Six days. That is how long you have been travelling the road. Through cool rains and breezy nights, occasional flurries and swirling leaves. Early Autumn in the Systambar North has always been a mixed bag. One day the sun will be casting its hot rays down on the ground while the next the skies are overclouded and the temp is damn near freezing. What you awake to one morning will likely be different by mid-afternoon. Fortunately the town of Stony Meadows is only a half day's travel and an evening of good food and good drink will soon be yours.

But, damn. You wouldn't give this up for anything. The gently rolling hills cascaded in reds and golds, oranges and yellows. The fresh crisp smell of the air. The plump apples hanging from laden filled branches and the ground covered in late year root vegetables if you know where to look. Winter may be just around the corner, but people are lying if they don't say this is the best time of the year.

Shouldering your pack up and kicking a rock out of the middle of the path you look around to your companions. You have been through a lot together, and many more trials lay ahead. But right now, at this moment: this is what you live for! A smirk crosses your lips as you think about that one time...

Level: 2
Theme: Strange Happenings, Mystery, RP Heavy
Additional Equipment: Stonebridge Pass; 4x Bar Tokens; 60gp
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:40, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

[Let's go ahead and kick things off. We are going to assume you all know each other and have been on a short adventure or two up to this point. Go ahead, do a reply, make up a little story about something you have done or that the others have done with you. Feel free to play off of each other's posts. I will have the next story update tmrw (Wed) eve as we officially begin the adventure. Have fun!

Please pick a color for your speech. Save Red for rolls / combat stuff, and Orange for OOC stuff, like this.]

Enigma will be using Coral!

 "Something about this place brings back memories." The priestess known as "Enigma" walks alongside her companions, admiring the scenery.  She readies her waterskin for a drink.  "How long has it been?  Since we started travelling together.  I remember I was in the market for a panflute..." She drinks, and she thinks.

 Any who knew her would find that while Enigma was devoted to a benign philosophy called the "Celestial Paths" and journeyed far and wide to spread its word, she was possibly the least "pushy" cleric they'd come across, and she had other interests.  Indeed, the dark-haired woman loved creativity and would often seek to inspire artists, and boasted some degree of skill with the panflute.

"Aye I remember the market, two... three months ago?" Ymir answered with a smile.  "I was down to my last silver and had to resort to juggling and doing balancing tricks for tips."

Though Ymir is quick to show off his circus stunts and skills, it's hard to get him to actually talk about his former circus life, often deftly changing the subject with a joke or a distraction.

"Fortunately that grandame paid us fairly well to find her granddaughter who wandered off into the fens, otherwise I might have had to find a real job..."

Almost imperceptibly Ymir shudders at his last word.

Serafina quietly walks ahead of the others, keeping her senses alert for ambushes and other potential dangers. When traveling along a road or a well-travelled path, it's wise to stay alert for bandits or goblins who might be lying-in-wait to prey on unsuspecting travelers after all. And you never know when you might run into a wild animal, a magical beast, or other danger when passing through the wilderness.

Clad in forest green and brown leather armor and boots, the young wood elf holds her bow down at her side with her left hand. Her pointed ears poke out of her long, flowing brown hair. The others can see her looking about cautiously as they walk along the road. A sheathed sword hangs on her left hip, attached to her leather belt. Slung over her left shoulder and back is her round shield and pack. She has a coil of hemp rope, a waterskin, and a hatchet attached to her pack in an easily accessible fashion. The hilt of a knife rises out of each of her boots.

Near her, on her right side, a large, dark-furred timber wolf named 'Shadow' pads along the road--it's senses likewise alert for danger. It sniffs at the air occasional and looks around. Every once in a while, it glances up at Serafina to see what she's doing.

Shadow seems to get along well with the elven maiden. He is usually near her side and curls up against her when sleeping for the night.

At camp, when not busy mending or otherwise tending to her gear, Serafina's adventuring companions have seen her carving small items out of wood. The night before, she seemed to be putting the final touches on a carved wooden comb with elven designs engraved into it.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Tue 13 Apr 2021.

"Panflute..." grumbles Madoc, adjusting the strap of the shield that is slung over his shoulder. "Thing gives me a headache. But if you hadn't gone looking for that lass in the fens then we'd never have met...and I'd probably be dead...though I'd have taken a few of those bastards with me."

The doughty Dwarf sighs contentedly and reaches up to pluck an apple from one of the heavily laden trees, taking a large bite. "Aye...I suppose it could be worse," he says, between mouthfuls.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:05, Wed 14 Apr 2021.

In reply to Madoc Redbeard (msg # 6):

"I never got around to asking you Madoc because things moved so quickly; who were those guys?"  Ymir asks absentmindedly while tossing pebbles down the path.  "Did you have a history with them or were you just wandering around in some reeking, mosquito-filled fen and stumbled upon some random cut throats?"

"The Black Brotherhood!" spits Madoc, tossing the rest of the apple into the undergrowth, "Mallius Vane's gang of thieves and murderers. I had a run-in with them in Caer Dun...and the next day they ambushed me and dragged me out to the fens. I was lucky you turned up when you did because...as they kept telling me...when 'the boss' arrived, they were going to enjoy killing me slowly and painfully."

