You check the box one more time.

All eight glass jars are packed carefully inside.  Time to go to the stream.

Coscrach has started to let you into the room at the back of the shack he calls his "laboratory".  It's a large room, filled with books, bottles, jars, boxes, the pelt of a blue stag, four swords (all but one of them broken), eight arrows (you've been told to never touch those), a board with the oddest shaped insects pinned to it (Coscrach says they're called dragonflys), and a lantern that burns no oil and never goes out.

Your job is to try to keep this place clean.  And certain items you are having to clean.  Again and again and again.

Take these jars.

Once every two weeks, you need to pack them up, walk them to the stream which is on the other side of the island from the covenant, and wash them clean.  They always seem to get covered with various sticky or smelly substances.  This time the substances are the color of honey but have the odor of old man sweat.

Collin will go with you. But he can't today.  So another guard, a tall fellow named Conrad, is going with you.

Coscrach has told you that you need to work on being able to give orders to people.  So you should boss Conrad around.

He waits for you outside, giving you a sideways glare when you come out.

Looking away quickly, Conrad mutters, "Ready?"

“Yes.  Let’s go.” Tristan takes the lead, walking carefully but briskly toward the stream.  “Keep an eye on our surroundings as we go there.  Tell me if something doesn’t look right.”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 2):

Conrad nods and off the two of you go.

There's two ways to get to the stream.

The long way is to climb up a hill and then down the other side.

There's a short cut, but you've been told not to take it.  It's going around the side of the hill.

The short cut is a lot less work and a lot quicker.

Never mind the short cut.  One day he would take it, but not today.  Not until he was confident he could handle a nasty surprise.

Master was fond enough of throwing him into things prematurely.

Tristan orders his flunky up the hill.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Mon 08 May 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 4):

Conrad shrugs and hikes up the hill.  He's another one of the soldiers.  A hike means nothing to him.

The stream is a pleasant place.  Supposedly it bubbles out of a spring at one end of the island and washes down into the ocean. But you've not had a chance to trace it back to it's source.

While it isn't wide...you can leap across it in most spots.  If you take a running start...it is deep in most places.  You can bathe in it in some spots.  Others you'd have to dog paddle to stay afloat.

Conrad sets the box down for you by the water and steps back.  The washing is something you have to do yourself.  Coscrach is very particular about this.  And he knows.  He always knows.

You're starting to work on the first bottle when there's a splash to your right.  Something jumped into the stream.  But what it was...you can't see.

“Conrad, did you see what that was?  Try to find out, will you?”

Meanwhile, he gathers up the bottles and cautiously backs away from the stream.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 6):

Conrad glances at the stream than at you.

"What are you talking about?  I don't see anything."

iseesomethingshiny

Conrad goes over to the stream, hand on the sword at his hip.

"I think it's a frog.  Hold up Young Master.  Lemme see..."

You don't have a chance to yell out as another frog leaps up from a nearby bush and slaps him on the back.

Conrad is pushed into the stream.  There's a Conrad-sized splash...

And then you can't see him.

The frog who pushed him turns and croaks at you.

OOC: Do I know any offensive magic spells at all?  If not, I don't see much choice but to retreat.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 8):

You have not been taught any spells.

You can try for a Turbulance if you like

Are you taking the glass jars with you?

For now, Tristan stands his ground. “Who are you?” he demands of the frog, guessing it will understand him.  “I’m an important person and what I’m doing is eqally important.  Interfere, and my master will be extremely angry.”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 10):

The frog croaks at you.  Then sits on a rock and crosses it's legs.

"We need big people.  Ones who can fight.  Can you fight?"

"No, but Conrad can.  You know... the one you put under the water.  What did you do with him?"

In reply to Tristan (msg # 12):

"He'll be fighting now."

The frog points at the box of jars.

"Yours?"

“No.  My master’s.  They are quite important, and he is a powerful man who is not to be trifled with.”

Although Tristan knows perfectly well that his master may be the one who is trifling with him at this very moment.  He has learned in his brief year of apprenticeship that it is wise to assume that everything is a test.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:58, Wed 17 May 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 14):

The frog croaks at you a moment, and then makes a vague looking gesture.

"The jars for your man.  Trade you"

“Absolutely not.” What would his master think of him if he agreed to such a trade?  He would probably conclude that he was far too weak and sentimental to ever be trusted with responsibility again.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 16):

"Then we'll just have to take them."

You hear a sudden, veritable wall of croaking.  From behind you.

The path back is filled with frogs.  Dozens of them.

In reply to The Founder's Ghost (msg # 17):

What are your Art scores like?  Sorry.  Can't recall.

I'm asking because, as I think it through, you might be able to get off a spontaneous spell.  It won't do you much.  But if you want to try for it.

You could also try for a turbulence as per in the Apprentice rules supplement.

