leather armor. The difference in agility and silence is amazing.

14:27, Today: Gar rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Aid Another DC 10.

OOC: Anyone who can hit a DC of 10 with Survival ought to try Aid Another. If you succeed, Nisor gets a +2 and hits that Perfection he sought.

Andrew like Nisor keeps his eyes and ears open for good camp site.
After seeing the spot Nisor suggests he uses his skills with nature to make few improvements to the spot to hide the group and make the place ever better than first seemed.  As he does this he uses his own magic and insight from Nisor to help him.


OOC:
23:29, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 18 using 1d20+10.  Survival (Guidance+insight). Help Nisor.  Add +2 Nisor roll so giving him 25.

Maybelle returned Andrew's money and happily headed out with the others, eager to get out of the city and back into nature. She may have loved the homestead but the village itself was a bit too packed and crowded for her if she had a say about it. Making sure she had her necessities. The young 'Taur was content to get back to work as idling never was big on her agenda.

With Nisor taking up the lead of scouting for camp sites she kept her mind open and added her own input, things like where finding fresh food and hidden campsites would be most useful.

23:27, Today: Maybelle rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Survival DC 10 Aid Another.

Having guided the rest through the land some to avoid any conflicts with goblins or other kobolds, Rifnox helps out a bit as best he can with the campsite, carrying small twigs to help start a fire and small rocks to place around it.

Humming a bit as he placed his share of help together in a small pile, he looked around a bit before waiting at the others.

12:29, Today: Rifnox rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  aid another survival DC 10.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:34, Wed 13 Feb 2019.

Happy to be past the goblins, who to her were even tinier annoyances than they were to the medium sized folk, Brigitte dropped her pack and helped set up camp as best she could.

Rifnox manages to talk a local Kobold Clan to loan you 'Rifraf' a scout for at least the first few days you are in the area.  This is to keep you aware of where the borders are, what clans are in the area, where it's okay to go, and where the clans are touchy and territorial.

Rifraf, appears to be some sort of kobold scout.  They are wear light armor, relying on nimble footwork and a smaller target to keep them safe from harm. 

In the hours before sunset the party manages to scout out an reasonable place to camp out.  It's at the foot of a hill, a clump of winter greens gather around a small clearing (perhaps 12' diameter).  While concealed, the nice feature is the over hang lip from the hill that provides some hard cover and shelter from the elements.

Perfect as far as Nisor is concerned, since it will be nice and dark for him to nap during the day.  The overhang niche is indents into the hill in a conclave shape, perhaps 8' wide at the 'entrance' , and perhaps six food deep near the center.

The clump of trees are thick enough and tall enough for privacy, and concealment for even Brigitte.  The nearby hill, is rocky enough for her to pick out some nice stones to stack to use.

The only short coming the location has, is the lack of water.  The Misty Valley river is easily a day and a half march north of this position.  Rifraf has pointed out natural pools and wells, the nearest of which is perhaps half a day from this location.

The nearest source of water, is a well dug out and maintained by the humans, perhaps a mile south east of this position.

'Travel' is over, and you are officially having a camping moment, and may set camp at the location.

Maybelle has been appointed 'Chapter Leader' for the moment and is in charge of the tally of things like setting the watch, and who goes on patrol, and what not.

Currently Lady is part of the party, but she's been traveling with you the last half of the day and is hungry and restless, and will be looking to go prowl about for dinner, and perhaps a place less crowded to spend the night.

---

Please set the watch, and not who will go on patrol in the morning...

Andrew gives lady a big hug.
Go on girl.  I know you need some food and this place is over crowed for you.
Go run and have fun.  I have to stay.  They need someone to look after them.

Happy lady leaves to find food and a place to sleep.

Victoria, much to her dismay, proved that she was not a strong camper. She looked around as she walked and kept up, but she was miserably aware that she was not a true adventurer.

Once they got to the place to camp, she was tired and sore, but not ready at all to admit defeat. She helped gather things for the camp, having to have everything pointed out to her. But she was determined to contribute, not matter what.

Yes, that was a 2 for a survival check. Good thing I had a +1!

"Can someone please Create water so we don't need to forage it? I believe a few of the casters have that skill?"

Maybelle had always admitted she knew little of magic but recalled that skill being used before at the farms, she thinks. Hopefully it wasn't a hard spell? She began to get out her cooking gear after they had the camp up and going, figuring she would cook the evening meal before she got to work sorting out a watch schedule everyone was okay with.

"I'm just going to go with Rifraf a bit, maybe get some more information, I'll try not to take to long " Rifnox called before taking Rifraf with him into the woods.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:28, Thu 14 Feb 2019.

Gar asks Andrew "do we need a hunting or foraging party to suppliment our rations? Or do you think we are okay for now?"

Andrew moves away from group.  Finding a place where water will run off away from the camp.  He then produces water to clean himself up.

After that he returns and provide water for anybody that need it.
Making sure any body washing anything does so away from main camp.

Nisor rests in the new camp, removing his shaded glasses as he relaxes on the trunk of shading tree. He had truly found a wonderful spot to set up, even if it was devoid of non-magical water. That, however, didn't seem like it was going to be a big issue; at least with Andrew around.

Lady pads about the campsite taking it in a little and marking the territory by raising her leg once or twice on a tree.  To Andrew, this is a natural behavior, others are free to interpret the action as they see fit.

After a few minutes of this activity, Lady bounds off to see what's around to snack on.  Every so often, a howl could be heard (like every hour or so).


Rifnox takes a short scouting trip out, and Rifraf shows him the Human settlement that is a mile or so South East of where they are.



