[The usual introductions and the beginning of Adolph’s usual habits of on-again off-again attendance. We recap for PPA who missed due to a mistaken time zone issue. ]
Ken (GM) WHERE LAST WE LEFT OUR HEROS…
The great demon tree He That Grows was slain, and the monument of Horns put back to rest. A great battle fought and won, but the rain falls on the heroes and slain alike. Chill winds blow from the forbidden lands of Gorgoth, and tidings of death roll on the airs…
Your group has rested, recuperated, and bandaged all wounds. Your goal still lies ahead: The Ruins of Glardenfen, and the Magical resonance emanating from there. A fort, a bastion, and a target.
12:19 Suðri Skornbrekker: “I thought we were going to fight a simple war, not stem against the brimming gates of the underworld.”
Suðri Skornbrekker sits down and takes a breather
12:21 Falkirk: “Looks like we won’t be getting much light today, we should move.”
12:22 Gray: “We have learned much. This corruption.. ” Gray watches the dead plant a moment and shakes his head as if to clear it. “That’s wise. Let’s get to the ruins and find somewhere to stay tonight.”
12:22 Ken (GM): Bomrek: “Aye Suðri , pack the guns and stow the cannons. We should bring the fight to the Beastmen now!”
Suðri Skornbrekker uses his bardiche to lift himself up again and stretches his back.
12:23 Ken (GM): Aachen: “The Ruins are a short ride from here, just in the edge of the foothills South. The road trail will lead us right to the gates”
Falkirk stows his medical supplies, carefully loading up his new sample vials
12:24 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Praise to our alchemists—knowing that we can unleash our own kind of hell upon any hellspawn we might yet encounter.”
12:24 Ken (GM): (Other than gather your things and make ready to go, anything in particular you guys need to get out of the way?)
Suðri Skornbrekker backs up the cannons, packs the horses, etc.
12:25 Joush M.: Gray will take the chance to look more closely at the statue. Anything noteworthy about it?
Falkirk stretches and twists his upper body, muttering about his back
12:26 Ken (GM): The Statue has been marred a touch; where the Gray blade would be held upright, instead, the hand is holding a wad of burned out gore, now. Otherwise it seems untouched. Aachen and Falkirk removed the unholy effigies at it’s base, and it shimmers in the rain.
Gray spends only a moment longer considering the statue before he returns to the others and gets ready to move. The dark haired brute settling his armor and standing in the cold rain with the others.
Suðri Skornbrekker looks scornfully at the pile of horrors in the statue’s hand, and curses that there is not enough time to try and remove it.
12:28 (GM To P.P. A.): did you want to try and remove that? between your bardiche and some poking, you could probably dislodge the mess
12:28 (From P.P. A.): oh, it’s not that high up? ok
Suðri Skornbrekker grumbles, turns around, and pokes around with his bardiche
Falkirk hops up into his saddle, pulling his robes rightly around himself
12:29 Falkirk: “We’ve wasted enough time, let us continue”
Suðri Skornbrekker tries to tear the pile of gore from the statue, and ideally won’t allow it to land on his head
Ken (GM) with a few quick jabs, the scorched mess crumbles to the touch of the bardiche. The hand of the statue is stained, but still intact. As the bits of detritus fall, a gleaming thing tumbles down to the ground from the height. It shines golden in the scant light, and flashes ruby red as it falls
Ken (GM) It lands with a THUNK in the mud below the statue
Suðri Skornbrekker takes a cautious step back rather than making an effort to catch it, and approaches it at a safe distance once it’s come down.
Gray nods to the dwarf. “Cleverly done. Your prize, I think.” He complements the man’s cleverness for searching the pile of offal.
12:32 Ken (GM): The thing seems to be a small statuette of a snake; a cobra, coiled on itself, hood open, ready to strike with bared fangs. It’s eyes are small bright rubies, glittering back at you. It’s about the size of both your fists together, and looks to be made of some shining golden brassy metal
Suðri Skornbrekker grabs it behind the snake’s head, as thought it was a live snake—given that, for all he knows and all he’s seen recently, it might as well spring to life.
12:34 Ken (GM): the statue remains quite still in your hand as you heft it. It weighs about 5 pounds
Suðri Skornbrekker nods to Grey, uses his bardiche to shove the mess on the ground away from the platform into the grass, and heads towards his horse, statue in hand.
12:35 (GM To Falkirk): Congrats, you passed a secret roll versus Occultism. He’s holding a demonic effigy of one of the Lords Of Night)
Falkirk looks over at Suori and frowns
12:36 (GM To Falkirk): Apep, maybe, but the imagery is very clear, even from here
12:36 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Doctor,” he addresses Falkirk as he passes by him, “could this be a clue as to who’s behind this?”
“And, uh, is it safe?”
12:36 Falkirk: “Safe? That, master dwarf, is a demonic effigy.”
Gray looks at the strange ring, the vicious snake with it’s ruby eyes. At last turning to walk back to the others and the horses, patting their necks and letting Suori do the talking.
12:37 Falkirk: “I think it would be best if I take charge of it, aye?”
Suðri Skornbrekker ‘s eyes open a little and he hands it over.
12:38 (From Falkirk): I’d like to take a closer look, see what I can see and determine the implications of it. Occultism?
Falkirk frowns as he examines the snake with two hands.
12:39 Suðri Skornbrekker: “If it happens to fetch a demonic price, though, remember who it was that found it,” he snarks.