If not, you can either make a run for it, try to negotiate, trick them, etc.  Your call

Although it goes against his instincts, Tristan feels he is duty bound to defend those bottles to the best of his still very limited ability.  So he tries to create a turbulence, and then seeks to control it.

So far as I know, I have no art scores as of yet.  You did say I still haven’t learned any spells.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 19):

That's right.  Sorry.  Thought you had gotten a 1 in one of the Arts.  No, you just had them all opened to you.

Okay.  Here's how Turbulences work.

They are triggered by events related to magic.  I am judging that this situation qualifies as one.

Tristan is 6 now, right?

In order to get one brewing, you have to beat my roll.  I rolled a 6.  You need to roll a stress die (remember 0's count as botches.  1's allow you reroll and double the result)  To that add your Int score + 4 (this particular area's aura modifier).  If I have Tristan's age incorrect and he is 7, then the target you have to beat is 7.

If you beat my roll of 6 (or Tristan's age, whichever is higher), you can attempt to control the turbulence.  You need to make another stress roll + your Stamania vs. a 2.  Pretty good chance you'll win that one.

Make the trigger roll and (if you make the trigger roll) the control roll.  Let's see what happens.

Thanks

OOC: Looks like I succeeded.  (Tristan is indeed 6, btw.)

21:00, Today: Tristan rolled 7 using 1d10-2.  Control turbulence.
20:59, Today: Tristan rolled 11 using 1d10+2.  Brew turbulence.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 21):

By the way, I forgot that trying to force a Turbulence usually will cost you a Confidence Point.  We'll give you a freebie just to test out the system.  You will not be able to use Turbulences as you get older.  Your Hermetic training givs you too much control.  We are also leaving aside the question or Warping for the moment.  Will get to that later.

Alright.  You have achieved a Turbulence.  Now we need to decide what kind of turbluence it is.

The book is a little ambiguous on this, and for good reason.  Basically, you are trying to cast your first spontaneous spell.  We'll have it bronzed and put up on a shelf afterwards.

So.  Tell me what kind of effect you'd like to see happen.  Keep in mind you aren't going to be able to do something big.  "Kill all frogs in a 20 yard radius" is probably not achievable.  Killing one frog is also probably a stretch.

But we need to come up with a Technique/Form combo so we can adjucate what the turbulence gets you.  PeAn.  ReAn.  CrTe if you want to try to conjure up a weapon maybe.

Tell me what you'd ideally like to achieve here.  Make sense?

Thanks.

Perhaps a bewildering cyclone of illusion, having some physical force (enough to send water flying in all directions) but mostly relying on colorful distractions to scare the frogs away.  It should have an auditory component as well.  I want the frogs to think that master is coming and is PISSED.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 23):

Having some computer issues and can't access my books.  Need to figure out how strong your spell is.  But what you are shooting for is a CrIm effect.

Will get back to you tomorrow.  Sorry about that.

OOC: No problem.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 25):

Okay.  We are almost there, I swear.  One last question.

I need one more stress die roll.  Don't botch it.

This message was deleted by the player at 09:04, Sat 27 May 2023.

Result: 14
05:05, Today: Tristan rolled 7 using 1d10.  Stress roll (double).
05:03, Today: Tristan rolled 1 using 1d10.  Stress roll.

(At first I thought I’d botched it!)

In reply to Tristan (msg # 28):

Oh my.  That is one heck of a turbulence you've cooked up there.

Basically, you've just cooked up a spontaneous spell.  You got a 28 (11 original roll + the 14), but we need to back out your STA.  I think you're at -3 right now, right?  We then divde that by 2 and round up.  Final result is a 13.

That's a magnitude 2 effect.  So per the CrIm rules, you can create an illusion that affects up to 2 senses.  I'm assuming you want to do sound and sight.

You wanted to make the image of Coscrach coming over the hill, right?

Couple of things to keep in mind.  First, make sure you read up on spontaneous spells in the core rulebook.  They are incredibly useful, and yes.  You'll be casting lots of them as the game rolls on.

Second, I want you to start thinking about what Tristan's sigil will be. Sigils are unique to each magi:  usually a cosmetic effect that is always present in their magic.  Examples on characters I've run in the past:  one magi's sigil was the color green.  Fire he summoned would be green.  Wind he summoned would dye anything it blew across with a green hue briefly.  A target's hair might suddenly and briefly turn green.  Etc.

Another example was there would be the sound of a duck quacking.  The stronger the spell, the louder the quack.

Anyway.  Tristan's sigil will show up here in this turbulence.  So give some thought to what  unique identifier comes up in Tristan's magic.

"Coscrach" comes over the top of the hill...though it's not really him.  He's too tall and too broad.  He's waving his arms and going Rarrrrrhhrrr like he's pretending to be a monster.

The frogs aren't smart enough to question it.  They begin diving for cover or into the stream.

Tristan quickly gathers up the bottles and gets out of there.  He can’t wait to tell his master this tale!  Alas, poor… what was his name again?