Create Water is a Divine Orison, i havent decided on Jeanne spell list yet.  Like Rifnox she doesnt have one fully approved yet and is being fudged along on the honor system.  Andrew however does have a complete list and Create water is among them, and being the druid sort, made sense to normally provide this orison for 'stuff'.  It's usable without limit, so you wont need a second person to have the orison for common things like cooking.

While there is no natural sources of water in the area, there are a couple of indentations in the hilly surface that looks like they might serve as a basin to gather and pool water he creates for use.  All in all a better than average campsite.

Maybelle had considered moving every few days, but it was doubtful you would find another campsite of this quality so you may have to re-think that.

The party has a little time to go about their business before settling into the night time routine.

At this point, Rifnox will return, alone from his scouting.  Lady will return with chewed up rabbit, that might make for a decent meal if you dont mind the teeth mark, and that it's been in her mouth for more than a little bit.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Fri 15 Feb 2019.

As long as we're patrolling in place Sister Daubra is happy to use her skills at foraging while patrolling. She's quiet in her disapproval of opting away from the rocky difficult terrain. Sister Daubra being a creature of living stone herself doesn't see the barren land as barren and it would give her ample opportunities to sculpt the world to her purposes. This sort of environment she's fine just edgy never sure if she'll be able to get through all the dirt to find a proper rock if she needs one.

She spends the quiet times in camp carving stone for little figurines she like to sell. Mostly she carves very simple things people like, such as rabbits, goldfish, dragons, and dogs. She'd try selling the best ones when she got to spend some time in town. It wasn't much but it got her trademark out there, a stylized little rendition of a canyon eater sculpting scratched in on the bottom of most of the sculptures.

Returning to camp with a smile, he sat down not to far from the campfire that was being set up . He started to tell about the scouting he had done with Rifraf "So, it seems the place if more a Inn or Tavern as sorts."He explained "It is fortified and the humans there are just doing regular things, work, chores, the usual". looking over in the direction, he then looked at Victoria for a moment and then at the fireplace "We couldn't get much closer though, they seemed armed good enough for a steady defence and it may be a problem later on if they take more of the surrounding area". Grabbing a twig, he started to draw a little map of what he seen on the ground.

Nisor takes the time he has allotted to him to make sure that he has prepared the appropriate spells for situations that might arise. Given his scouting party he could rely on Gar and Brigitte for combat and could focus on supporting their efforts.

"A human settlement? Here? That's... not good. Perhaps we should focus our efforts on burning them out? The idea of them having a foothold into the valley...."

Maybelle wasn't happy about that at all. Perhaps one or two humans at a time but a full building? Way too many especially when they weren't approved to be out here. Plus Armed and Fortified and prepared for travelers... Not good at all.

Facing the scout, Gar asks "how big is the clearing around this Inn. Are there overhanging trees? Any estimate of their numbers? All men, or were women and children present as well? If there are families, we might be able to scare them off, then dismantle their building."

"It has a wide enough clearing for people to work around it" Rifnox told Gar "No tree's really close enough as far I have seen and no children, perhapse inside and there were males and females about". Stuffing the stick into the ground of the Inn, he looked at Gar "Don't think scaring them off wil work, like I said, it seems it can be wel defendable".

Victoria walked to a tree and sat down against it. She had tried to gather wood for a fire, but had not been able to do much more than gather branches and sticks. She listened to the conversation and sighed, reaching into her lunch pouch to see what was there. She snacked on some crispbread, then reached into her other pouch, to see if there was a blanket or something.

It made her sad to hear them talk of driving men and women and children from their village. Were they truly so evil? Was she so very evil, in their eyes? Perhaps she was. She pulled her cloak about her, mentally berating herself for her sadness. She was alive, was she not? To cheer herself, she then began to sing softly, tapping her hand against her pouch for rhythm...

"Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing, fa la,
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass. Fa la.

The Spring, clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter’s sadness, fa la,
And to the bagpipe’s sound
The nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la.
Fie then! why sit we musing,
Youth’s sweet delight refusing? Fa la.
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak,
Shall we play at barley-break? Fa la.

Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing, fa la,
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass. Fa la."

Everyone is tired, and looking forward to a decent nights sleep, with a leisurely breakfast before going out on patrol.  There was really no rush to push out just yet.  Packs were put under the cover the niche provided, and bedrolls were put out in preparation of getting some bed rest.

---

Players need to tell me what their characters plan to do during the night.

Where and how they sleep..

There is room in the niche for two normal sized characters...  Abyss and Daubra can sleep in the more shallow area of the niche closer to the clearing and not count for this limitation.

Brigitte is too large to fit comfortably in the niche and will have to sleep outside.  When she lies down, she easily takes up a 1/3 of the free space in the clearing.

Please let me know of any special sleeping arrangements being made, else I just presume youre sleeping on a bedroll, perhaps with a blanket, and you have a light weapon (presuming a dagger) close at hand, either off your belt, under your pillow, or what not....

Please let me know what your character is doing during their watch (are they staying in the camp, on the perimeter, past the cover of the treeline?

Are they doing anything special before bed, or are they just going straight away to bed?

No right or wrong answers here, modifiers will be noted for anything you want done for the upcoming encounter, and will presume you use the same routine for the rest of this chapter.

---

Your response will also serve as a real time readiness check, encounter will be posted in two days, if you havent posted by then you 'fail' and a suitable modifier will be noted.

Brigitte understood the realities of sleeping in a world that always seemed too small for her. She lay out her gigantic bedroll at the edge of camp and removed her armor to sleep. She welcomed anyone who wanted to benefit from her body heat - she was essentially a giant heater to snuggle in close, no sexual shenanigans intended.

Prior to laying down she stowed her pack, armor and weapons leaning next to the others. She foraged for and made a pile of a dozen or so rocks of varying sizes from tiny to tombstone-sized boulders within arms reach.