12:39 (GM To Falkirk): Roll vs Perception +magic talent first please! As he hands over the item, you sense a deep power welled within
12:39 (From Falkirk): 3v11 Mage PER
12:39 Ken (GM): NICE
12:39 (From Falkirk): wew
12:40 (GM To Falkirk): A dark and powerful presence touches upon your mind for a moment; You see it immediately for what it is, Another wizard attempting to contact your mind and touch upon your power!
12:40 (From Falkirk): So what are my options?
12:40 (GM To Falkirk): You can break the intrusion immediately if you wish, or try to force your will back upon them
12:41 Ken (GM): A strange look passes over the wizards face, as the statue is placed in his hands
Gray looks to the demonic effigy. “Not like the blood deamon Ulm summoned.” He comments, starting to walk. “I’ll be happy to be rid of this place”
12:41 (From Falkirk): I think I’ll lose, but there’s a good chance I’ll learn something important. I’ll give it a go.
Falkirk frowns as he grips the statue, his eyes closed
Gray frowns more to Falkirk. “Is something wrong, physician?”
12:41 (GM To Falkirk): Will plus Magic Talent please (should also be 11)
12:42 (From Falkirk): 11v11
12:42 Ken (GM): woo!
rolling (3d6)vs 14 (1+6+5) = 12 opposed roll
12:43 (GM To Falkirk): The mind on the other side attempts to shield itself! The foreign mind defends (beat +0 by +2), and then breaks the link. You feel no further malevolence now. The power is gone from the device
Falkirk wordlessly frowns harder, knuckles whitening. He then sighs deeply and loosens his grasp on the statue
Suðri Skornbrekker is worried
12:44 (GM To Falkirk): But you have a clear picture in your mind, of a woman’s face, clad in fine silks and bowed in concentration…and quite afraid of you
12:44 Falkirk: “Aye… this will perhaps fetch a pretty penny.”
Falkirk takes a breath and wipes his head with a handkerchief
Suðri Skornbrekker is no longer worried
12:44 Falkirk: “We’ll sell it in the next town. You’ll get your share.”
Suðri Skornbrekker smirks
12:46 Ken (GM): Aachen makes sure the group is all settled in their saddles, does a quick once over of packs, adjusting belts here and there, and mounts his sodden horse
12:46 Ken (GM): “We ride!” he WHOOP!’s, and the horses all kick forward, to the Ruins of Glardenfen
Gray frowns a moment, then shakes his head and puts it aside to focus on the trip, walking with the others as they ride in the rain.
Ken (GM) the rain falls steadily as your steeds trot into the hills South of the monument. The road comes and goes in swathes of grasses, the ancient flagstones steadily falling away below you in the gloom
As morning passes along, the hills abruptly begin to rise from the countryside around you. Bare earth gives way to black stone and gravel, and the road starkly contrasts with it’s clear flat surface. The land about you seems dead. Black and barren. Scrub barely holds purchase, and rivulets of grey and black mud seep along in the downpour
You can feel a tingle on your back, and unsteady feeling in your gut; This is surely the Forbidden Kingdom of Gorgoth. No mistaking it.
Gray leads the horses carefully, watching the beast footing and not pushing them hard in the poor conditions as he often scents the air and stops a moment to search the areas around them. He expects danger, perhaps attack.
Falkirk pulls his hood and robes tighter still, face hidden in shadow.
12:51 (GM To Gray): Survival -2 please (defaulting from your woodlands to hills)
12:52 (GM To Falkirk): Through the steady cold rain, the warmth of the seeking stone seems to remain a steady embrace, even through your cloak
12:53 Gray: rolling 3d6 (3+5+3)= 11 vs Survival 10
Ken (GM) Aachen leads a steady pace along the trail, picking around thorny thickets, and steering clear of washed out sections of trail
12:55 (GM To Gray): You find the occasional marking on the trail, as if it has been cleared recently for use. Cut scrubs tossed back into a ditch, or scree thrown clear of the roadway. You cant tell who has done it, in the washing rain, but the road looks like it is being used. And has been used recently
Ken (GM) as the miles go on, Gray scouts ahead and above around you, watching the roadway for enemies near and far
Gray looks down to the trail and speaks to the others as they go. “We aren’t the first to use this trail. It’s been cleared back and there’s been traffic.” He lifts the cut branches of a bush that otherwise would have grown across the path, tossing them back to the side of the road.
12:58 Falkirk: “The elves patrol these parts, no?”
12:59 Ken (GM): Aachen calls for the party to slow, so you can speak “Not this far East, I’m afraid. And the Outlanders don’t make a habit of clearing the road to the Ruins anymore. That evidence sounds like we have company ahead”
Gray admits to the older man. “I don’t know. I can’t tell who used the road. Only that it’s been used” Then a growl of disapproval at Aachen’s words, the brute nodding. “We should be alert.”
1:00 Falkirk: “How far to the ruins?”
1:02 Ken (GM): Aachen: “Very near now; over one of the next hills should be a green plain and the towers. These hills rise to a well-defensible hilltop. We’re maybe less than an hour out. If it was clear we could probably see the peak of the tower”
1:02 Falkirk: “We should slow our pace and travel quiet and vigilant then. No sense in walking into an ambush this close to our goal.”
1:03 Ken (GM): Bomrek pipes up “Well if the ruins are occupied, we could be walking into a trap, sir! bushes on the steppe and cleared trails imply an enemy presence! The soldier in me speaks to not being the victim of an ambush”
Suðri Skornbrekker agrees.
1:05 Ken (GM): Aachen considers a moment “I agree; we shouldn’t approach them head on if we can avoid it.”
Gray nods and considers a moment. “We could leave the horses and go ahead to scout the ruins quietly.”