Should I choose a sigil, or have it determined randomly for me?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 30):

You should think of it yourself.  If you need more time, that's fine.  Just start keeping it in mind as it's one way to personalize your magic in the game.

Coscrach listens with an arched eyebrow.

"And...so.  You just left Conrad behind, huh?"

"He was gone.  Lost in the stream.  I didn't see what I could do for him." He tries to remain calm.  "Did I do wrongly, master?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:52, Mon 29 May 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 32):

Coscrach sighs.  "You came to find me and ask for help.  So you did well.  You can't always deal with everything on your own.  But...it sounds like this is maybe a situation where you could have done something.

"Let's talk about the Fae.  They are all around us.  And House Merintia deals with them.  Quite a bit.

"You need to learn about them.  Mostly how to deal with them.  You've dealt with them before after all.  Do you know when you dealt with something of the Fae?"

To the best of his ability, Tristsan recalls his prior encounters with the Fae.  Of course, he remembers his run-in with the beast at the bottom of the sea.  His previous encounters are hazier.

But he concludes by offering to return to the stream, if such is his master’s wish.  Once again, he emphasizes that he was trying to protect important magical property and did what he thought was right under the circumstances.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 34):

"Yes.  You do need to go back.  And you need to try to save Conrad.

"But...I need to give you something to work with.  So.  Let's consider this a test of sorts.

"I can teach you a secret that may help.  I can give you a weapon that you may or may not be able to use.  Or I can give you a companion who might be useful.  Then again, they may not be.

"You can pick one of those three.  Which would you like Tristan?"

“The weapon.” The last companion he had didn’t turn out to be useful!

In reply to Tristan (msg # 36):

Coscrach's face is blank for a moment.  And then he grins.  A big, shit eating kind of grin.

"That's my boy!"

He walks over to a cabinet and fishes inside.

"You've been practicing with a club, right?  Try this."

What he comes back with is a small mace.  Tristan sized.

Did you spend any points in single weapon?  If not, you have a point in that skill now.  Thanks

"Give it a swing.  And don't be afraid to knock them upside their heads."

OOC: I do have a single point in Single Weapon.  Do I get another one?  Sorry for being a munchkin.

Tristan handles the weapon, trying to get a feel for it.  He doesn't like being given this, or his master's overly enthusiastic grin.  But such was life.  Besides, the alternatives probably would have been worse.

"I'll be right back, master," he says, then sets off.  Fortunate favors the bold, or so he'd heard.  Then again, maybe he'd been reading too many tales of ancient warriors and kings.  Latin was rotting his brain, or so he suspected.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:12, Mon 05 June 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 38):

This isn't munchkin.  This is me streamlining some of the apprenticeship process.

You would get 5 XP into Single Weapon skill.  This reflects all the training you did off camera with Collin.

We can't roleplay every single day of his apprenticeship.  That will take forever.  So we're going to streamline some of it. 

Hefting the mace...it's a lot heavier than you thought at first...you head back to the stream.

You come up over the crest.  It looks quiet down there.  No sign of the frogs...

You think you see some movement in the stream.  But you aren't sure from this distance.

Tristan looks around.  Is there a long branch around that he could use to probe the stream?  He is very reluctant to use his mace, which was obviously intended for other things.

My last post wasn’t intended to be critical or sarcastic at all… I hope it didn’t come across that way.  I was poking fun at myself for trying to get an extra point.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 40):

Didn't take it that way at all.  Don't worry.  If I think you're being snarky, I'll ask.  Just letting you know I'm advancing you a little differently is all.  We are good

No trees about, but there are reeds.  Most are as tall as you are.  They should suffice.

You start to poke with one of the stouter ones.  Below the surface of the water, you can see lots of frogs.  They seem to be bunched up along the two sides of the stream.  You notice the ones on the side of the stream you're on are green with black spots.

The ones on the other side of the stream are brown with reddish spots.

Tristan scowls, failing to understand the difference in the coloration of the frogs.  Are they opposing armies of some sort?  He attempts to poke the bottom of the stream with the reed, seeking for an entrance of some kind.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 42):

You feel something tug on the reed.  It suddenly tugs hard and you start to lose your balance...

You can fall into the stream if you like.  If not, make me an Athletics/QIK test.  Stress Roll.  If you don't botch it you pass.

Tristan allows himself to be yanked into the stream, trying to relax his muscles so that he can tense them quickly later, if need be.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 44):

The water rushes up at you.  You feel it start to wet your skin...

And then you're standing on the ground.  Above you is a sky made of water.  Not like clouds full of rain.  Real water.

There's no water around you though.  You're completely dry.  You take a breath...air.  You're breathing air.

As you stand there, taking in your situation, two frogs walk up to you.

They are standing like men, on their rear legs.  In one hand they each carry a spear.

They stop before you and study you curiously.

Finally, one of them speaks.