On watch she'd move as quietly as she could to her pack and put on armor and weapon, then sit watching on the perimeter of the camp.

Victoria watched the others, then made her way to the niche, endeavoring to make a bed with a blanket and her pouches. She shivered as she made her bed, it not really occurring to her to snuggle with anyone else. Besides, as a human, she doubted she would be welcome.

Once done, she did some prayers (which was NOT her normal habit) and stored her dagger under her makeshift pillow.

When on watch, she would stay near Brigitte, with her dagger on her hip.



* moved from ooc thread for victoria *

Seeing as people were getting their things ready for tonight to get their sleep, Rifnox sets his bedroll in the darkest spot near the group, mostly to stay a bit more hidden during the night. He kept his dagger around his waist  to grab it if the situation called for it.

On watch, he stays in the shadows and makes sure to keep his gaze on the surroundings and the group itself.

Nisor, having grown quite fond of his shade tree, sets up his bedroll beneath it. He keeps his bag with the others but has his staff laid beside him. In the back of his mind he considers getting the alarm spell for situations such as this.

Getting set up for the night, Gar will sleep on a bedroll with his pack as a pillow. Turned upside down, with blade and Chakram below, it provided comfort and weapons at hand with a quick tumble. When on watch, he walks the perimeter quietly after climbing the Bluff to see the surrounding area from a high vantage point.

Maybelle had cooked a large dinner for the group at the start of the evening before, doing her best to make sure of everyones dietary needs including her own need for a lack of meat, and Brigitte's very large portions. Needless to state, she used multiple pots sitting in embers both for less smoke and to heat the meal. Once everyone had been fed she asked the casters to prepare light orions and set up a small torch lit under the overhang. If not she would set up and feed a small fire under the overhang so smoke was minimal and only a dull glow It shouldn't be a beacon outside the clearing.

During her own clearing she would keep watch but avoid going into the tree's, often circling just to keep her body limber and her blood moving and prevent her from tiring. Her own bedroll would be beside Brigitte's, as the large woman knew Maybelle always slept better near someone else as a 'Taur.

mmm... you're going to have to have a fire at some point to generate 'embers', and better to do that at night, than during the day when it's more easily seen...

Late afternoon passes into early evening.  The party goes out their business quietly scouting out the immediate area to a hundred paces in each direction.

Andrew and Rifnox rove through the nearby woods and report that there is no obvious den, nest, or otherwise lair of anything in the immediate area.

Gar climbs while Abyss flies up the bluff to checks out the immediate area over the bluff, and report that there are more trees at thet top, making easy access to the area for any one with out flight or impressive climbing ability unlikely.

Brigitte with Daubra's have a quick discussion and carve out bits of the cliff buff into several nicely sized rocks, perfect for her to hurl.  The smaller ones are easier to carry and hurl one handed, the larger ones while more hefty leading to more damage when it lands are nice, they aren't easy to carry, and would require her to use two hands to hurl.  There's good  give and take in the discussion, and with Brigitte's input on what works... and what does not... some truely masterful stones are found, crafted, and hefted for appropriate hurling.

Daubra, make a Craft: Stone check... DC15 to craft Masterwork Boulder for Brigitte.  These boulders are perfected weighed and balance for her to throw and provide a +1 to hit when hurled by her.  These boulders are considered 'ammo' and once hurled the perfect shape and balance will be ruined.  If she rolls VERY well, for each '4' point above DC15 her check is made, an additional masterwork boulder is crafted.

Jeanne and Victoria work on cleaning up the clearing, removing twigs and branches from the area and organizing the various packs  to fit efficiently under the overhanging.

Meanwhile ... Maybelle drags Nisor off to help with the cooking.  Not wanting to reveal their location with a campfire, she convinces Nisor to help with the cooking.  It feels a little trivial and wasteful, but he indulges her in heating up the various pots being used for cooking.  It takes longer to warm and heat things up, and you dont get things past a luke warm temperature but there is no fire, and those that really want meat, wont mind it being a cooked somewhere between rare and raw.  Which is pretty much as good as it's going to get without a fire.  (you may start a fire if you desire to cook the meat more throughly)

Warm meals are had, bed rolls are put out and final preparations are made before settling for bed.  A half hearted watch is kept during meals, but the clearing is out of the way and all is quiet.



Brigitte dominates the small clearing by rolling out her bedroll and laying down to catch some sleep before her turn to watch.

Victoria goes about her business quietly, lying out her bedroll, and saying a quick prayer to Nyte, lady of the Night, Keeper of mysteries and secrets ... to watch over them and keep them all safe.  It's a quiet prayer, and those near at hand might wonder at the choice of divinity but really... the act of prayer is not really all that out of the ordinary.  Jeanne herself, does something similar, though appealing to Creed.

Rifnox, is pretty pleased about the campsite, it was rare to be able to sleep in something as comfortable as under an over hang.  The danker, dark area a comfort to him, as he lays out his bedroll to sleep.  The entire concept is ruined for him a little when Maybelle declares he area a 'well lit' area and set up a night light in the area.  Not impossible to sleep by, not as ideal as it was before her night light.

Nisor settles near his tree, close enough to the cave entrance to do some late night 'light' reading before going to bed.  A bit of test about the nature of undead.  How among undead they are not all considered equal.  That's the lesser undead such as skellies and zombies, are considered mindless and soulless, and hence treated as a sort of expendable plebeian caste.  Greater... or for some 'High' undead are considered the 'Risen' and as such Rise up to their second life with varying degrees of self awareness... so his reading goes for a half hour before he decides to retire with a stretch and a yawn to rest.  Then... there were the 'demi' undead, like himself, not a true undead, but often mistaken for them.

Andrew stays up a bit longer till Lady comes in, and then beds down with her curls up beside him for mutual warmth.