1:05 Suðri Skornbrekker: “It seems like a given that the tower is occupied at this point. Are there any other sites nearby where we could camp for the night instead, approach in the morning?”
1:06 Falkirk: “Aye. There’s no sense in mounting an attack when we’re halfway dead already.”
1:07 Ken (GM): Aachen” You’ll forgive me Suðri; its been years since I was last near the ruins at all.” He pauses, considers the surroundings “There should be caves west of the ruins, down in the hills some ways. They could make for a shelter of sorts, and could hide us from anything patrolling the area. But be alert; signs are pointing to this being much less easy than the Marshall’s ever implied”
Gray frowns at the older man. “The trip has wearied you that much?” Asks the huge beast, studying Falkirk a moment then nodding to the elf commander. “Sounds ideal. Once we are settled we can scout the area. …If the caves aren’t occupied as well”
Falkirk turns, face concealed behind his hood
Ken (GM) Aachen dismounts, draws his sword, and leads your group into the hills West, off the road. Picking a path his horse can still navigate, but eyes alert for danger in the darkness
1:09 Falkirk: “Perhaps I don’t have a beast’s stamina, I should also point out that shaping the fundamental forces of reality is no easy task.”
Falkirk climbs down from his horse and follows
1:10 Ken (GM): Gray! A Hiking roll please (for scouting in the hills) and I’ll roll for Aachen leading you guys to a safe place
1:10 Falkirk: “Not like I should expect one such as you to understand this.” he half-mutters
1:10 Ken (GM): rolling 3d6 (1+4+1)= 6 woo!
1:11 Gray: rolling 3d6 (3+2+3)= 8
1:11 Joush M.: Not as good as elf boy, but still a solid success.
1:11 Ken (GM): You pick along like a mountain shepherd, leading the flock deep into the hills
Between yourself and Aachen, you soon find the caves he spoke of; the hillsides falling away to gullies and short valleys, but on the wall of one sharp cliff you find deep caverns running down into the earth.
The cave Aachen leads you to is dry inside, and has a cleared floor and defensible entrance. Aachen lights a small lantern from his pack, and leads the group inside, horses included
Gray looks around the cave, searching to make sure it’s empty and secure before he turns back to the horses to brush down and unload them.
1:15 Ken (GM): The walls are a black, soft stone, and the floor is a sand and gravel surface. Very smooth. No signs of animal dens or nests, no other trails in or out of it. Even with the horses inside, it should be comfortable for all
1:15 Suðri Skornbrekker: “I feel at one with my ancestors,” Suðri cheerfully exclaims. “As masterful as masonry may be, it is nothing compared to nature’s spires towering to the heavens, or her catacombs crawling deeper than any pickaxe has ever struck—well, any pickaxe other than a dwarf’s.”
1:16 Ken (GM): Bomrek practically beams “We’ve found a blessing of the Fathers here! Its a regular dwarf cottage in here!”
1:16 P.P. A.: >cave-mind
Falkirk shakes his sodden robes, and sits cross-legged.
1:17 Ken (GM): Aachen” I think we can risk a small fire here; the smoke will disappear in the rain, and if we keep it back, it shouldn’t reveal our position”
Bomrek immediately sets about making such a fire, and warming himself with it
Aachen “Suðri, could you be a good friend, and setup one of the cannons, aimed at the entrance? Just in case we need it?”
1:19 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Gladly.” And do so he does, making sure it is dry and affixed tightly.
Falkirk sits, holding the smaller of the magical artifacts he collected this journey, carefully studying the small stone.
Gray finishes brushing down the horses and dries his own clothing, at least his surcoat. He doesn’t mind the cave but he’s still a touch restless.
1:21 (GM To Suðri Skornbrekker): Roll vs IQ gunner(cannon) for me?
1:21 Suðri Skornbrekker: 16v11
1:21 P.P. A.: welp
1:22 Ken (GM): welp
1:22 (GM To Falkirk): The stone cave gleams in the firelight. Glints of something else shimmer in it’s depths, like an opal catching the sun, as it gathers the firelight. The warmth from the fire pales in comparison to the thrum of magical power you feel in the stone. Roll vs PER+Magery please?
1:22 (From Falkirk): 8v11 Mage PER
1:22 Ken (GM): The cannon gets setup very nicely, aimed right for the doorway. *conspicuous wink*
1:23 Falkirk: the dice gods are being kind today
P.P. A. nervous grin
1:24 (GM To Falkirk): There is a depth of power in the Speaking stone; As you probe it’s aura, you feel that wellspring reach out to you as well. You find your own fatigue washing away, receding from the power you feel in the stone. Like a warm sunny day you are feeling regenerated. [You have 3 fatigue returned to you in the scant 15 minutes you have been meditating with the stone]
1:25 Ken (GM): Bomrek beckons Suðri back to the fire to enjoy some of his final roasted bread rations. ‘Blackened, like it should be’
1:26 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Too bad about the horse.”
Suðri Skornbrekker eats.
Falkirk puts away the stone, and stands seeming refreshed. He pulls out a hunk of his own bread, slightly stale and takes a bite.
1:28 Ken (GM): Bomrek” Aye, spoiled the meat, what bein’ sucked dry by the devil there” his face sour a moment, but nearly pouting “Could have been good roasted, that”
Suðri Skornbrekker eventually addresses Gray: “Though you may look like a beast, and fight like one, you also battle with courage and with honor, the likes of which are rare in man.Though truth be told, it still feels strange to be around you, it would feel worse not to have you among us.”