"Be you Green?  Or be you Brown?"

Both of these frogs are brown with red spots.

"First identify yourselves," Tristan replies in an authoritative voice.  "How can I possibly trust you with such information without proper identification?  Do you think I would endanger the great cause?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:54, Thu 15 June 2023.

Ooohhhh.  That's good

The frogs frown, then look at each other.

"Just a moment," the one speaking says.

They take several steps back and then lean their heads together, murmuring to each other.

Finally they step back towards you.

"We serve Clan Mud!  Nothing grows without mud!  We are beautiful!"

He narrows his eyes at you.

"You do see the glory in mud, don't you?"

Tristan looks at him with infinite contempt.  "Of course I do.  How dare you ask me such a blasphemous question?  Now take me to your superiors before I lose patience."

In reply to Tristan (msg # 48):

They both blink at you.  Then turn their heads to each other and blink at each other.  Then turn back to you and blink at you some more.

Then they bow, motioning for you to follow, and lead you across the stream bed.

On the other side is what looks like an army of brown frogs with red spots.  They circle around small fires and grumble to each other about how much they miss their wives.  Several look sideways at you, but none of them approach you.

At the back of the army are several tents.  Large red ones flying flags that are a solid mass of brown.  Your two escorts take you to the largest one and motion you to go inside.

Three large toads are gathered around a table, studying what looks like a map.  They look up at you.

The second largest one quickly stands and hisses, "Salute you damn soldier!  You are in the presence of General Muck!  Glory is in the Mud!"

Looking infinitely bored as though carrying out a tedious formality, Tristan salutes, while managing to subtly sigh at the same time.  But then he immediately asks, "Where have you taken the man-creature who was captured recently?"

In reply to Tristan (msg # 50):

The three toads blink at you.

They then scurry back to a corner of the tent, where they huddle together and murmur to each other, occasionally peeking at you from the side.

They then all nod their heads and come back to the table, sitting themselves where they had been.

"We have none of Adam's sons as a captive. Well.  Besides you.  But anyway.  We have no captive like that.

"The cursed Weeds may have one.  But we don't.  You know.  Other than you."

You may use an ability here if you wish.  Your call which one you may want to use. Don't have to.  Just letting you know

“If they have him, we must free him before they discover his secrets.  So saith the Mud.  Or fail to heed his holy word and be destroyed.  It makes no difference to me.”

OOC: For now, I’ll hold off on using an ability.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 52):

The three Toads rush back to the corner and again confer, peeking at you from time to time.

They come back.

"Ahem.  You claim to speak for the Mud.  While we find you a bit of an apostate...and just a trifle of an apologist...we cannot disagree we seem to have common cause.

"It's a question of whether the cause is common enough.  What secrets does this man possess that we need to free him for?"

After snorting at the insolent terms of abuse being used to refer to him, Tristan’s eyes widen.  “What secrets does he possess?  Why, all the tools the enemy needs to destroy you!  Use the good froggy sense the Mud bestowed on you as tadpoles.  Why would they go to the trouble to capture him if he wasn’t of vital use to them in the war?  Even if you don’t trust me, it should be obvious to you that he is a major factor in their plans, and that getting him out of their control is a matter of the greatest urgency.  And of course, I am here to assist you in any way possible.”

Tristan has spent a lot of time this past year learning how to talk like a grown-up.  He knew it would be turn out to be important… but he hadn’t realized how soon.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:20, Wed 21 June 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 54):

Well done.  I'm going to ask for an ability check here, but I'll give you a bonus.  Either Charm/Comm or a different ability if you feel there's one that would be better. Stress roll, but I will give you a +3 on it.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I have any abilities that apply…

22:54, Today: Tristan rolled 0 using 1d10-1.  Com roll.

Gulp…
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Fri 23 June 2023.

So you rolled a 1 which modified to a 0 right?  You didn't roll just a straight 0?

Let me know if that's not the case.

The frogs gather once more in the corner.  They come back, this time swaggering a little.

"You make a persuasive argument.  BUT.  How do we know there are magical powers?  Not all Children of Adam have powers.  Do you have powers?"

OOC: Correct.  I rolled a 1 that was modified to 0.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 58):

Okie doke.  Just wanted to be sure.  Then you got a critical success.  So you have to roll again and double the result.

So roll again.  Multiply the result times two.  If you get a 0 treat it like a 10 (or in this case 20).

Hold up answering my last post until we get this resolved.  I may need to change the frogs response.

Thanks

OOC: Do I use the -1 modifier before doubling the roll?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 60):

No.

So you roll, get your total, and then apply any modifiers to the results.  In this case, you roll a 1 first time.  So you roll again and...let's say you got a 3.  You'd get a 6-1 for a total of 5

16:59, Today: Tristan rolled 4 using 1d10.  Success roll.

Unless my math skills are even more feeble than expected, that’s a 7.

The Big Frog...the "General"...holds up a webbed hand to silence his subordinate.

