"We can't defend ourselves, or spend money on the finer things, if we don't even know how to find other living people. Bryn, Sketch, your ideas are good, but their success depends on completing Ileosa's project first.

"I don't think building our defenses and scouting the area are mutually exclusive duties. Sending scouts out will strengthen our preparations for a battle, and building up military posts will give us better bases from which to explore."

"Maybe not mutually exclusive," Sketch replies as he slides back in his chair, "but we barely have enough to keep both shifts working. If we're going to make this month's commitment, we'll need every miner working full-tilt."
"And they're not scouts," Bryn adds. "Even if we had a few extra to send out, they're miners. If you want to go scouting before we've trained them to fight, you'll have to go alone. I'll recruit a few volunteers to help make repairs during their downtime—
"Wait! I thought they were miners, not craftsmen," Sketch chimes in, a mouthful of hardtack.
Bryn finishes her cup before shooting a prideful wink at the halfling. "Every dwarf is a craftsman."

Early the next morning Liam and Ileosa are ready to set out on a short excursion. You've agreed to spend the next three days scouting the area around the outpost. You've been given rations for a week, in case you get into trouble, but are otherwise left to your own equipment.

Please roll +Wis

Liam takes a quick inventory of his gear. His first thought is to take along extra equipment, then he quickly realizes there isn't really any.

As he checks over his preparations, he starts to think out loud.

"This reminds me of a penny novel I read when I was young," he tells no one in particular, "It was called OPERATOR in all caps and honestly the giant title was probably the most compelling thing about it. It was set in a war and these guys had to carry out cover missions in the swamp, miles from any strategic support. I think in the end all but the main character got ambushed and died out there."

17:25, Today: Liam rolled 6 using 2d6+1.  Roll plus Wis.

At first, Ileosa doesn't seem to understand what you are talking about. The concept of a penny novel is clearly foreign to her, but after a moment she realizes what you're talking about.
"I have to admit," she says to you, "at first I didn't like much of human culture. Too much waste. But I have come to value their tenancy to keep their stories written down and available for any of their kin to read, so long as they can be bothered to become literate. Especially since their oratory tradition and grasp of the arts are... clumsy."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:20, Wed 15 Jan 2020.

On the two of you move around the mountainside, scouting along the river.
Later, while stopping for a short rest, Liam is trying to relax for a bit when suddenly, his inner thoughts become garbled. Whatever it was he was thinking about becomes mixed up with a memory he hasn't thought about in ages. An idea he had a for a story smashes into the fake memory, and he is suddenly very confused. Did the strange tentacle creature really sing that song, or did last Wealday paint the last lighthouse purple?

Liam has gained the Confused condition, and will receive a -1 penalty to his next Wis related check

Liam follows Ileosa through the jungle. She's not really his type, but she's better to look at than Sketch. And she's already helped save his life once, so he doesn't doubt her skill in a fight.

For awhile the past days' troubles leave his mind and he treats the outing like a pleasant hike through the woods. He's keeping an eye out for hostile creatures, of course, just as he would in any walk through unfamiliar wilderness. But he's not especially hoping for trouble.

As he sits for his short rest his thoughts grow troubled. While he realizes his mind is growing cloudy, he can't of course shake it clear. He looks around to see if he can locate Ileosa, or whether she's turned into a blintz or something.

Ileosa is leaning against a tree with her eyes closed, probably in some sort of strange elvish meditation. The terrain hasn't seemed to bother her, but that could be due to her long legs? Liam can't be sure. He's slightly taller than her, but she seems to float over the landscape. For every stride she takes, he is forced to take at least two, sometimes three, steps as he trudges over large rocks imbedded into the earth, or the ever-present patches of gnarled roots jutting from the soil.

She tries to ignore him as she gives him space. He is strange to her, though not as much as the dwarf, but she must not confuse interest with comfort. He is still someone she only just met, and he appears (at least outwardly) to be rather... urban.
Although, she thinks to herself, he didn't say anything to the others about what the river spirits told me before. Maybe—
Her eyes flash open as the taste of berries begin to fill her mouth. She spits on the ground before looking around to find Liam.
"Liam?"

Liam starts to giggle. "Shh, not so loud, you'll scare the flower people."

For a minute he hears himself and how stupid he sounds. "What is it?"

"I don't know," she replies, thinking she probably sounds equally as stupid. She scans the area for flower people but seeing none she feels a flash of anger begin to wash over her. Is he making fun of her? And why does she still taste berries. "Something's wrong... The spirits here, they, they're not... everything is disjointed."