Gar curls up on his bedroll with his lumpy backpack, and keeps his weapons close at hand.

Abyss, Daubra, and Maybelle have the first watch.  Abyss flits among the trees, never going deeper than a dozen paces or so.  Not so far in as to get lost, but far enough in to spot any lurkers that might be spying on them.  Daubra carves out a ledge in the overhanging and settles to sit on it for her watch.  When her watch is over, a guard will be added to the ledge making for a nice 'bed' for her to use for the night.  Of the three, only Maybelle is an obvious sentry as she walks a slow pace around the camp.

So the first watch passes quietly.

---

The second watch starts and a serious effort is made to rouse the snoozing Brigitte, while a nudge is all it takes to wake the lightly sleeping Victoria, who wakes with a start.

Daubra rolls over and sleeps on her ledge, while Abyss enters the alcove with Rifnox.  She looks for the most comfortable pack that she can find and lays out on it to use as a bed.

Theres a jingle of metal in the camp as Brigitte gets her armor on.  This rouses some to half sleepy awareness before rolling over and back to sleep.  She settles to sit by the bluff, leans her favorite axe against the rocky cliff face, and hefting one of the smaller rocks Daubra had crafted.  It was so well sized and balanced, that she had to resist the urge to hurl it.  Instead she puts it down on the pile beside her and hugs her knees.  While there was light in the camp, there was no extra warmth, and the late winter/early spring air was plenty frosty without the fire.

Victoria stands half asleep, Aaron's flintlock held pointed down.  It was unloaded at the moment, a good state for it to be in.  She was no marksman and really having it was a mixed blessing.  She catches Brigitte's gaze and offers a half nervous smile from her.  Really... that rock she was hefting up and down was the size of her head and could easily crush her if she made an attempt to escape... was that the message?  or was she over thinking?

Maybelle is glad for the change of shift.  The silent company allowing her to walk with someone making sentry duty less lonely.  Abyss and Daubra while nice and capable, were out of sight, gave her sentry duty an isolated solitude feel.


During Watch 'Two' there is an encounter.

I require some perception checks, as follows.

Brigitte - DC 14 - Status/Alert sentry

Maybelle - DC 15 - Status/Bored sentry

Victoria - DC 12 - Status/Nyte blessed and Nervous sentry

Also ...

Abyss    - DC 23 - Status/ light sleep

Andrew   - DC 25 - Status/ sleeping {no roll needed for Lady}

Daubra   - DC 23 - Status/ light sleep

Gar      - DC 28 - Status/ fitful sleep

Jeanne   - DC 25 - Status/ sleeping

Nisor    - DC 23 - Status/ light sleep

Rifnox   - DC 28 - Status/ fitful sleep


Current Map
Link back to this game

* You have till 03/06 to submit a die roll, else you will be presumed to have failed your check for the next update *
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:48, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

Gar sleeps soundly.

Perception 13 on d20+5.

Victoria is awake and very nervous indeed. In many ways, she is more afraid of what her party of 'friends' will do that any other group out there...

Victoria Edenburg rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Perception.

Maybelle keeps up her sentry duties even if after several hours it’s boring and dull. She much preferred the homestead at times like this.

13:24, Today: Maybelle rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Perception
+2 vs Humans

Rifnox remains in a deep sleep, his face pointed away from the light as he smiles a bit in his sleep, apparently having a nice dream.

21:55, Today: Rifnox rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  listen check.

Brigitte tossed one of the rocks from hand to hand idly, like someone might with a favorite ball. It was a good rock (Masterwork rock!) smooth but just rough enough to grab the air so that she thought she might be able to get a little curve out of it if she spun it while throwing.

She chatted quietly with Maybelle and Victoria if she wanted to join in, to pass the time. Victoria didn't seem to have much to say. Seemed to be afraid of rocks too, for some odd reason. Humans, right? Who could figure them out?

She froze when she heard the sound, and scanned the clearing looking for trouble. She held out a sign for Maybelle and Victoria, indicating they should look around more carefully.

---

15:52, Today: Brigitte Morndottir rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  PerceptionDC 14. Didn't adjust for light conditions, but hope it doesn't matter!

It's a really nice rock, it's perfectly round, but she gave the surface an artsy pattern design that's really easy to grip.  Yes, it does have the feel of a largish softball to you.

23:14, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Perception.

Sister Daubra went through her evening prayers, and meditation. This was pretty much normal for the devote woman who offered quick prayers over little things, like accidents, and eating. Really the only way morning and evening prayers stood out was she preferred to perform them barefoot so she could feel the ground with her feet and connect with it directly. She slept in her armor while on patrol. She never let her holy symbol out of reach. She kept her kunai close and tucked behind her while she slept. She slept fairly soundly.

OOC: Perception 3 (after -10 from being asleep) if a comrade started conversing noisily within 30' she might roll over and scold them to keep it down. Otherwise she's unlikely to wake with that roll

Jenna sleeps quietly on her side curled up slightly under her blanket.

11:41, Today: Jeanne d'Arc rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Perception check.

Most of the party is sleeping soundly, a few sense some activity around them and start to stir slowly from sleep.

~ Ambush / Surprise Phase ~

- Party Status -

Abyss  Sleeping ~ DC 21 Player Currently absent / Character asleep ~

Andrew Sleeping ~ DC 17 Perception check to wake.  {Character stirring}

Daubra Sleeping ~ DC 15 Perception check to wake.  {Character stirring}

Gar    Sleeping ~ DC 24 Perception check to wake.  {Character asleep}

Jeanne Sleeping ~ DC 17 Perception check to wake.  {Character stirring}

Nisor  Sleeping ~ DC 21 Perception check to wake.  {Character asleep}

Rifnox Sleeping ~ DC 24 Perception check to wake.  {Character asleep}

---

As for the characters that are awake ...