He stares at you.  Hard.  He then croaks in a voice like a bull shouting.  "If we agree to help you, will you help us with our war?

"It's simple.  We will attack, bringing their attention to us.  You will sneak in from behind.  Locate your human.  And make your escape.

"But.

"I will also require you do something else.  You must find the tent of their general.  There will be a map on the table there, like this one." He taps a large sheet of parchment on the table before him.  "You will replace it with the one I give you.

"You will swear on your left foot that you will do this thing for us.  If you do it, you can take your human and go.

"Do you swear?"

Tristan swears solemnly on both feet that he would do exactly as the Big Frog has demanded, and acts a bit offended that his willingness to provide such aid would even be questioned.  Inside, however, his heart is thumping, and he has to fight down the feeling of excitement that is spilling everywhere inside him.  Could this crazy scheme really work?  But he carefully hides his emotions behind the mask he has constructed.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:02, Sun 02 July 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 64):

Sorry.  Thought I answered this Sunday night.  Not sure how I missed that



So here is a map of the "Weeds" encampment.  You would be somewhere to the south/bottom of the map.  Didn't start you at any particular point as I wasn't sure how you'd want to go about things.


Basically you are at the bottom of a creek bed.  The dark brown is muddy areas.  The greener indicates more weedy kind of areas.

Note that most of the Weeds encampment is surrounded by a badly made wooden pallisade.  Really they are stacks of pointed sticks piled up on top of each other.  The pallisade stands about 4' tall in most places.

You do not know which of the tents your grog is in.

Questions?

No questions.  I’ll try to sneak across the mud at the point where it’s most narrow.  Then I’ll head west and observe that large red-colored tent.

You creep up closely to the barricade.  There's a small gap in it.  A sentry is seated by it, deeply asleep and snoring as you sneak up.

The Weeds camp seems filled with soldiers who aren't doing much of anything.  Many of them are seated around campfires...even though it's the middle of the day.  A warm spring day...and croaking at each other.  One of them plays a flute and others dance in a circle.

The large western red tent has two guards posted in front of it.  But as you watch, you don't see anyone coming in or going out.



Questions?

I’ll turn around and casually (but stealthily) make my way toward the other red tent on the other side.  If I’m caught, I’ll try to act naturally, as though I was supposed to be there.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 68):

Think I'll need a Stealth/Qik check please.

13:49, Today: Tristan rolled 5 using 1d10-2.  stealth/qik.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 70):

You scurry across the muddy part of the field and come to the other side of the encampment.

The eastern red tent seems to have more activity.  A frog stands guard at the front.  But other frogs are coming and going from it.

In front of the entrance hangs a banner.  A blue piece of fabric smeared with mud.

Too well-guarded.  Okay, I'll sneak back across camp to the other side of the encampment again.

13:38, Today: Tristan rolled 3 using 1d10-2.  stealth/qik.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Fri 14 July 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 72):

You make it back.  Almost too easily.  These frogs aren't exactly the most attentive of souls.

Heading for the western red tent?

Correct.  Do I see a guard in front of it?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 74):

There are two guards in front of it.  But...none behind it.  And there doesn't seem to be any traffic coming in or going out of it.

Although he suspects he’s making a mistake, Tristan tries sneaking up behind the tent.  Can he get inside?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 76):

Tent itself is rather cheap.  You can slide under the edge of it from the back.

Inside the tent is a large cage made of what you think is clay.  Inside it is Conrad.  He's unconscious.

Are any guards inside the tent?  Also, is there any furniture in here?  Any sign of some place a key might be kept?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Fri 21 July 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 78):

The only person inside the tent is Conrad.  And a bird.

On the other side of Conrad's cage is a bird cage on a pole.  Inside the cage is a small bird with a black head streaked with white and golden in color on the rest of it's body.  It seems to be asleep.  At the bottom of it's cage is a key.

You just need to open the bird cage door, reach inside, and take out the key to Conrad's cage.

What could be easier?

Do I have anything on me that I might be able to use to get the key out without having to stick my hand inside the cage?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 80):

I don't recall you saying you brought anything back with you.

You look around.  The tent is fairly bare.  There is a small table on one side with a water pitcher, a crude clay cup, a dirty plate, and...oddly...a pile of grass.

Could I tear off part of my clothes and use it to wrap around my hand?  At least that way I’ll have some protection if I stick my hand in the cage.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 82):

Yes

Sorry.  Hit "Post" a tad fast

You wrap up your hand and approach the cage.  The bird begins to squawk and hop up and down on it's perch.

If you want to swing open the door and make a grab for the key, give me a DEX check please.  Stress roll.

If you want to try something else, please do so.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:13, Fri 28 July 2023.

Tristan realizes there must be a smarter way of doing this, but if so, it just won’t come to mind.  So he says a quick prayer and then makes the grab.