"Oh, not you too, I thought you were gonna be the one to talk me down. Listen, if it's this place, let's just leave. We just," he fights to keep his train of thought together, "we go back the way we came. And then we go a different way, not this way."

He starts pointing in what he thinks is the direction they came from.

As you gather your things to leave, Ileosa points out a strange, reptilian creature perched on a low branch, watching you. It is small, perhaps a foot long and the size of a house cat. The tops of thin, blunted teeth rise from its bottom lip, illustrating the creature's severe underbite. Its legs are stumpy and appear too short for its bulbus body. Its fine, green scales match the foliage which helps it blend in—however it also has two huge, bulging eyes that move about independently of the other. From the middle of its head, situated between its eyes, juts what appears to be a rough gemstone, perhaps a sapphire or lapis.
"What is that?" She says, taking a step closer to it.
The creature stiffens before its scales flash brilliantly, almost blinding you. As your vision clears, the little beast issues a pitiful croak before falling to the ground with a sickening thud.
You and Ileosa rush over to it as it lies there deathly still. A few seconds later the gemstone on its head becomes dull before crumbling to dust.

+1 XP

As you put some distance between you and that strange grove, your head clears, and your mind returns to normal.

You spend the rest of the first day following the river, figuring other settlements might be found near the source of fresh water. At sunset, you agree to make camp for the night. You take turns on watch; Ileosa meditating during your watch and you sleeping during hers. It is a full moon, and just before falling asleep, you notice she has begun making a map, detailing the outpost and river.
Sometime later, you are pulled from your sleep by Ileosa as she shakes you. The strange music you'd been hearing in your dream continues, permeating the area as you come to realize it isn't dream music. Something is drumming nearby.
Pin-pricks of light begin to appear through the trees, and the drumming grows louder. You can feel rumbling from the ground as dozens of feet march their way toward you through the night. As the orbs of light draw near, you begin to make them out as torches. Silhouettes of short, hunched humanoids with large, bat-like ears can be seen darting between the trees, further up the mountain.

What do you do?

"Goblins!"

Liam quickly breaks open two trail rations and spreads their contents in a appealing places near the stream bank -- places that, incidentally, don't offer much cover. He hopes the moonlight makes the food look inviting, though it's rough fare even by goblin standards.

He stows his melee weapons at his hip, and readies his bow and arrow. He explains his plan quickly to Ileosa. "Classic 'L' ambush. I'll travel parallel to the stream and shoot back this way. You head into the woods and flank them, firing with the stream at your targets' back. We can catch them in a crossfire and hopefully drive them off. They'll have nowhere to go but the water or back the way they came."

After answering any of her questions, he heads off along the stream bank to execute his plan. He'll try to hide as best as he can, but getting off a number of quick shots is more important than full stealth.

In reply to Liam (msg # 20):

Sounds like a Volley move. Roll it.

Liam can't hit with every shot — so he uses lots of shots.

19:01, Today: Liam rolled 5 using 2d6-1.  Volley.
19:02, Today: Liam rolled 1 using 1d6.  Damage (Is this how it works?).

+1 XP
Ileosa nods her understanding and sprints off into the wood while Liam moves upstream to set his plan in motion. The drums continue to draw closer, and Liam can also hear the goblins moving through the brush. He fires his arrows semi-blindly in the direction of the warband, loosing a few arrows towards the torchlight. However the dense forest prove to be the goblin's best defense.
Within moments Liam is overrun! The first green-skin comes crashing through the undergrowth, carrying a wicked-looking and heavily rusted blade. Behind him three more materialize from the foliage. And then six more. A dozen others pour out of the shadows and drop from low hanging branches.
Each of them wield some implement that promises to impose pain and torture before a slow and agonizing death. And each of them see Liam.
They raise their weapons, hooting and hollering, and rush at him...

Please roll Defy Danger.

For a split second, Liam looks to the river - maybe it could offer some protection. "Ileosa would never let me do that same stupid shit twice," he says out loud to the goblins. Abandoning any thoughts of crossing the water, he quickly turns and runs. He'll head back over the ground he's already covered on the day's march, keeping as close to the river as practical.

14:48, Today: Liam rolled 8 using 2d6-1.  Run away!

The banks of the river are precarious in the daytime. At night (and under threat of a goblin warband) they're down right treacherous. Liam is able to break away from the goblins' weapons, but a misplaced foot lands him in the water.
The shock of the fall, the chilly water, and the strong current begin to take Liam away--away from where he'd already explored. Splashes in the water near him reveal that the goblins are tossing sticks and stones at him as he is whisked by, trying to stay afloat.
Within a few moments (which probably feel like an eternity to him), Liam is carried away from the goblins. The drumming dies away, replaced by the roar of rapids.