Maybelle is rather bored.  She had spent the two hour shift with Abyss and Daubra in hiding, and so it had felt rather lonely.  With the weight of the party's security at the time feeling to rest on her shoulders alone she had been overly alert... and nothing had happened.  Now that Abyss and Daubra had been relieved, she felt more at ease with Brigitte and Victoria's company.  Already bored from an uneventful first shift, she let's her attention wander.  She makes quiet polite conversation, admiring the bowling ball sized rock that Daubra had crafted for Brigitte.  Ornate designs were etched on the surface giving it an artistic look, and improving the grip on the rock for Brigitte.  It was pretty... almost too pretty to be a lethal weapon... almost.  Lost in thought Maybelle doesnt quite realize anything is amiss.

If Brigitte does not alert Maybelle, she becomes aware of the danger, and gets her normal actions next round, if she makes a DC17 Perception check.

Victoria has a disconcerting few moments ... her sight starts to sharpen slightly as the area around her seems to brighten with illumination for a moment, then phase into sharp monochrome shades of grey that present everything in sharp detail as if it were daylight.  The effect is pretty distracting, but she feels all she needs to do is give it a mental 'nudge' to have it steady.  Just normalizing her vision is the most natural and would take next to no effort, though there is some novelty to considering the others.  Distracted by this personal crisis, Victoria is clueless about the current dangers near the camp.

If Brigitte does not alert Victoria, she becomes aware of the danger, and gets her normal actions next round, if she makes a DC14 Perception check.

Brigitte, fresh from a two hour nap is still alert and paying attention.  She has in hand one of Daubra's masterfully crafted mini boulders.  The balance is perfect, and she's almost wishing she had something worthy to hurl it at to test it out.  It's then that her she thinks she sees something from the South West Corner of the camp, near the trail.  Even seated she was taller than Victoria, and her advantageous view notices some trees moving near the trail, something was approaching, something large... or something numerous.

This is the round BEFORE combat actually starts.  Brigitte has a standard action to expend to prepare for combat.  What ever is coming is in the shadows of the trees, and has tree cover.  So attacking it now would be impractical given the lighting and the cover of the trees.

Brigitte is currently seated with a rock in her hand.

With her standard action, Brigitte has time to stand.

With a free action, (as a fighter), she can grab the weapon beside her.  She does not have to drop the rock unless she plans to ready the axe immediately to use.

With a free action, she can take a 5' step in some direction.

With a 'quick' action she can do ONE of the following.
-  Direct Maybelle and Victoria's attention to the South West corner of camp improving their response time.  (Next round instead of getting a standard action, they have a normal one to act)
-  Make an effort to wake a sleeping character, improving their chances to wake for the encounter.  She grants them a +2 bonus to wake if she's being gentle and shakes them awake or nudges them with the toe of her boot, grants them a +6 bonus to wake if she's rougher and inflicts one non-lethal point of damage to wake them.

No map update, the map has not seriously changed, except Brigitte senses something approaching from around D-11
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:17, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

Nisor, being a fairly unperceptive individual, sleeps through the night soundly. Unaware of the potential danger his guildmates and himself are faced with.

11:28, Today: Nisor rolled 19 using 1d20+2 ((17)).

Rifnox remains deep asleep, turning a little.

19:09, Today: Rifnox rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Perception to wake up.

Gar starts to stir, the background noises changing and alerting the fighter.

Perception 17 on d20 +5.

Andrew senses makes him feel he need to wake up.

OOC:
19:52, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 19 using 1d20+6.  Perception.

"Everybody up! We've got company!" her voice booms through the glade. "'Belle, Victoria, look over that way!" she called as she stood up and grabbed her axe, still holding her rock in one hand.

"Something's coming. Be ready." She hoped it wasn't nothing. She'd take a long time to live down waking everyone up if this was really nothing. But why have a watch if it wasn't to alert people?

---

Standard: stand and grab axe
free: yell out to everyone
swift: point Maybelle and Victoria to the rustling bushes.

Maybelle jolted to attention, shifting into a defensive stance and glancing where Brigitte pointed. She trusted her friend implicitly and wouldn't doubt her words at all.

Victoria too looked in the direction Brigitte was indicating. She focused, preparing mentally to perhaps throw a spell, which would depend on what she saw.

~ Turn One ~

As a Brigitte gets to her feet, and yells out her warning, something large starts to meander closer.  She yells out her warning trying to alert Maybelle and Victoria, as well as motivate the others to rouse from their sleep.

Their is a startled moment before an answering challenge roars back across the clearing at Brigitte.  Something not quite as tall as Brigitte but a good bit stockier and sturdier looking rears up looking pretty angry.

<Orange><tt>Initiative - Target Number DC 15, if you roll this number or higher you have intiative and will be able to act before the intruder.

The intruder is LARGE, and has an Armor Class of 16.

Normal Actions
Brigitte - Armed with Great Axe
Maybe    - Unarmed
Victoria - Unarmed

One Standard Action (no move action)
Andrew   - Unarmed
Lady     -

---

- Party Status -

Abyss  Sleeping ~ DC 19 Player Currently absent / Character asleep ~

Andrew Sleeping ~ {Character is awake and has a standard action this turn}

Daubra Sleeping ~ DC 13 Perception check to wake.  {Character sorta awake/disoriented}.  May take a single free/swift action.

Gar    Sleeping ~ DC 20 Perception check to wake.  {Character asleep}

Jeanne Sleeping ~ DC 15 Perception check to wake.  {Character not quite awake}

Nisor  Sleeping ~ DC 13 Perception check to wake.  {Character sorta awake/disoriented}.  May take a single free/swift action.