Gray nods in agreement, scowling a touch at the memory of the blood deamon.. surprised by the words from Suðri then, his gaze turns to the dwarf and he nods. “Thank you.. I.. Wouldn’t have expected such words, from a dwarf. You’ve fought well, and bravely.”
1:30 Ken (GM): Aachen raises an eyebrow “High praise Master Gray; he nearly complimented you there”
1:30 Falkirk: “Over-consumption of phlogiston is terrible for one’s body. As with all things, food must be a balance.” Falkirk nods slightly as he speaks
1:31 Ken (GM): Aachen looks at his dried meat, and back at Falkirk “Should I be worried on the phlostigen content in this then?
Suðri Skornbrekker had reflected on Gray mercy-killing the Beastmen earlier, before the blood demon could have gotten to it, and how he flung himself at the plant when Falkirk was in danger.
1:32 Falkirk: “Phlogiston is dissipated through etherous water in the very air, it’s only of concern with food cooked recently over a fire.”
Falkirk takes another bite of bread
1:32 Falkirk: “Medically speaking, of course.”
1:32 Ken (GM): “Ah. right” blank look from the Elf
“Speaking of Beastmen, however” Bomrek pipes up from behind his pipe “Did our prisoner ever awaken? or is he still out cold? I haven’t checked since before mid-morning”
Gray drags a hand though his hair and nods to Aachen, seeming surprised at the words and almost chuckling. The dark haired beast prowling, thinking of the others and more relaxed and at home among them. The question seems to remind him of the prisoner. “Physician, Do you feel ready to check on him?”
1:35 Falkirk: “Aye, I suppose I should.”
Falkirk finishes his dry bread before slowly standing up and heading to the prisoner.
Ken (GM) the Beastman, minus a leg, has been dropped from the horse and propped against the wall nearby, over by the corralled horses. He smells clearly of offal and unwashed everything, here in the cave, no escape for the odor. He is still unconscious, still bound, and lies limp on the ground
1:36 Falkirk: I’d like to roll through the standard procedure, starting with an examination. Diagnosis?
1:36 Ken (GM): yus, please
1:37 Falkirk: 8v11 (-2, nonhuman) Diagnosis
1:37 P.P. A.: [“Doctor, my left leg feels a little numb.”]
1:38 (GM To Falkirk): steady pulse, no undue flush or signs of infection. His magically closed leg wound is not torn or breached otherwise. He is still recovering from his wounds, and hasn’t taken chill from the travel.
Falkirk frowns
Gray winkles his nose a touch and stays by. There’s no need to provide security to the doctor with the helpless patient, so mostly he watches out of the opening of the cave.
Ken (GM) thunder rolls, and the rain falls steadily outside. The gulley outside gurgles hungrily as the rainwater rushes.
Falkirk pauses for a moment before pulling out his knife, and gently prods the beast’s attached leg, aiming to draw blood
1:41 (GM To Falkirk): the leg twitches in the normal response, and blood trickles from the shallow wound. The Beastman snarls in response, and bleary unfocused eyes flutter open for a few moments before falling closed again
1:41 (GM To Falkirk): the blood is a deep red, but upon inspection shows no sign of the black ichor of BlackRot
Falkirk nods, wiping the blade on his sleeve, and stands up
1:42 Falkirk: “It’s alive, just exhausted.”
Falkirk moves to where he previously was, sits cross legged and opens a medical journal
1:44 Ken (GM): Aachen” Good; let me know when it’s awake. We need information if we’re going to assault an occupied camp in those Ruins”
(Any immediate needs to be tended to from you guys? Or are we just camping until rested here?)
1:45 Falkirk: Camping, resting
1:45 Ken (GM): Bomrek will, again, clean and dry-load his gun barrels. Very studious of him
Horsa broods quietly in the corner, sad faced and sullen.
1:46 Joush M.: Resting I think. Gray kind of wants to go exploring but he’s resisting the temptation
1:46 Falkirk: also reading I guess, but that’s a given for the good doctor
1:47 Ken (GM): Suðri ?
Suðri Skornbrekker is tending to his guns as well, and looking around the immediate surroundings in the cave; also talking to Bomrek a little about how to operate cannons, and then put some points into that skill before the next session
1:48 Ken (GM): If you have the points spare now? Feel free. 1 or 2 point investment? totally in line with the game and your previous background so far
1:49 P.P. A.: [I still have something like 13 unspent points]
but!
Suðri pokes about in the cavern…
1:50 (GM To Suðri Skornbrekker): You notice, upon quiet inspection of the cavern, some vines growing through the earthen roof in a far corner. The roots are thick and sturdy…but then again, the area seems sparse of any other heavy vegetation. Prodding, you find they are rubbery, and yielding… just like the red roots of the BloodVine back at the statue!
Suðri Skornbrekker remembers the spot and hurries back to his comrades.
1:52 Suðri Skornbrekker: “We might be sharing this cave with more than just mold and moss. There’s a vine over there just like the ones we saw—and fought—at the statue.”
1:53 Ken (GM): dun dun dunnnnn!
Falkirk pauses, turning to the elf
Gray turns and draws his sword, nodding to Suðri. Wordless, but there’s respect for the dwarf’s observation and scouting. Spotting something like that might save their lives.
1:54 Falkirk: “How busy are these caves for say… extra-planar demonic visitors?”
1:54 Ken (GM): Aachen “I wouldn’t know, but lets check it out ” He turns to follow Suðri with his sword
Suðri Skornbrekker grabs his weapons and dons his helmet, then leads the way.