In reply to Madoc Redbeard (msg # 8):

"Well... I've never been to Caer Dunn," Ymir said after a pause.  "And now I have no desire to go either."

"Aye!" replies Madoc. "I know how you feel...a return visit would not be good for my health."

"But what of yourself, Ymir?" he asks, after a little while. "You don't talk much about your past...and I respect that...but you say you met our Priestess of the Celestial Path in a market? What made you throw your lot in with her? I can't say you strike me as obvious companions."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Thu 15 Apr 2021.

As the chit chat rolls on, so too do the hills and trees. Guessing by the height of the sun, you should be coming to the crossroads within the hour, and from there south to Stoney Meadows. At this pace you should be there by late afternoon leaving plenty of time for some good food, some good drink, and a relaxing evening at the Mead & Meatery. The guy who gave you the bar tokens swore by the place and highly recommended the Blueberry and Pear Mead. The best he ever had. And, the apple pie too. One could never pass through Stoney Meadows without a slice of apple pie and a couple bottles of hard apple cider. "The best damn apples this side of the mountains" the old fella said. That was before he fell over dead of course. What a strange day that was. But who are you to pass up some free drinks, tales of apple pie, and a relaxing evening or two before setting out for the Ancient Ruins of Marcath. Hell, it's not like those undead or crumbling ruins are going anyplace. May be worth even spending a week or so in town if the food and drink is really that good.

In reply to Madoc Redbeard (msg # 10):

"It was the pan flute!"  Ymir says with a laugh.  "I was mesmerized!"

Ymir pulls out his free drink pass and turns to the group.

"We should be in Stoney Meadows soon.  I could seriously use a free drink and a slice of that world famous apple pie. Hopefully nothing delays us."

"The pan flute?" says Madoc, bemused, "Give me drums and a chorus of Dwarfs!"

Madoc's face lights up when Ymir reminds him of their destination..Stoney Meadows and The Mead and Meatery. "Aye. Walking is a thirsty business...and the old man did say their cider was the best this side of the mountains!"

 Enigma rolls her eyes.  Art was such a subjective thing!  "Hmm, good cider and a slice of pie don't sound like a bad time at all." She then turns to Ymir as she walks.  "The panflute?" She grunts.  "I'll take it.  As for me, I couldn't let such a talented young man as yourself fall into the wrong hands!  Remember that 'merchant' who wanted you to scare up 'protection money' for him?" She shakes her head.  "Some people... pfaugh!"

 She says to Madoc, "I'm glad we got to you before their 'boss' did.  And, I was impressed at how many of them we found nearby."

 She then looks at Serafina and Jira, as if to see if they had anything to say about everyone's legendary journeys together.  She hoped so, finding each to be just as impressive as her other two companions.

"Not nearly as many as the number you lot got through when you arrived...I wasn't sure what to think when that mangy old wolf leapt from the shadows to tear that guards throat out!" replied Madoc, looking at Shadow as he loped beside Serafina. "You all saved my life...and that wasn't the last time, either!"

In reply to Enigma (msg # 14):

"Me?  Scare up protection money?  Who could find me scary?"

Ymir laughs at his own joke more than anyone else, as it typical.

"I wonder if their 'boss' had any connection to your kidnappers, Madoc?  Maybe some regional crime ring?  Anyway that is behind us and hard cider and apple pie is in front!"

Ymir picks up his pace slightly and starts whistling a tune.

"I wouldn't be surprised," replies Madoc. "Mallius Vane and the Black Brotherhood have their fingers in many pies. Talking of which...apple pie sounds like just the job to go with that cider. Not far now!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Fri 16 Apr 2021.

Serafina's ears briefly twitch when the Dwarf refers to Shadow as 'that mangy old wolf'. She glances back over her shoulder and narrows her eyes at Madoc. She puffs her cheeks with a little **huff** escaping her throat as she does and then looks forward again.

She knew she shouldn't fault him. After all, what did a Dwarf know about the forest and the animals living there anyway? They spend all day and night digging holes into mountains.

She remembered the incident they spoke of. She had been out foraging in the forest with Shadow at her side when she spotted a group of what certainly had the appearance of bandits and cutthroats. They appeared to be dragging a Dwarf behind them. He looked more of a warrior and less of a thief.

Perhaps they were cultists out to perform some dark ritual, or perhaps they had merely kidnapped the Dwarf for ransom. Whatever the case, they had appeared to be up to no good, so curiosity sparked her and she followed them at a discreet distance. When they kept going and ventured into the fen, she followed them on in.

Once the cutthroats reached their destination, she hide nearby, listened, and observed while she bade her time. She hadn't had to wait long before her chance to act came along. Another group appeared. They had clearly not been with the bandits and a conflict broke out between them. With the bandits distracted with the other group, the time seemed right, so she and Shadow had stuck to free the Dwarf.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:21, Sat 17 Apr 2021.

The Dwarf catches the look on Serafina's face as she glances back over her shoulder. He grins at her and winks, as he carries on chatting with the others...sure that she knows, as do the others, that he owes them his life. And Dwarves take that kind of thing seriously. Besides...he's grown rather fond of them...even that mangy old wolf.