Rifnox Sleeping ~ DC 20 Perception check to wake.  {Character asleep}</tt>

The rest of the party is subjected to quite a commotion, already stirring from sleep, the challenging roar quickly startles Andrew to alertness.  While a little disoriented and uncertain from what direction the danger is coming from, he quickly becomes alert and looks about to see what's happening.  Lady startles alert and gets to her feet looking disoriented and confused.{If Andrew win initiative, he has a standard action to act this turn.  If he loses initiative, he has a standard action to act NEXT turn.  Lady will act when Andrew acts, and will also have a 'standard action'.}

The rest of the party was slower to wake, though the unfamiliar roar of challenge is certain to get them up and moving.

Between Brigitte's yelling, and the intruders roaring, the sleeping characters are at a +4 bonus to their perception roll to wake.  If they are presumed to have lost initiative and will have a standard action to use NEXT TURN.

If they fail this roll, they havent quite gotten the sleep out of their eyes, and/or they're too disoriented from waking up to act.

No map update today, no one really moved.  Though you should note that the intruder is currently located in D11, E11, D12, E12 (This is a single LARGE intruder)
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:23, Fri 08 Mar 2019.

Rifnox mumbles something in his sleep from the noise around him, curling up more to block out the sounds.

06:35, Today: Rifnox rolled 12 using 1d20+1. (Forgot the +4) Perception to wake up.
06:35, Today: Rifnox rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Initiative .

Gar startles awake, aware of yelling nearby.

Perception 23 on d20+9, DC 20.
Initiative 20 on d20 +2.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:11, Fri 08 Mar 2019.

OOC:
09:03, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  Initiative.
So me and lady will act after the intruder.
Also got to say I love the idea that Andrew is unarmed.
Now where did I put my claws.  I put them down somewhere here I sure.
Lady have you seen my claws girl?  (he he).

Will move upper left corner to g10 if I can make it and attack with Axe. If I can't make it move upper left corner to i8 and throw Boulder.

Either way I only hit AC 8 so miss.

Nisor begins to stir from his sleep, rolling over and pulling the blankets more firmly over himself. Some distant part of his mind resolves that he will sleep, come Hell and high water.


09:45, Today: Nisor rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Perception.

Unlike the others Maybelle considered the creature and approached it, hands out cautiously as she coo'd and coaxed at it to try and calm it down. It appeared to be an animal, albeit one she had never seen before. Wincing at Brigitte's throw she said "Give me a moment" and then did her best to calm down the animal, hoping a combination of spell and word would help.

It was obvious she wasn't used to dealing with things this size judging by how shaky her coo'd 'calm down, no need to fight' was to the creature? but damn if she didn't try. Getting between it and the others yet not approaching too quickly.



Swift to use Holy Symbol, Move to get between it and the sleeping people, Standard to Wild Empathy I believe
16:38, Today: Maybelle rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Wild Empathy: Diplomacy.
16:37, Today: Maybelle rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Knowledge Check to Identify (Ranger may make Unskilled to identify animals, if its Nature +4).
*If its an animal or seems to be* Spending the action to use Neck: Masterwork Holy Symbol of Gaea (Calm Animals 1/Day)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Sat 09 Mar 2019.

Victoria reached into a pouch, and loaded her firearm. She wasn't great at it, but Aaron had tried very hard to teach her. And she knew she was no match for something as big as Brigitte. So she hoped that when she got it loaded, at least the sound would scare it.

OOC: I'm assuming it will take a full round to load. She stays where she is.

Brigitte notices that Maybelle and Victoria were closer to the threat than she was.  An obvious problem since they were both a good bit squishier than herself.  Several long strides, stepping carefully over semi waking companions brings her up behind Maybelle and Victoria.  She can't quite get in front of them yet, so she rears back and hurls one of Daubra's rocks.  While the aim feels true, it rips through the foilage tearing up a branch here and there, which cause it to veer off from the hulking signature of something perhaps as large as herself lumbering up on four legs down the trail towards the campsite.  That's okay, you still have your trusty axe.

Victoria fumbles through her belongings and comes up with the powder horn slungy over her shoulder pretty quick, the bullets take a little longer to come up with, and she silently berates herself for not having loaded the flintlock ahead of time, which for someone on sentry duty would have been rather obvious to do.  Part of her struggles with this, while the other half wonders if it might have just been as effective to draw blade and at least look competant than fumble around looking inept.  It's dark though... perhaps no one will notice how nervous she is and spare her some embarassment.

Maybelle feels a sense of panic well up for a moment.  Something was coming down the trail and she makes a quick guess that it's probably a 'normal' animal.  Really what else would be wandering in the area at this hour?  Humans would have been more stealthy, though odds are, if it's wild animals, they're probably meat eaters of some source looking to browse the camp for a menu.  She quickly invokes the blessing of Gaea begging her understanding that perhaps as a devout follower of her faith to be spared being put on the menu this evening.  Maybelle feels a brief moment of divine empowerment followed by a startled feral sound of confused surprise.

Whatever is in the bush has quieted for the moment and has ceased it's advance on the camp.

The rest of the characters in the camp start to quickly wake if that's their desire, or they.. may at this point roll over and go back to sleep, or just slow to wake. (which is the default action for those who are slow to answer post will be presumed to do.)

---

Turn One passes quietly.  All players may post normally for turn two.  Victoria is presumed to have her flintlock loaded at that point.

OOC: Has the map been updated? Where was the thing Brigitte got a glimpse of? Going to go on narrative descriptions, but can edit post if I have more information.

Brigitte stepped past Victoria and Maybelle and into the brush, drawing her massive axe as she went. She scanned the brush for sign of the thing that had been making the noise, alert and looking for trouble.


11:37, Today: Brigitte Morndottir rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  perception in case I need it.