1:55 Ken (GM): Aachen follows, and lifts his lantern to reveal the roof
Falkirk follows with a sigh, packing his book away
Ken (GM) a web of red roots crawl upon the surface of the cave here, finding purchase on the black stone. They seem to be invading from an earthen part of the roof here, from the hillside above
1:57 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Should we go outside and see what’s above this cave?”
Gray considers that. “A battle with another monster like that might draw attention from the tower. We can’t kill the roots from here?” He sounds disgusted by the crawling red roots.
Bomrek sighs “At least we had a hot meal before dealing with another of these things”
1:58 (GM To Falkirk): PERception roll?
1:59 (From Falkirk): 9v10 PER
2:00 (GM To Falkirk): these roots are not throbbing; the ones back at the statue pulsed with life, and seemed to reach and grasp. This root? Its still. Just hanging there
Falkirk approaches the root, frowning
2:01 Falkirk: “They’re not moving.” He says this plainly, as if he were talking about tree branches on a wind-free summer day.
Gray isn’t so large compared to an ogre like Ulm, but beside Dwarves and Men the seven feet and more of grim Beastmen looms, even as they glare at the vines in the l plight. “Not animated by the same foul powers as the last one. But the same repulsive breed of plant?”
“Interesting” says Aachen dryly” but what the hells are you talking about?”
Gray ask Falkirk. “Can we cut it away?”
2:03 Falkirk: “These roots are not moving. Whether that means the beast is dead, sleeping or dormant in some way, I cannot say.”
2:03 Suðri Skornbrekker: “But these are of the same kind of beast we fought, are they not?”
2:03 Falkirk: “Perhaps this is part of an ambush technique to lure unwitting meat-creatures closer.”
Falkirk considers this for a moment
2:04 Falkirk: “I would have to say yes, though it’s unusual. What we met before was hardly a common sight. I fear for our safety if these aberrations are now considered to be among the native fauna.”
Bomrek, uneasy at the entire discussion asks “Can we just stab it, and see what happens? Maybe cut the heart out again, like you did before doctor?”
Gray nods in grim agreement with the doctor, a brief scowl on those rough and lupine features as he considers the eerie vines crawling across buildings and trees like some kind of demonic kudzu. He resists the urge to impulsively slash it. Trusting the doctor to pick what to do with the thing.
Ken (GM) throughout the discussion, the vine does nothing.
Falkirk frowns, his face a mask showing little emotion.
2:08 Falkirk: “Turn that cannon around. If this thing rears up, we must be ready to put it right back into the ground.”
Bomrek hups-to, and prods Suðri to helping him move the cannon
Gray nods and goes to unlimber the other gun, loading it and checking it before settling it on it’s rack to cover the entrance.
[Suðri Skornbrekker puts two of his 17 points (wew lad) into Gunner(Cannon) for a skill of 13]
2:09 Ken (GM): nice, approved 🙂
Aachen: “Gray, Suðri , would one of you like the honors of prodding it?”
Suðri Skornbrekker helps move the cannon and his player is relieved that that previous roll didn’t have any negative consequences
Falkirk nods in approval of this decision, and walks behind the cannons to ensure the previous fight doesn’t repeat itself
2:11 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Very well!” And the dwarf takes out his bardiche to prod
2:12 Ken (GM): Bomrek waves you off, taking aim with the gun on the vine cluster
Ken (GM) the web of bright red vines spirals out of the roof like a spiders home, clustered around a central lump in the ceiling
Suðri Skornbrekker hacks at the vine, attempting a clear cut: 13v14 Polearm
2:14 Ken (GM): The bardiche sinks deep into the soft earthen ceiling; a shower of dirt and soil falls to the floor below, jets of wet red plant-blood falling in a stream. The roots fall about you, detached from the central stalk.
Falkirk narrows his eyes, looking for traces of black
2:14 Ken (GM): With a wet PLOP the central stalk falls from the roof in a miserable pile
In the lanternlight, nothing stirs. Small rivulets of sand and earth fall from above, but the plant is still. It leaks a thin, watery red liquid from the blade mark.
2:16 Falkirk: “Looks like we’re good to go.”
2:16 (GM To Falkirk): You notice no gem-like heart at the center of this plant. And the ‘blood’ is markedly different. More like a rusty cactus water than blood
Gray stands ready, watching it a long moment then relaxing just a touch. He steps forward to jab it with his sword, planning to get it outside the cave.
2:17 Ken (GM): SHUNK; it is skewered on grays sword
Gray cast it outside, done for now with their grim gardening.
2:17 Ken (GM): it falls into the creek outside, quickly washed away like so much compost. You find no other strange outcroppings or growths in the cave. Aside from the leaking vines, nothing else grows in here
Aachen” I swear, if I retire, I will never grow a garden as long as I live”
Gray shakes his head. “Don’t be so quick to swear. Fresh herbs and bright flowers outside a cottage are far from those unholy things.. I haven’t seen the blood deamon or Ulm again.”
Bomrek seems crestfallen, disappointed he didn’t fire the cannon
Horsa quietly broods
2:21 Falkirk: “This must be a native plant. I suppose the eater-of-flesh (or whatever he named himself ) had somehow possessed some of this plant matter.”
2:21 Falkirk: “That’s interesting,” he muses.
2:22 Ken (GM): Intradesting?
