You finally find a road.

It was cold last night, and you climbed a thick tree and huddled in the branches.  Below, you swear you could hear all kinds of wolves prowling around, licking their chops and wanting to take a bite out of you.  If they were there, they are gone by the morning.

You sucked some dew off leaves, enough that your throat stopped feeling dry.  Picking up the Mallory shoes, you moved on.

The bag wasn't in the same place you had entered it from.  It was in the middle of a clearing in a forest.  You were able to figure out which was east from where the sun rose, and stumbled in that direction.  Your gut starts making noises.  It feels like your stomach is sticking against your rib cage you're so hungry.

Then, about an hour ago, you walked out of a tree line and found a road.

It's not much of a road.  There are no fresh tracks on it.  And as you step on it, something about it feels...weird.  Like you're stepping on a dog's tail or something.

Make me both a Magic Sensitivity roll and a Sense Holy/Unholy roll please.  Both modified by your Perception.

Thanks

09:50, Today: Tristan rolled 1 using 1d10-3.  sense holy/unholy.

09:49, Today: Tristan rolled 4 using 1d10-3.  magic sensitivity.

OCC: I think I did that right.  Love the name of the new adventure, btw.  lol

In reply to Tristan (msg # 2):

Thanks.  And the rolls look good.  Not informative mind you. But done correctly

Down the road running to the left, you can feel...something.  It's a warmish kind of tug, though a faint one.

Going left or right? Or you can not follow the road and try moving across it and into the woods on the other side.

Tristan feels like a hero after leading the children to freedom (even if most of them turned to dust in the end).  As a result, he feels hubristic.

As though expecting a reward for his services, he heads left, boldly going where no foolish child has gone before tonight.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 4):

As you head off the left hand path, the day progresses.  The sun rises to it's zenith and starts to fall.  You get more thirsty and more tired with each step.

That tug you felt is starting to feel closer.  Not "around the next bend" closer.  But you can feel like it's coming your way.  Maybe you'll meet it soon.

As you think about that, the road rises a small hill.  As you crest the ridge, you can see that the hill runs down into a small valley cut by a stream.  The road crosses the stream on an old wooden bridge.

Sitting in front of the entrance to the bridge are three men.  They look like soldiers, each in armor.  Each man carrying a long spear, with a hatchet on their belt.  They're crouched down on the ground, grouped around a small square of cloth they've laid on the ground.  You hear them laughing and arguing with each other.  As you watch, you realize they are rolling dice.  Father sometimes does that.  It always makes Mother angry.

Tristan stares with longing at the stream, desperate to quench his thirst.  He also briefly considers trying to run past the guards.

Instead, he tries to find a place where he won't be seen, crouches down and observes them.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 6):

There's a small hollow space under a tree.  Scunching down into it, you can keep an eye on the soldiers without being too obvious...

But just in case, why not make me a Stealth/Pres check please.  And it's a stress test

The soldiers continue to play dice and talk about women they've known.  Finally one stands up and stretches his arms.

"You think Chauncey is ever gonna show up?"

One of his fellows laughs.  "That bastard's probably got his head up his ass an' his cock up some bum."

The third one roars out a laugh like it's the funniest thing he's ever heard.  "Damnation! He is one ta do somethin' stupid, ain't he?"

"I don't care if he's stupid.  I care that he's late. They were supposed ta relieve us an hour ago."

"You got somewhere else ta be?"

"Just tired of smelling you, ya rank bastard."

The other two hoot and snort.

The first one starts marching up the hill.

"Where you off ta?"

"Gotta take a piss..."

He's heading your way...

09:23, Today: Tristan rolled 3 using 1d10-5 with rolls of 8.  ste/pre.

Are there any stones within reach?  If there are, Tristan will try to grab one without being seen.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 8):

He is not paying you much attention, as it seems he's heading for a tree below the one you're crouched under.

You can see a few pebbles by your feet.  Easy enough to pick up any of them.

Are any of them large enough to be useful as a weapon?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 10):

The largest could be used as a slingshot bullet.  But I wouldn't count on being able to take down an adult with a rock unless it was a boulder.

The guard comes up to the tree and starts to do his business.  He hasn't noticed you...yet.

Tristan hurls the largest stone directly at the man's testicles, then runs deeper into the woods.

21:42, Today: Tristan rolled 7 using 1d10-3.  Dex/Athl.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:42, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 12):

Was the roll for the to hit on the stone or for running away?

This also would have been a stress test.  So if you rolled a 0, that's actually a potential botch.  I'll need you to roll another test to see if you get another 0

It was my roll to hit.  Rolling again…

23:37, Today: Tristan rolled 8 using 1d10.  Botch?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Mon 14 Nov 2022.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 14):

Nope.  You only botch if you get another 0 on any of the dice you reroll.

I only had you reroll 1 die this time.  Certain situations call for you to roll multiple botch die.

You fling the stone and it bounces off the tree.

The man looks up and the two of you lock eyes for the briefest of moments before you take off into the woods.

Behind you, you can hear shouts as the guards start to give chase.

I keep running.  Do I see anywhere I could try to hide?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 16):

You crash through the undergrowth, looking around desperately for some place to hole up.

There seem to be three choices, or rather directions.

You can rush back the way you came down the road.  There were plenty of woods and it's just a matter of staying ahead of the guards.

You could try to go up instead of running.  Climb a tree.  There are several large ones around, many with enough foliage to cover you if you got into their upper branches.

And you could head down hill instead.  The stream isn't too far away.  Maybe you could hide under the water or along the bank.

I'll try rushing down the road.  No need to risk going downhill, and climbing a tree sounds suicidal.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 18):

You run down the road.  Behind you, you can hear at least two of the guards chasing you.

If you want to stay on or near the road, make me an Athletics/Qik check please.  If you're ducking into the woods to ide, Stealth/Qik check please.

Thanks

Woods.

23:12, Today: Tristan rolled 6 using 1d10-3 with rolls of 9.  Stealth/qik.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 20):

Wow.  For a child character, that is an awesome roll.

You spy a small alcove under one tree.  A little hollow under the roots.  Scurrying like a rabbit, you manage to tuck yourself into it and still yourself.

Soon, you can hear the tromp tromp of grown up boots.

"Didja see where he went?"

"Nah.  Better question.  Why do we care? He's just a brat."

"He lobbed a rock at my gob the little shit."

A rough laugh.  "What?  How could he hit something that small?"

"That's not what your Margaret said when I was done with her las' night."

"She probably said nothin' cos she fell asleep since you're such a bad hump.  Now c'mon.  Let's get back to the bridge.  The relief will be here soon.  An' I want to get back to Margaret.  Show her what a real man is like."

"Bastard."

After a moment, you hear the sounds of men walking away.

Inside you, you feel that little tug.  That thing you were feeling come towards you...it's close.  It seems to be back the way you came from.  Maybe back towards the bridge.

Tristan listens with confusion to their banter about Margaret.  What had that man done to her?  And what was that about the other guy not being a real man?  Was he a monster in human form, or something?

When he’s confident about coming out without being seen, he leaves the safety of his hidey-hole and creeps back toward the bridge, following the tracks of the… whatevers.