Rifnox woke up from the sudden loud sounds of branches and leaves breaking followed by the stone boulder hitting the ground. He grabbed his dagger and held it out of him, still looking a bit dazed from the sudden waking "I stab anyone who comes near me" he shouted as he looked from left to right.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Mon 01 Apr 2019.

Andrew looks around carefully.
The elf is ready but does not act.  Letting the group that was on watch take the lead.
He waits to back them up.

"A bear," she called back to those behind her without turning her back on the beast. "Big one. Grizzly maybe? It's not charging. But it's not going away either."

Gar rolls to his feet. He lopes across the campsite to H11 and climbs up about 10' (ground half-move to base of tree, half-move up tree). Once he has some height, he draws his weapon.

"Well, it wants something? I've used Gaea's grace to calm it for a spell, but it's not going to jump a large group of people for no reason especially with someone Brigitte's size. Either its hungry or we're near its den. We also shouldn't crowd it. Andrew, you're better with predators, any ideas?"

Maybelle wasn't letting down her guard but she wasn't panicking either, the bear wasn't going to ambush a group for no reason. Could they calm it down properly?

09:27, Today: Maybelle rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge: Nature.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Tue 02 Apr 2019.

“Actually.... it’s early spring still, so it’s still likely scavenging for food. Makes sense why it would risk upsetting us. I bet if we feed it they’ll leave peacefully. Give me a moment.”

Maybelle didn’t want to admit it was a bit of a hope the bear would leave but with the spell calming it down it was still looking for something. Maybelle’s own rations were vegetarian but she was hoping it would suffice especially since bears where omnivorous. She gathered one of her days worth of rations out of her pack, figuring a full day for her would be a meal for a bear. Carefully she brought it over and opened it for the scent to get out more before laying it close to the creature but giving it respectful space.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Wed 03 Apr 2019.

Jeanne got up and drew her blade to walk up to support the party and back up Maybelle if needed.

"Ami, just make certain you don't end up on the menu."

She had nothing to add for the moment, and lets Maybelle play out her plan.

Andrew walks slowly forward.
He turns his head round to Maybelle with a funny smile on it.
Bears and wolves don't really get along to great.  Not direct enemies more we get in each others way and often fight over same resource even if we use it differently.  Bit like elves and dwarves.  Horses and cows?

He was not sure if that was the right thing to say to her but Andrew never was good when it came to being tackful.

Lady stay.  We don't want it to feel it is being hunted by a pack of wolves.  It need to feel like I am  lone wolf having a look.

So slowly and carefully he moves towards towards the bear to learn more about it.

OOC:
18:00, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 22 using 1d20+8.  Knowledge: Nature.

"I could just feed it a greataxe, you know," she responded nervously, holding her weapon out. But she held her swing. Still she was ready to defend herself and her companions if the bear made a hostile move.

"Fight it...  Scare it... Bribe it.", Jeanne remarks quietly.

She was Brigitte on this one.  What ever enchantment Maybelle had used would wear off eventually and while they had some time, this time was not indefinite.

Oh yes.

The bear is definitely hungry and makes short work of a day of rations very quickly and not particularly quietly.  It doesnt take much effort to imagine those big claws mauling a party member to tear into bits for a meal.

While the bear is eating Andrew does his best to check from a safe distance if the bear is injured.

From his lofty perch, Gar observes the bear. He holds out one chakram to throw if the bear attacks a group member.

03:08, Today: Gar rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Perception.

Coming out from his daze, he sees almost everyone standing together, feeding and looking at a bear that stands nearby "Ugh...really" Rifnox said as he walked over, still holding his dagger "Can't you just, shoo it away or something" he huffed crossing his arms "I like to go back to sleep and I know this commotion isn't going to help with that".

Victoria stood, aiming her weapon in varying directions, then finally seeming to come out of her daze to aim more or less towards the creature in the dark (but not at Brigitte!).

Andrew is clearly not impressed with Rifnox and what he just said.
I can find out if the bear want halfing or koblold for it evening meal.  Especially noise stupid ones that are trying to undo Maybelle hard work.
It is clearly hungry and intelligent creatures with no respect for creatures of the wild often find themselves consumed by it.

Andrew trying do his best stop Rifnox from upsetting the bear.

The bear is not injured, but does look a little thinner than you might expect for a fully fed bear.  This is not expected after a long winter nap.

Victoria has a clear line of sight to the bear at the moment and steadies her aim, but doesnt take a shot yet.

The messy intrusion in the night seems to have been stalled for the moment, but... the moments are passing by.

"Alright, all fed. I'm sorry but can you please go forage elsewhere now?"

Maybelle carefully and politely tries to shoo the bear as the others seem to request, keeping her hands and horns out of a threatening stance though ready to shift if he attacks her. Despite the large Omnivore she certainly isn't showing fear.

19:18, Today: Maybelle rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Wild Empathy don't fail me now.

The bear seems unimpressed... unintimidated... but it does seem to take an interest in Maybelle following the shooing motion she's making with her hands at the moment, and looking on expectant of another windfall of food.

Gar moves from I11 to H12, still up in the branches. He makes no attacks, but is balanced and prepared to leap if needed.

"I think this might be why they say don't feed the bears, 'Belle," Brigitte called over nervously, axe still hefted over her shoulder.

"I don't think he's going away. Should we, you know?" she made a strangling sound, but still hasn't swung her weapon.

Andrew throws the bear a set of his own rations.

Jeanne frowns.  She wasnt keen on pointless fights, but she was less keen on starvation.

"As distasteful as it might sound.  If a battle is inevitable, perhaps we should just have at it, and at least make certain to do as much damage as possible.  It ... might run away if badly hurt, though... it might equally enrage and fight to the death at that point too.", Jeanne spoke quietly, almost as if to herself to puzzle out the right course of action.