2:23 Falkirk: Indredressing
Suðri Skornbrekker nods
2:25 Ken (GM): (alright then, with the inert Blood Root dispatched, it seems you again are alone and safe in your cave. Rest until morning? Stay dry? )
2:25 Falkirk: Rest and hope the rain fucks off
2:25 P.P. A.: aye
2:25 Joush M.: Sounds good. Gray’s going to keep an eye out and head a little out of the cave, but he won’t go far. Make sure nothing’s sneaking up on them, do guard duty, that sort of thing
2:26 Ken (GM): I’m gonna roll for Bomrek here, IQ gunner rolling 3d6 (4+4+6)= 14
2:26 Joush M.: (Keep an eye out for that blood deamon that vanished right before we started seeing blood vines.. just saying. Fuckking Ulm, man. Evil ogre )
2:26 Ken (GM): pfft, finally a match
Bomrek points out to you all “We’re sitting on gravel. Nice, even, smooth gravel. Perfect shotgun gravel” He scoops some together, picks out choice stones, and wraps up a paper load for one of the cannons “You can fuck up someone’s day quite nicely with a load like this. ”
Gray nods. “Won’t work as far as lead shot. I don’t know why.”
Bomrek : “Oh! it’s all about load dynamics and shot weight! ” Says dwarf says, cheerily “This stone is ideal for shot! Hard but not brittle!”
2:29 (GM To Suðri Skornbrekker): you realize now that the idea almost occurred to you as well, earlier. 😉 Successful GM induced paranoia
Gray doesn’t understand the greater density and lower surface area of uniform lead pellets is aerodynamically superior to loose rock. He looks blankly to the dwarf, then nods. “Good to have, then. We’ve been fighting at very close ranges”
Suðri Skornbrekker strokes his beard with a grin underneath. “Let’s give it a shot then, shall we.”
Gray chuckles, thinking Suðri was making a deliberate pun.
Suðri Skornbrekker was
2:31 Ken (GM): hah
rolling 1d6 (1) = 1
SO! picking and choosing stones, you find enough to pack at least one well-made shotgun blast for your cannons. The rest of the stones are too frangible or would simply be destroyed in the shot to be of use. but hey, go-go-scrounging dwarves! Did you guys want one cannon loaded shotgun already? or store it away for later?
2:33 P.P. A.: I’d say we load one
On the other hand, hmm
nah, rather not. It’d be more useful in an open field and the next battle is going to be at a hilly ruin
2:34 Ken (GM): righto; Aachen trusts the dwarves judgement
so!
The day draws to a close, and night falls. The rain dissipates some, trickling off to a thick mist and fog that rolls through the hills as the day falls to night. The dark is pervasive, and the glow of the moon is barely visible in the night sky. Darkness seeps into the countryside like an evil gloom
Then, as you fellows are packing in for the eve, a shriek pierces the night!
SCREEEEEEEEEEE
Suðri Skornbrekker sighs
Ken (GM) Like the rent of steel in a giants grasp, the sound echoes down the hillsides around you, tearing through the night! It falls away, as if passing by your cavern. When it sounds again, it is muffled, as if issued from the distance North
2:38 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Was that… the dragon?”
2:39 Falkirk: “Whatever it is, it won’t find us in here. I need my sleep.”
Suðri Skornbrekker nods and lays back down, wraps himself in his blanket to sleep again
Gray shakes his head, wincing at the overwhelming sound. In the darkness the Beastman’s amber eyes seem to shine and drink in every scrap of light from the moon and missing stars. The brute speaking softly. “I don’t know. I’d believe it was the dragon though.”
Aachen” I’ll be damned if there is anything else that makes that infernal noise. And considering how close we are to a suspected Beastmen camp…at the ruins…” he trails off, the implication clear
Gray uses some twine to hang a blanket in front of the cave opening. Not enough to block the smoke or air from outside, simply a visual obstruction so light from the fire doesn’t leak out. He calms the horses when the ‘dragon’ screams in the distance and nods in agreement with their elf commander. “Get what sleep you can. I’ll watch and wake you when it’s your turn.”
2:42 Ken (GM): “Very good. Make sure to choke it if it eats you” he says with a wink, turning over into his blanket
And so, night falls
2:43 (GM To Falkirk): Can you roll against 5 for me?
2:44 (From Falkirk): 3d6?
2:44 (GM To Falkirk): yep, just against 5
2:44 (From Falkirk): 12v5
2:44 Ken (GM): yay!
2:45 (GM To Falkirk): You are troubled with dark dreams, sinister cloying shadows and scaly coils entwining you. roll vs HT-10 please? (thats , I think, a 0 for you after all math?)
2:47 (From Falkirk): I’ve got Fit, does that get involved in this party?
2:47 (GM To Falkirk): yes; 9, +1 fit, -10 from the opposed roll you dropped 
2:47 (From Falkirk): 9v10
2:47 (GM To Falkirk): you failed by 9, they succeeded by 3 on the opposed roll here
Gray gets some sleep. [Time to buy off the Dislikes Dwarves quirk. Gray will replace it with Dislikes Blood Deamons]
Ken (GM) Morning rises, gray and misty again. The cloying grey tendrils of fog wash everything in colorless tones.
Falkirk seems all the worse for wear, as when the dawn breaks he wakes up SCREAMING
Gray goes to the old man immediately, frowning with concern and kneeling down beside him. “What’s wrong?” They’ve all got plenty to have nightmares about, but the old man seems fragile compared to the others.
Falkirk turns away, breathing deeply, though you see his face red and beaded with sweat
2:49 (GM To Falkirk): You have regained FP from resting, but your sleep was horrifying. You have a -1 FP from lost sleep, which can only be recovered with a good night. You’re also sure this wasn’t simply a natural nightmare. Most likely you were the victim of a magical assault.
2:50 Falkirk: “It’s… it’s nothing. I just… I just need some breakfast. Leave me be for a moment… if you would.”
Suðri Skornbrekker looks a bit concerned, but doesn’t say anything.