17:44, Today: Tristan rolled -1 using 1d10-3.  Dex.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:45, Fri 28 July 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 84):

The bird suddenly chirps and tries to peck at your tender little hand and wrist, actually doing so.

It's got a sharp little beak.  But it's just a bird peck.

You grab the key and pull it out, slapping the door shut on the bird.

The bird bashes against the sides of the cage, chirping.

If the guards can hear this, they don't seem to care.

The bird presses it's face against the cage.  In a surprisingly husky voice, it says

There will be no peace for you
Until we settle this

In the cage, Conrad groans.

“Really?  Should I reach back in there now and break your little neck, then?  Bird, if I were you, I’d shut up while I still can.”

Tristan ignores any further threats from his avian friend and focuses on setting Conrad free.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Sun 30 July 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 86):

Ohhhhhh....

It's on now Little Human!

I will follow you to your end!

I will crap on your grave!

Conrad murmurs as you unlock his door and shake his shoulder.  His eyes open and blink, then start to shut again in sleep.

Tristan continues to try to awaken Conrad.  Meanwhile, he talks back to the bird.  "What did you do to him?  Put him in some kind of trance?"

In reply to Tristan (msg # 88):

The bird pshaws you.  "As if...

"He's had some wine.  Hard for a Son from Man to not be muzzle headed after a sip of good wine.

"I can tell you how to wake him.  But you need to let me out of this cage first."

“Yeah, right.  Dream on, bird brains.”

Tristan attempts to awaken him with a hard slap.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 90):

The bird begins throwing himself against the cage.

"Let me outta here now!  You'll regret it if you don't!"

Conrad moans.  His eyes open.  He squints as if trying to focus on you.

"M...Master...Tristan?"

From outside, you hear what sounds like one of the guards say, "Hey.  Did you hear something?"

Tristan instructs Conrad to pretend he’s still out cold, then hides.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 92):

The sentry's poke their head in.

The bird flaps furiously.  "He's over there!  He's over there!"

All is not lost...yet.  Stealth/Pres check please

01:57, Today: Tristan rolled 0 using 1d10-3.  Pre/stealth.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 94):

You see two hiding options.  First, you can try to slide out under the tent wall just like how you came in.

You think you can also hide on the other side of the cage.  If you lay flat, Conrad's body may obscure your own.

Tristan tries the second option… precisely because it seems so stupid and crazy.  Maybe the bird wouldn’t even realize he was doing it.  Besides, he was small… maybe he could get away with it.

But he is forming a plan; something he can try even if they capture him…

In reply to Tristan (msg # 96):

You hear the frog sentry tell the bird to pipe down.  There's a long moment of silence.  A long moment.

A looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong moment.

Then you hear the sentry say, "Stupid bird."

A moment later, the bird groans.  "Why is there nobody competent in this place?"

The crazy option seems to have worked.  You are in the clear.  For the moment.

Not a long moment.  Just a regular moment.

Can I tell if the sentries are leaving, or staying?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 98):

They are not in the tent any longer.  Whether they are still outside at their post, you can't tell

The bird has settled down.  When you raise your head to make sure you are alone, it hisses at you.

"Last chance Chick.  Let me out.  And we can forget this ever happened."

“Okay, but first I must free my friend here.” Tristan tries to help Conrad out of his cage… quietly.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 100):

Conrad mumbles and tries to be as sluggish as quietly as he can. But you manage to get him out with no frogs sticking their heads back inside.

The bird looks at you with an expression that plainly says Well?

Is the cage light enough for Tristan to carry it?  He’ll attempt to do so.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 102):

The cage is made of birch branches lashed together with twine.  So it is portable, just bulky as it is about the size of Conrad's chest.

Conrad seems to be slowly coming around.  He might be better able to manage carrying it.

When he is able to do so, I'll tell him to carry the cage with us as we sneak out the back of the tent.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 104):

The two of you slide under the canvas, Conrad hugging the bird cage...

You have Conrad.  Are you going to try to keep your end of the deal with the other frogs?

I haven't quite decided yet... is it okay if we play it by ear?  There's something I'd like to do first...

In reply to Tristan (msg # 106):

Conrad seems to be becoming more alert.  He hugs the birdcage to his chest and leans over.

"Young Master.  Thanks for comin' to get me.  But we need to get you outta here.  You know where we are anyway?"

You don't see any activity.  All the frogs seem to be gathered on the other side of the tents, near their battle lines.

Let’s slip out the back of the tent, then I’ll worry about explaining things to Conrad.  We’ll take the cage with us.

The two of you slip out...

Reposted the map since it's been a while.  Remember:  "F" is for Frog.

Where would you like to go?

Assuming no one is watching, Tristan leads Conrad right to the edge of the mud.  Then he unceremoniously tosses the bird cage into it.

Do either of us have something we can use to start a fire?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 110):

Wow.  Someone's vindictive.