With clear cut right and wrong decisions she was pretty decisive, on this matter in the grey area, she was less certain.

*Fate post for Nisor*

"If... we kill it, we'll have meat for a few days at least?  Is bear meat edible Maybelle>"

Once the bear eaten Andrew food he cast spell on himself and like Maybelle tries move the bear along.  It's last chance to live as other seem be talking about attacking it.

OOC:
23:53, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 6 using 1d20.  Wild empathy +1 Guidence.
Well I tried...

Brigitte rocked on the balls of her feet a little as she got ready. She didn't like the looks of this. She didn't want to be the first one in swinging unprovoked at the poor beast. But she didn't want anyone mauled either.

---

As I said in OOC, readied attack, triggered on whichever comes first - one of us attacking, someone calling an attack, or bear moving. Hope that's allowable.

21:19, Today: Brigitte Morndottir rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  attack bear (with aim).
21:20, Today: Brigitte Morndottir rolled 14 using 3d6+6.  greataxe damage.

Gar quietly slips past the bear, remaining above it and positioning himself at a flanking position.

Stealth 27 on d20+8.

"Stop feeding it rations, next thing you know it wil start following us" Rifnox said before tilting his head "Wait...yes..yes, if we can tame it,we would have a good pet to do the fighting for us" he grinned a bit and nodded.

"Beat meat is indeed edible, not for me, but for others. I still prefer to walk away from this without a fight though. Getting people and creatures hurt for no reason is just cruel."

Maybelle sighed, not wanting to spend more rations and then watching as Andrew quite likely upset the thing. She braced herself for combat to be sure.

"Next thing you know... it might want to feed on one of us?", Jeanne comments with dead pan delivery making it a little uncertain if she was trying to lighten the mood, or making an earnest observation.

Andrew and Maybelle are cooperating and trying to figure out how to best appease the bear and get it to go away before it turns bloody for someone.

Food is being passed back and forth and the bear is being fed, which he seems to approve of.

The food however is a distraction from Andrew's efforts to convince the bear to 'go', so when Rifnox comments something along the lines of stop feeding the bear, it sort of makes sense to Andrew who tugs Maybelle's wrist and shakes his head, that she should stop feeding the bear.

There's an irritated snap and gnashing of teeth and Andrew and Maybelle both realize that when dealing with animals, Andrew has accidentally committed cardinal sin.  You messed with their food while dining.  Even domestic animals wont take kindly to that, and this bear was anything but domestic.

They realize all this over the span of a blink of an eye.

Before they can act or comment, the bear makes an angry snarl at Andrew and Maybelle, and the rancid breath that can only occur from inactivity over a winter of hibernation assails their senses as the bear's displeasure is made.

There will be no peaceful way out of this one, it's about to turn ugly, that much is apparent to everyone, it's just a matter at this point of what you do as it does.

---

Party has initiative at this time, and may take a normal round of actions.  The bears is NOT flat footed, and has an Armor Class of 16.  The bear is large, and does have reach, so please be mindful of attacks of opportunity with your actions.  If you trigger it and get mauled by a bear... not my fault.

Characters are being allowed a 5' step before combat starts (If you dont plan to melee, use this to your advantage to avoid AoO)

[Be aware, Bears can be pretty lethal, and i've seen one like this flatten a 1st level party, dont underestimate it.)

With little else to do Andrew attacks the bear with both claws.  His heart not in it.


OOC:
16:42, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Attack both Claws (+2 Att).
16:42, Today: Andrew Turner rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Attack both Claws (+2 Att).

Lady stays still waiting to see what happens.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:41, Sun 14 Apr 2019.

Jumping down from above, Gar digs his blade into the bear's haunches with lethal precision but fails to stick the landing.
He draws out his shield on the way down.


Falcata attack from above 24 on d20+5. Threat.
Crit Confirm 23 on d20+5 ,  Confirmed

Falcata damage 24 on 3d8+9.

Acrobatics 10 on d20+5.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:51, Sun 14 Apr 2019.

"I will not end up as some animals meal, take this beast!" Rifnox shouts before a blue ray of cracking electricity shoots out from his mouth towards the bear.


09:15, Today: Rifnox rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  Elemental spit, ranged touch attack
09:15, Today: Rifnox rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  Crit confirm ??
09:16, Today: Rifnox rolled 1 using 1d6.  Elemental spit damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 07:20, Sun 14 Apr 2019.

"Scootch over! Scootch over! Big girl coming through!" she called as it became clear they were fighting. She took a careful step to the west (pre-combat 5 foot step to move lower left corner of her square to H10) assuming Rifnox got out of her way. Then another to the NorthWest, getting in behind Andrew (another 5 foot step to LL corner of her token to G9. I hope Rifnox is ok moving to make room!)

Once moved she unleashed on the bear with her greataxe, but narrowly missed the beast (already built flank in, miss even worse if I don't have it).

---

11:57, Today: Brigitte Morndottir rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  attack bear (flank).

Maybelle let out a low sound of annoyance at the fact her attempting to negotiate in a way with the bear had fallen through and quickly turned to combat. And then the bear roared at her, and her instincts took effect. She headbutted it right in its snout with her sharp horns, forcing it to back up. Maybelle may have been an herbivore, but she wasn't going to be prey if she could help it!

Standard: Horn Attack (Hits AC 19, or 21 with Flanking, for 7 Piercing Damage)
20:32, Today: Maybelle rolled 7 using 1d6+2.  Horn Damage.
20:31, Today: Maybelle rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Horn Attack (+2 if Flanking).

For her part, Victoria was still standing as if stunned. She had her firearm in her right hand, she stood well behind her protectors... and didn't move. It was as if she was staring at something else.