2:51 (GM To Falkirk): So cavalier, much brave, wow
2:52 Ken (GM): Aachen raises a dubious eyebrow” Nothing Master Falkirk? I havent seen someone rise in terror like that since…well…ever. You sure you’re fine?”
2:53 Falkirk: “An unsavoury dream is all it was, your concern is without cause. A classic symptom of sleeping with an excess of the sanguineous. Some cold food and a leeching will set me right.” Falkirk doesn’t get up for a good ten minutes, despite this protestation.
2:55 Ken (GM): Bomrek, Horsa, and Aachen go about repacking the campsite to the horses’ packs. They leave the wizard to his bed as instructed.
“I want to set out early” Declares the elf” We can probably catch them with their breakfast in the pan if we strike for the ruins this morning. They’re not a disciplined lot”
Gray frowns but rises from where he knelt. Letting the old man go, turning instead to return to the work of the morning. Calming the horses after the screams, and preparing something for breakfast.
2:56 Aachen: “Assuming we follow this gulley, If I recall, it meets up with the stream that encircles the ruins in a moat”
Gray nods to the elf. “As you like. That seems a good plan.”
2:57 Suðri Skornbrekker: “As long as it is no curse or anything of the sort…” the dwarf says to Falkirk, before helping the others with packing the horses and preparing to disembark
2:57 (GM To Falkirk): Reactions? Investigations? You were magically poked overnight
2:57 (From Falkirk): Sure thing, what would I roll?
Falkirk offers no reply, packing and mounting his horse
2:58 (GM To Falkirk): Thaumatology for sure, to piece together the exact nature of things. Other skills for follow-ups after.
2:58 (From Falkirk): 10v11 Thaumatology
2:59 (GM To Falkirk): On basic theory; you were caught at a major disadvantage while you slept. Assuming nobody had direct physical access to you overnight, this implies your assailant took magical avenues to reach you. Through one of your foci, or possibly through a life-channel (eg. your blood, which you’re sure nobody has) Simple deduction? You got hit with a whammy through your fancy new stone!
Gray doesn’t ask Falkirk if he’s ready for this, though he seems concerned about the physician’s condition. Breaking camp and getting ready to head out.
Falkirk produces the small stone again, weighing it up in his hand and thinking deeply now.
3:02 (GM To Falkirk): The familiar touch of the stones power greets you as you place it in hand.
3:04 Joush M.: [Gray looks at a book titled ‘How to tell when your wizard is corrupted by evil.’ A moment later he sighs. “I wish I knew how to read.” ]
3:04 Gandalf G.: hueh
3:04 P.P. A.: lel
3:04 Ken (GM): “None of you seem quite exactly Dragoons or Cavalry” Aachen offers, nonchalantly “Assuming we approached on foot through the gully, and left the horses behind, would you men be prepared to sneak in unawares? Take them from the moat?”
3:04 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Has our prisoner come to his senses?”
Bomrek prods him with his foot, eliciting a grunt of pain “Probably? But the wizard seems a bit preoccupied to play doctor, at the moment”
Gray shrugs to the elf. “Maybe. I can be quiet when I must, but I’m no out-lander, and I’ve learned not to rely on stalking.”
3:05 (GM To Falkirk): Stone is in hand; anything you wanna do to it, in particular?
3:05 Falkirk: “Preoccupied? Nonsense.”
3:06 (From Falkirk): I’d like to try casting my touch acid spell on it, see if it does anything.
3:08 (GM To Falkirk): You call up your magical power, and call your acidic touch to life. The stone sizzles in your hand, and it bubbling away just as fast. The stone itself seems totally unharmed from the caustic substance!
Ken (GM) Falkirks boils up with an acidic bile, and the Speaking stone in his grasp froths and bubbles in his grasp!
3:09 (GM To Falkirk): Soon, the stone stops reacting to the acid, scoured clean and shining in your hand. Spic and span!
Falkirk nods slowly, seems satisfied, and puts the small stone away.
3:09 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Doctor?!”
3:09 Falkirk: “Light’s ‘a-wasting, let’s get back to the road.”
3:09 Suðri Skornbrekker: “That… was supposed to happen?”
3:10 Gray: “Blight!” it’s not clear if it’s a description of the bile or simply a bit of profanity.
3:10 (GM To Falkirk): The stone again thrums with power, even through your pocket
3:10 Aachen: ”Uh… doctor? Were you planning on that happening?” He looks quite concerned
3:11 Falkirk: “Master Dwarf, if we were to sit here and explain every nuance of the supernatural, we’d make it to the ruins after the war had ended. Now let us make haste, as I said the sun will not shine down forever.”
Suðri Skornbrekker is definitely not satisfied with that explanation, and uneasily keeps quiet
3:12 “Right!” says Aachen, grinning, seemingly satisfied you have things under control” Can you possibly prod the Beastman into usefulness before we go? See if he has any trade secrets of the Beastmen stowed in his luggage?”
Gray disapproves of this, and the stone. For a moment he considers demanding Falkirk discard or destroy it before he reminds himself that the strange physician has so far been a faithful companion. He waits for the interrogation then, walking outside to look around the morning and try to spot the tower in the early mist.
3:16 Joush M.: [It’s like catnip for Falkirk. He loves that evil magical shit. ]
Falkirk approaches the aforementioned Beastman.
Ken (GM) the Beastman is still, curled up into a feeble attempt at a comfortable position. It seems he roused at least overnight.