The "day" has gotten on.  Evening is creeping in.  The Frogs put up a line of torches along the perimeter.  So it's easy to borrow a light.

The bird twitters and chirps in it's cage. It glares at you.

"What are you doing?!?  Do you think you'll get away with this?"

"Let's find out." Tristan tugs on the lackey's sleeve and then starts sneaking toward the east end of the camp again.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 112):

So just to be clear, you are NOT setting Tweety on fire.  Correct?

You head off towards the east.  Behind you, the bird squawks and curses.  Soon, you cannot hear it any longer.

You come up behind the far east tent.  The guards seemed focus towards the south, so no one is paying attention to this side of the encampment.

You cannot hear anything inside the tent.

Not setting him on fire, no.  Just tossing him in the muck.

After instructing Conrad to stand by, I’ll poke my head in the back of the tent and try to spy it out.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Mon 28 Aug 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 114):

You get on your knees and thrust your head under the tent canvas, quickly scanning the area.

There is a frog inside.  But he's slumped in a chair, softly snoring as he takes a nap.

There's a large table set in the middle of the room that has all kinds of papers and what not on it.  There's also a couple of boxes off to one side.

I'll sneak in and look over the papers.  Do any of them look like the official battle plans which I'm here to replace?

In reply to Tristan (msg # 116):

You sneak across the floor.  The frog snores like someone's drunk uncle.

There are a few sheets of papers which look, even to your unpracticed eye, to be plans of the field between the two camps.  Someone's drawn all kinds of lines and arrows all over them.

They seem to be in three stacks.  One stack is set to the side on top of the table.  One stack is in the middle of the table. The last stack is on the floor, near the legs of one of the stools.

The sheets of paper you were given are also pictures of the field with lines and arrows drawn all over it.

Very good.  I’ll switch the papers I was given with the ones they most closely resemble, then roll them up and stuff them down my pants and sneak back out of the tent.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:08, Fri 01 Sept 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 118):

You slip underneath the tent flap, smooth as pig fat.

Anything else you want to do here?

No.  We’ll sneak back to the west end of the camp, and from there try to return to where I came from.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 120):


You manage to cross the field, back towards the other camp.

The frog guards there recognize you and escort you quickly to the commander's tent.

He sits at the same table he was sitting, looking like he's been waiting for you to return.

"Well?" he asks.

“Well is exactly how matters stand.  I have rescued my comrade, and have replaced the enemy’s battle plans with the substitute you provided me.  Now your victory is assured.” But Tristan adds a look, implying, if you follow your part of the bargain.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 122):

Frog General barks a laugh, stands, crosses to you, and slaps you good naturedly on the shoulder.

"Ha!  Good lad!  Tomorrow...we attack!  Get some sleep!  There'll be killing a plenty in the morning!"

You are ushered out of the tent and lead to a different tent, where you can lay down are rest in preparation for whatever the Frog General was talking about.

Conrad leans down and whispers to you.  "We are going to run away during the confusion of battle, right?"

“I think that’s the best plan.  No need to do it now, while they’re prepared for it.” But even as he says this, Tristan can’t help but feel that something is wrong.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Fri 08 Sept 2023.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 124):

You get some rest, though it's fitful.  Conrad shakes you awake while it's still dark out.

He motions to the tent flap and whispers, "They've been on the move for a little bit now.  Something's happened. Don't know what."

You peek out the tent flap.  It looks like the soldiers are getting ready. Quietly though.  They aren't making it obvious.  Maybe they mean to make a surprise assault on the other camp?

"Let's slip away now," Tristan says, and darts out of the tent, staying down as low as he can.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 126):

A couple of frogs see you. But they pay you little heed.  They seem to be gathering near their front lines.

As you and Conroad, rush along the outskirts of the camp, there's a sudden commotion from the soldiers.  Several of them are pointing at the skies.

The air is filled with birds!

Terns.  Puffins.  Seagulls.  Every kind of bird you can imagine.  The sky seems to be filling up with them.

One of the soldiers yells out in a panic, "What are they doing here?  I thought their King had been captured!"

The birds start diving in waves into both camps.

Seems the frogs have a new enemy now.  Birds are starting to dive bomb everyone.

Make me a Stealth/Qik check please.  And it is a stress roll, so reroll any 1s or 0s you roll

Thanks

13:05, Today: Tristan rolled 8 using 1d10+1.  Qik.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 128):

I think that's your best roll all game

You and Conrad scurry out of the camp as the great flock of birds descends.

The frogs begin to shout and panic.  They lob spears upwards but the birds cover the land like some Biblical plague covered Egypt.  The birds are soon among the soldiers, skewering them with beaks.  Raking them with claws.

You hear one of the birds scream, "Find the Boy!  Find the one who threw away our King!"

Conrad grabs you and rushes away as fast as he can.  Luckily the birds seem too intent on tearing apart the frogs to pay you two much mind.