What do you do?

---

Remember, you don't always have to do a Move. Just let me know what Liam is doing, and if something in your description/narrative triggers a Move, I'll let you know.

Liam looks around for something to help him float. His short term goal is to not drown. His long term goal is to attempt to swim to the side and exit the same side he fell in on.

The chill of the water robs Liam of his strength, and it takes all his willpower not to drown. Luckily, he isn't weighed down by gear, however what equipment he does have makes it difficult to remain above the waterline for more than a few seconds at a time. Somewhat a blessing—but mostly a curse—the large rocks and pebble build up batter him as he is washed down river, and occasionally launch him above the water as he rebounds off their hard, smooth surfaces.
-5 hp*

Eventually Liam is tangled up in a pile of fallen branches overhanging one bank of the river. The sticks scratch his exposed skin and find small gaps in between the straps of his leather cuirass.
-2 hp**

He climbs out of the tangle and collapses waterlogged on the bank, his chest heaving as his lungs pull in the cool night air. He isn't sure which side of the river he is on after having survived the rapids, but he is on dry land. After a time, his breathing slows, and he becomes aware of the sounds around him. Bugs mostly. Cicadas, crickets, and other noisy insects can be heard, droning over the splashing of the rapids near him. Occasionally a frog or owl can also be heard, but the area otherwise sounds safe.

What do you do?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
*6 dmg – 1 AC
**2 piercing dmg (bypassing AC)

---

Liam searches in a small area for any kind of shelter from the elements. If he can't find something in about 90 seconds, he'll give up. After finding the best shelter (or not) he strips naked to avoid catching a chill.

Unable to quickly locate a shelter, Liam begins to peel off his wet equipment and clothing. The night air isn't going to do anything for him, and he figures his best chances are to remove his soaked clothing and waterlogged gear. There is a chill in the air, and a breeze is coming from somewhere (though you are sure it isn't blowing from down the mountain).
Unable to create a fire, Liam begins to burry himself under leaves and loose foliage. He knows he needs to create a space where he can not only retain as much heat as possible, but buildup some as well. He'll deal with his wet effects tomorrow, once the sun rises and warms the area up a bit.

Later that night Liam hears the footfalls of woodland animals as they roam the forest at night. He is far from comfortable, injured, and now completely at the mercy of anything that comes his way. Further, all his gear—including his rations—are piled up near the bank of the river, only a few dozen feet from where he's buried himself. He listens, trying to determine what kinds of creatures might be out there.
The crinkle of a dried leaf, the snap of a twig... anything might be in the area, maybe even feet from his current position, sensing him out. Maybe it's a wolf, or perhaps a bear. Hells, even a family of mice could do some damage if they got into his things.

What do you do?

Liam shuts his eyes completely and relies on his ears and nose alone to try to determine the type of creatures that are out there. He doesn't make the mistake of snuggling down even father in an attempt to hide - that would only make noise and maybe give him away. Instead, he remains stock still, listening.

You listen, trying to identify whatever it is that is milling around your gear. You hear a few snorts and more leaves and twigs being moved around for a while.

You must have fallen asleep, lying so still beneath the pile of leaves, because the next thing you know you are awakened by pinpricks of light filtering through your makeshift shelter. You hear birds chirping, the river rushing, and the breeze rustling the trees nearby. Figuring it to be safe, you crawl out of your leaf pile. The day has come, flooding the area in warm, golden light.
Collecting your things to lay them out to dry, you take stock of your supplies. Whatever had come last night made off with your rations. Further, your dip into the river has ruined your halfling pipeleaf. Although your songbook is also waterlogged, you will be able to salvage it, given enough time to dry. Your arrows are scattered about, but you can collect them all.
-Dungeon Rations
-Halfling Pipeleaf

You are hungry, tired, dirty, injured, and momentarily naked. What do you do?

Liam wrings out his clothes and hangs them on a branch to dry. He has no idea how to start a fire, so he'll have to let them air dry.

While that's going on he'll wash his face with water from the river, but not by entering the river. He'll find a safe spot on the bank and scoop the water out onto himself. He avoids putting river water on any open wounds.

He puts on some basic garments after about five minutes of dry-time, covering at least his nakedness. If these basic underclothes are still soggy, he'll let them dry on his frame. Basically he'll go swimwear-tier and wait for the rest to dry.

He sights the mountain and the river, and any other familiar landmarks, and tries to figure out which side he ended up on.