3:16 (GM To Gray): The skies are overcast and lit a pale pink by the dawn. Cloying mists hang everywhere along the hills, so you will have the benefit of concealment if the mists do not burn away
3:16 (GM To Falkirk): The prisoner; typical assessment? He seems to be more active after a nights rest
3:17 (From Falkirk): How active
3:17 (GM To Falkirk): Well, he seems to have rolled over on his side overnight, and tucked into a kind of fetal position. So hes rested, moving. Probably recovered FP, some HP
Falkirk strolls over to the prisoner and gives him a prod with his food
3:18 Falkirk: foot*, even. Food remains in food pouch
3:18 Ken (GM): lol
3:18 Joush M.: Aww, I thought you might walk up and sandwich slap him.
3:18 Ken (GM): The Beastman grunts, and rouses, a deep growl curling out of him. He mutters darkly in his foreign tongue, behind squinting eyes
3:19 (GM To Falkirk): Old Gorgoth:“Cursed humans. Thin blooded pups”
Falkirk looks down and replies in part
3:20 (From Falkirk): Old Gorgoth “Your kind are like wheat before a scythe. I will give you one chance to leave this cave with your ‘thick blood’ still circulating.”
Ken (GM) the Beastman gets very quiet, and then answers curtly
3:21 (GM To Falkirk): “My lord will exult me in death, and smile upon me. Do your worst son-of-man”
Falkirk responds on a direct tone
3:24 (From Falkirk): “Your lord is not here, I AM . Do not pretend to embrace death, none of your kin are here for you. I have two questions, which if you answer to my satisfaction I will allow you to worm away from this place.”
Ken (GM) the Beastman stoically remains quiet, but seems to tremble a bit
3:25 Ken (GM): “Ask him of the Ruins,and if they indeed camp there” prods Aachen
3:26 Falkirk: “Aye, I was about to put it to the creature.”
Gray waits out the interrogation, wondering if he should try and learn that dark language. He fits in badly with humans, but worse among beasts.
Falkirk produces a knife from his robe
3:26 Ken (GM): ~Wizard knife!~
3:27 (From Falkirk): “I’m not going to haggle or make a deal with you. I’m presenting two options. You tell me what I’ll find at the ruins, or I kill you and leave you here. I would rather you told me, but killing you would be no great inconvenience.”
3:29 (GM To Falkirk): “You speak truth from the blood; you saved my leg when I fell. Ask then wizard, I will speak truth from my blood in return”
Ken (GM) the Beastman seems to answer the wizard, bearing his neck and facing you to continue the exchange
Falkirk steps forward, his bushy eyebrows frowning deeper
3:30 (From Falkirk): “The BlackRot that scourges your people as much as mine. Tell me what you know of it.”
3:33 (GM To Falkirk): The Beastman seems to grin when he answers from his misshapen muzzle “AH! You have found the dark blessing among your infernal people? It should have deep roots in them now. Speak to your blood and you should find the blessings all the sweeter, son of man. But speak to a priest to know more ”
3:33 (From Falkirk): “A priest of your kin?”
3:33 (GM To Falkirk): “I am a humble servant; you will know the priests from their great powers. They speak to the great ones, and invoke their will through us”
Falkirk continues the exchange
Ken (GM) the Beastman smiles a toothy smile as he speaks with Falkirk
3:34 (From Falkirk): “The second question. Glardenfen. It is fortified, yes? How many?”
3:35 (GM To Falkirk): He chuckles at your question “We are a horde, man, and we will fall upon you like the simple sheep you are. A score of my brothers lie in wait to spill your blood at the Cursed Fortress”
Ken (GM) The Beastman chuckles at the next question, grinning smugly as he answers
3:36 (GM To Falkirk): “And the mistress will have your bones for her windchimes, too ”
Falkirk perks up slightly as he answers
3:37 (From Falkirk): “The mistress. A woman in silks?”
3:38 (GM To Falkirk): “The very same. She will strangle you in her sweet embrace and drown you in your own blood, human” He spits in the direction of the group
The Beastman smiles sweetly, then spits in the direction of the group as he answers
Falkirk nods “I’ve learned all I can. This runt knows nothing of value.”
Bomrek angrily tightens his grip on his weapon, scowling
3:38 Falkirk: “He won’t get far with one leg, we can leave him.”
Gray nods to Falkirk and looks around the morning. “We should go before we lose the mist then. It’s the best cover we will get”
Suðri Skornbrekker grumbles
“agreed” responds Aachen “Gray, if you could ‘subdue’ him when we go, so he doesn’t call any undue attention?”
3:41 Falkirk: “Don’t kill the creature.”
“Allow me the honor sir!” Pipes up Bomrek, and he gives the Beastman a sharp rap about the head with the butt of his gun
rolling 3d6 (5+6+3)= 14 vs Brawling (+4 subdued target, etc.)
3:41 Falkirk: “Aye, that’ll work.”
3:41 Ken (GM): KONK; the Beastman slumps
3:41 Ken (GM): (Nothing like a concussion to stow away a prisoner)
Gray had reached for cord. “You could have simply bound him lightly. We need only buy an hour…” He puts away the line. “Let’s go.”
“He spat at us! It was disgusting!” argues Bomrek “Our honor was at stake” more quietly to himself more than anyone else in particular.
Gray nods. “How we treat prisoners is a matter of honor.”
Falkirk mounts the horse, wordless and deep in thought
[we break for the session; Adolph managed to sleep in and didn’t wake until nearly the end of the session. I filled him in on the particulars of the day, and the group debates the morality of abusing ‘inhuman’ prisoners. As well as debating the extremely biased definition of ‘human’ considering their party’s composition]
The Gaming Musings of a Mad GM 
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