Another hour passes by as the group moves down the road, finally reaching the fork and preparing to head south towards town. You all stop short as you spot a person in the distance sitting on the ground, his back up against an old apple tree laden with fruit. He hunches forward a bit, his knees bent up, and scribbles furiously on a pad of paper, looking up at the hillside and clouds every few moments before once again putting pencil to paper. This goes on for several moments before he notices the group. Scrambling to get up he tips over his waterskin onto his midday plate, soaking the bread and pudding he has there before tripping over his own foot and stomping down onto his satchel of cheese and dried fruits with a squish. He throws up his hands in frustration cracking his knuckles across a low-hanging limb in the process. With a deep sigh he reaches down and plucks a pile of papers from the ground, now also soaking wet from his waterskin, shakes them off the best he can, and tries to hurry forward towards you, his hands up showing he has no weapons or aggression. "Aye! 'Ello! You fine fella's yonder! Aye' The names Norm, you must be headed ta'town, yeah? Stoney Meadows? Down yonder in the hill? Yeah? I knew it!!" He stops about 20 yards away as he suddenly seems to take notice of the wolf. "Oh, hey, good kitty.... goooood kitty. Here, I think I got a few bits o' corn in me pocket. Heeerree kitty kitty." He bends over and spinkles some dried corn kernals on the ground. "Oh, sorry fella's. The names Norm. You headed to Stoney Meadows, yeah?"
This message was last updated by the player at 21:31, Mon 19 Apr 2021.

 Enigma gives Madoc a respectful nod, and gives Ymir a playfully scrutinising look.  "Hmm.  Maybe a kitten, or a puppy you approached too quickly.  I'm not exactly scary-looking, either, but I have been told that I alarm or even frighten some people." She shrugs.  "It's all subjective.  I suppose when I'm the last person you see before crossing over and I've got a mace covered in... in you in one hand and I'm combat-mad, that could count as scary." Her helmet, which is cone-shaped, masked, and sporting a chain aventail, could indeed frighten someone in such circumstances!  Moreso when their vision begins to fade from one too many injuries inflicted by its wearer.

 She then adds, "Hope that one child I helped to deliver didn't find me frightening... imagine the first face you see in this world being one you find fearsome.  But what do babies know?  Just... screaming and soiling themselves."  This last part is said under her breath.

 - - - - -

 Enigma pauses when she perceives the strange stranger, puts a hand on her hip, and bites the inside of her cheek at his bizarre antics.  After a quick scan of the area which she disguises as looking from companion to companion.  "Well met, Norm.  I call myself 'Enigma', and will let my companions speak for themselves.  I was told that there was to be good cider and pie at Stoney Meadows, and had to check it out for myself." Doing her best to sound dismissive, she adds, "Haven't the faintest what this lot that's been following me like lost puppies are after."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Tue 20 Apr 2021.

Ymir eyes Norm for a moment with a quizzical look, not sure what to make of the fellow.



"Puppies?  I think you need to get your eyes checked as we are clearly all kitties apparently."   Once again, he laughs at his own joke regardless of whether anyone else does.

"Yes we are indeed heading to Stoney Meadow," Ymir says, turning his attention to the strange fellow.  "And why are you sitting out here on the outskirts of the town?  Were you kicked out?  Drunk and disorderliness?  A little bit of larceny?  Indecent exposure while intoxicated?  A little bit of everything?"

Ymir's smile and tone of voice make it fairly clear he is delivering one of his poor attempts at humor.

Madoc watches the lad stumble around awkwardly with a barely suppressed grin...wincing as the nice-looking pudding gets stomped on...but otherwise happy to stand back and watch the fun.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Tue 20 Apr 2021.

Serafina and Shadow keep a safe distance from the strange man. Although he might be deranged, it also could be a set-up. She keeps her senses alert for ambush while she leaves it to the others to speak with him.

As she does, she slowly rubs the top of Shadow's furry head. The wolf presses against her hand.

"Who, me? Da name's Norm by the way. That's what you can call me. My parents named me that 17 years ago ya know. My, how time flies." He scratches his head and looks around a bit at everyone. "Oh, yeah, sorry. The Cap'n sent me out here today to greet the festival comers. Yer the first o' the lot." He hastily grabs one of the papers, now sodden with water and barely legible. "It's our annual Apple Pickin' and Dunkin' Festival! I'm the Apple 'n' String champ 3 years running!" He looks at Madoc and points a long thin finger at the dwarf. "Oh, I see you thinkin' you can beat the Apple'n'String champ. Don't you count on it good sir! You, me, an apple and some string. It's on like strudel on a pie!" He gives you the paper in his hand. Looks like it was crudely written and the only parts still readable is the dates (the current three-day) and something about apples. "Well, hurry on down tha road now, don't wanna be late fer Miss Ma's famous Pork in Apple Roast with Fig Sauce! Oh, and hey, don't forget to save me a bit, eh?" He looks at the dwarf as he pretends to pluck an apple from the tree and bite it aggressively.