CH. 04 - Written in Blood

[Bishgada]

While they ride to the Rattle Chispa ask Lady Dre, "You said you want to verify the people there are not in danger. Did you know these farmers by any chance? Do you know Kianna or maybe about the drowning or about this mind control thing they have?"

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

Vulpi will sit in the back right of the wagon, legs dangling overboard whittling a wyndling not avoiding people, but more just enjoying the countryside road

I am assuming the wagon is a covered wagon like american settler type wagon? these?
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/NarrowCoveredWagon_FEP.jpg/1280px-NarrowCoveredWagon_FEP.jpg

[Daos]

"I don't know this Kianna personally," Lady Dre answers Chispa.  "But I do business with a number of the farms on the Rattle.  I know little of myths and legends, either.  This is my first hearing of a cursed lake."

As they reached the wagon at the edge of town, Vulpi climbs in the back and the others make preparations to depart.  It's at this point a young man approaches.  He is human and wearing scholar's garbs--some kind of religious vestments, possibly.  Although small of stature and soft spoken, he has a sort of wisdom to his eyes that belies his youthful face.  "Greetings," he says to the group.  "I am Proclaimer Tungsten Ward.  I research magical manifestations across Godsbreath that may be signs of the gods' power--or challenges to it.  Having witnessed the attack and spoken with some of the locals in the aftermath, I would ask to join your expedition.  I hope to investigate what led to the farmers' strange behavior and determine whether it is linked to other misfortunes in the region, like the waning crop yields in the Ribbon.  Should the results be significant enough to weave into the Awakening Song, I can assure you that your group's names will feature prominently."

(OOC: The module doesn't specify what the wagon looks like, but sure, we can say it's covered.)

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

He says he witnessed the attack, does he look like anyone Vulpi saw around the time of the attack?

OOC I just realized that I didnt say vulpi and seeboe pick up their packs, but that seems like an assumed action, or do I need to say it each time?

[Igordragonian]

Zencho listen and feels bad for the girl
"The more the merrier." he greet Lady Dre and then Tungsten..

Tungsten's words wake him up a bit.
"Really?  I am in need for making a name for my family's honor."

[Daos]

Apr 24, 2024 5:20:25 GMT -8 sarcastiksh0rtee37 said:

He says he witnessed the attack, does he look like anyone Vulpi saw around the time of the attack?

OOC I just realized that I didnt say vulpi and seeboe pick up their packs, but that seems like an assumed action, or do I need to say it each time?

(OOC:  Make an INT check.  And yes, it would be a good idea to say they've picked it back up each time, to avoid confusion.  For this one time, we can retroactively say they picked them up after the fight.)

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

intelligence: 6SbFd23K1d20+2

OOC [picking up bags] Could I do it in the same post as dropping it? Like "Vulpi puts down their bag and will pick it back up at end of combat" so I dont have to worry about player memory as much1d20+2

[HorizonsDream]

"I wonder if anyone else is going to join us," Ha Yun says softly under her breath. She speaks up to the newcomer with a smile. "You're welcome to join us, Proclaimer Ward. Do you have any theories as to what might going on here?" she asks.

[Daos]

The fight had been rather chaotic, with folks running in panic in all directions, and Vulpi was mostly focused on the crazed farmers.  That said, they do recall someone matching Ward's description among those who were present when the fighting started.

"None at all," he says to Ha-Yun.  "But I am hoping to learn more on this expedition.  Until then, I'd rather not form any preconceived notions that might lead me astray."

==================

(OOC:  Wouldn't that basically render the entire encumbrance system moot?)

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

ooc: not necessarily, depends on your reason for choosing to have encumbrance. Is it to limit how much stuff characters can carry/furtherance of realism or is it to check how well your players remember things without cues (cues like visibly seeing the bag being there as the character would or starting to move but then realizing your movement is limited)? If it is to limit how much stuff characters can carry then it has no effect on the efficacy of the encumbrance system.

[Bishgada]

Chispa looks at the Proclaimer with suspicion, "Did you find any evidence for such powers already? Do you have such powers by any chance?" she asks, hoping to catch him by surprise in case he is the one who controlled the farmers. After his answer, in case it is not a disturbing one, Chispa turns to Lady Dre, "So what other stories have you heard about the Rattle?"

=====================
(OOC: Chispa will also take her backpacks)

[Daos]

Ward raises a brow at Chispa's question.  "You doubt the existence of the gods?  I can assure you they are quite real.  I have seen their power firsthand."

Lady Dre climbs into the wagon's driver seat and snaps the reins, starting their journey.  "Probably the biggest thing out there are the bulettes.  Ever heard of them?  Some folks call them 'land sharks.'  Giant beasts that burrow beneath the ground, and attack anyone who passes over them.  They can feel the vibrations of footsteps or any other noise, apparently."

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

"Is it possible to see where they are and avoid them? Such as do they only burrow when attacking so they themselves are visible? Or perhaps where they are there is a mound of disturbed dirt even if they had moved horizontally underground? Or is encountering them simply a roll of the dice?"

[Igordragonian]

Zencho sigh when ignored ironically by the one who might help him to get some respect from his family, but walk along and helps to carry bags if needed.

[HorizonsDream]

"So the farms have guards or something to protect them from the dangers of the Rattle," Ha Yun asks.