Conrad throws the two of you around the side of a boulder as far away from the camps as he can.  He sets you down, leans over, gasping for breath.  "Thanks.  Thanks for coming for me.

"Any idea who we get out of here?"

Their king?  Holy shit-covered relics!  "That's a good question," Tristan says as he struggles to catch his breath. "At the moment, the answer is no.  Let me think on it."

In reply to Tristan (msg # 130):

You look around, trying to get an idea...

Let's leave it up to fate.  Roll me an Per check or an Int/Awareness.  Your call

16:11, Today: Tristan rolled 1 using 1d10-1.  Int/awareness.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 132):

You have no idea what to do.  You thought you were at the bottom of a creek.  But the sky up there looks like a sky.  There are birds here.  This place makes no sense.

Conrad scratches his head.  "Well.  Master will come looking for us at some point.  You're his student after all.  It's just a matter of when.

"We should find somewhere to hide I guess.  Let's wait for Master."

Glancing around, you can see two options.  There's a small stand of trees off to your east.  And you think there's a small cave off to your south.

Of course, you can just keep walking.  I mean...you'll end up somewhere if you just keep walking.  Right?

“Let’s head to the cave,” Tristan says.  “And I don’t know if my master will come for us or not.  We may have to handle this on our own.”

On my own, he corrects silently.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 134):

Conrad nods and follows along.  When you get to the cave, he motions for you to hold up, and goes inside first.  He comes back quickly and waves for you to follow him in.

The cave is much larger than it appeared on the outside.  Much, much larger.

Conrad points towards the back.  "We can wait here.  Or see how far back this goes.  What do you want to do Young Master?"

“Let’s explore it.  I don’t like not knowing what we’re sharing a cave with.”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 136):

The cave dips low into the earth, and then starts to rise.  Soon the two of you are scrabbling up an incline.

The passage seems to get narrower and narrower.  The candle Conrad is carrying is only providing feeble light.  So the going is tough.

Ahead, it looks like the passage may narrow so much you aren't sure Conrad can get through it.  But...

Is that daylight up there?  You can't tell from here.

The passage is getting too narrow for Conrad.  It has been rising upwards.  You may...may...be seeing daylight ahead.

What would you like to do?

Tristan tells Conrad to wait while he explores the narrowing passage on his own.  He then proceeds with caution.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 138):

At the top of incline, the passage seems to open outside.  But the outside looks funny.  Like you're staring into a pool of water.

Reaching out, you actually touch water.  The cave seems to lead upwards and arrives at the underside of the stream.  If you leave the cave, you will come up out of the stream bed into the stream itself.

Tristan comes back down.  “It leads to the bottom of the stream.  See if you can make it through.”

In reply to Tristan (msg # 140):

Conrad tries scurrying up the incline.  He looks back at you.  "I think I can dig enough to where I can get out.  But it's gonna take me some time.  Go ahead.  Tell Master that I'm here.  He'll know what to do."

"No, you first.  I'm in command here.  I'm not returning until this mission has been completed."

In reply to Tristan (msg # 142):

Conrad blinks at you, and then chuckles.  "As you command Young Master."

The two of you start to dig...

At first it just feels like rain.  Big drops of water fall down and slowly start to soak your shirt.

But then the water just suddenly rushes in.  Conrad grabs your arm and hauls you upwards.  You think you hear him shout for you to hold your breath, but you do so without him having to yell about it.

Soon, he's pulling you up and then the two of you come staggering out of the brook, panting.

The sun's gone down.  The night is much colder than you expected.  Thankfully, there's a campfire nearby.  A grog from the covenant is standing by the fire, gaping at the two of you.

He stammers and then crosses himself.  "Corr!  That you Conrad?"

"Course it's me Nolan.  Do I look like The Pope?"

Nolan stammers a bit more, his eyes cutting back from you to Conrad and back to you again.

The chill is really getting into you now.  Your breath is making a cloud right before your face.

It's spring.  Why is it this cold?

Nolan gestures at the fire.  "Ah...get warm.  Then we can go back.  Everyone's been waiting for you two.  Been waiting quite the while.  I'll go run an' tell 'em!  Here's a blanket!  I'll get stew!  Get warm!"

He says a few more meaningless things and scurries off.  Conrad huddles with you before the fire.

Soon one of the turb officers comes with a few more men.  You're taken back and given warm broth and hot milk.

Going to pause here.  Let's talk about experience.

First, take 4 XP to spend as you like.

Second, you have earned the ire of a bird.  And quite an important one too.  Do you want to consider turning that into a story flaw for Tristan?

Sounds as good a story flaw as anything.

I’ll soon figure out how to spend that XP.  Fun adventure, btw.

In reply to Tristan (msg # 144):

Thanks.  That one was fun.

I'm going to be travelling this week, so let's start new thread next week.

We also need to discuss how you'll spend your seasonal studies

Thanks

After that adventure, Tristan is intensely interested in learning how to sneak around.