Date: Springwise 30, 1165
Weather: |-
Hot. Effect: Each Hiking player character must succeed with an Endurance roll every Quarter Day not to get Thirsty.
Rainfall: Clear skies. Effect: Lead The Way +1.
Force: None. Effect: Make Camp +1.Springrise 30, 1165
Came across a ravine cutting through the open plains. The river that had cut it had long since dried up. There was a great tree just about hanging on to the edge of the north side, was a pleasant place to shade and recuperate. After we’d been there a while, Warwick started to annoy me with his humming as usual. Turned out it wasn’t him, the tree itself was humming and singing.
Fucking weird!
Lore Wits x0 | l 2 x 0 | l 2 PUSH!
We couldn’t make out what it was actually singing, and neither of us really felt like hanging around, it was kinda creepy, so we packed up and got out of there.
Sharrow and Warwick peacefully walk along the plain, settle under a large tree on the edge of a ravine
SHARROW
What‘s that tune? Another ballad from that terrible bard you like in the pub?
WARWICK
Huh? What tune?
SHARROW
Your humming, is it some new fashionable song you are going to get in to my head?
WARWICK
Err, I’m not humming anything…
They both look around confused trying to hear where the tune is coming from. Eventually it dawns on Sharrow that it is coming from the tree that they are shading under.
SHARROW
What the…?!
She presses her ear to the bark of the tree. We hear a soft humming tune, with some not quite audible lyrics coming from within
SHARROW
It kinda sounds like it’s coming from inside the tree. Here, listen here
They both listen for a bit
SHARROW
You’ve got better hearing than me, can you make out what it’s singing?
Warwick strains, listening intently
WARWICK
No.
He listens again, a growing sense of unease spreading across his face
WARWICK
No. I can’t. Whatever it is, I don’t like it. Nothing good can come from this sort of weirdness. C’mon, finish up, let’s head off.
Sharrow nods. They both pack up and head away from the tree, Sharrow glancing back once, a curious look on her face.
A couple of hours trek south east we arrived at a tiny thorp, just a few houses, a mill and what looked like it was once a very nice manor. We had both been to Grimholt before, though usually we like to get through there quickly lest the mad old guy Arn starts ranting at you. We decided to risk it this time though and ask around if anyone had ever heard of the shrine.
We hung around the entrance to the mill, it being the only place these folk seemed to have to congregate (they really need an Inn!) making conversation for a couple of hours, trying to ascertain whether any of them head heard of the shrine.
Warwick Manipulation Empathy x1 | l 1 Manipulation x0 x 1 | l 1 PUSH!
Fate Chart Question will they offer the info freely? (Unlikely) Yes!
We were about to leave when one of them offered up a tale that their grandparents used to tell them.
Sharrow and Warwick looking despondent after a few hours spent fruitlessly trying to find out info at the entrance to the Mill, Warwick looking like he wants to die right now after being trapped in polite conversation with an old lady for a long time
WARWICK
Oh … really? That’s very interesting that your daughter is keen on the baker’s son…
Say, don’t suppose either of those know anything about the shrine of the Aslene do they?
OLD LADY
What?! No, of course they don’t. They couldn’t be trusted with that sort of knowledge yet, they still too young!
Warwick pays attention, quickly snapped out of his boredom as it sounds like she might know something about it
WARWICK
Oh? But you do?
OLD LADY
Well, of course dear. Well, I know the rumours like the other elders do. Passed down through our lines. Though whether they are anything more than tales … well?
The old lady shrugs, then looks off in to the distance as if lost in thought. Warwick looks on expectantly for few beats before insisting
WARWICK
Well? Any chance you could share that knowledge with us? We are are clearly responsible adventuring types, we can handle the burden of knowing these secrets, and who knows, we might even be able to find it and confirm the tales
The old lady looks unsure for a bit, then seems to come to a firm decision in her own mind
OLD LADY
Well, it looks like that daughter of mine or the skinny thing she has her eye on ain’t going to be getting to adventuring any time soon, so why not.
OLD LADY
As me old nan used to tell it, there’s a place the hunters never speak of any more. They say the sun sets twice there - once over the mountain, and then again in the reflection of a still black lake - but beware, only those who carry a burden heavier that their bow can find it…
The old lady goes quiet, seemingly given all she has to give. Warwick and Sharrow share are mutual look of confusion, both shrug at each other
SHARROW
Well what the hell is that mean to mean? You said you knew something about it?!
OLD LADY
Mind your lip young lassy! I ain’t too old to smack yer for your cheek!
I said I knew what me old nan used to tell me, and that I just told you. Don’t blame be because it makes no damned sense. None of those old tales ever do! I swear they used to learn how to be cryptic buggers before they could even talk right back then
SHARROW
Okay, I’m sorry ma’am. It’s been some time since we heard anything useful. Just got my hopes up some there you did. Thanks all the same, we really appreciate it
The old lady nods, waves them off and walks away from the Mill entrance.
It wasn't the most obvious clue. Honestly it sounded like a tale mostly forgotten at this point, but it was about all we had to go on currently. We need to be on the lookout for a still black lake near a mountain. Not vague at all!
We also kept hearing about some supposed ghoul or ghost prowling around the outskirts at night. Might be worth looking in to at some point. I doubt these folk can pay a lot, but I'm sure they could pay something.
Warwick Lead the Way – Pushed Wits x1 | l 1 Survival x0 x 1 | l 1 1 damage applied to Wits
Sharrow Keep Watch – Pushed Wits x1 | l 2 Scouting x0 x 1 | l 2 2 damage applied to Wits
Rolls on the Plains table: The Nature Of The Location: The wind sweeps over low-growing shrubs and defiant flowers.
Party Draws a result from the Encounter Types table General Encounter
Rolls on the General Encounters table: Hunters
Fate Chart Question Is the Hunter hostile? (Unsure) No!
We came across a hunter stalking the planes just outside Grimholt. It looked like he had been quite successful, carrying various carcasses. We spoke with him a bit, asked if we could trade for some of his catch
Warwick Manipulation Empathy x0 x 0 PUSH!
Unfortunately he had already promised today’s catch to the merchant in town. Oh well. We also asked him whether he knew of the Alslene shrine, it was a long shot, but you never know.
Warwick Manipulation Empathy (-2 due to unlikely) x2 Negative x-1 x 1 PUSH!
While he didn’t know anything specific like the location (would have been nice!), he did know that amongst the hunters, it was considered taboo to talk about, and that historically, people didn’t like to go there as it was too cold, often with a severe chance of not making it. So at least we now know to wrap up warm before getting there if we ever find out where it is.
Warwick Lead the Way Wits x1 Survival x0 x 1 PUSH!
Sharrow Keep Watch Wits x1 | l 1 Scouting x0 x 1 | l 1 PUSH!
Party Draws a result from the Encounter Types table Random Encounter Table
Party Now 1d2 1 (core tables)
Rolls on the Encounters - Plains table: The Forgotten Prince
Party Fate Chart Question Would Sharrow respect the dead? (Very likely) Yes! Doubles!
Random Event Unexpected Random Event: Move away from a thread: Separate,Extravagance
Party Draws a result from the Threads List table 1d5 1 Oath of Blood: Sharrow once swore a blood oath with a dangerous figure
Party Fate Chart Question Would Warwick respect the dead? (Very likely) No!
Late afternoon we came upon a cairn atop a hill. It looked old, like really old. I didn’t think much of it until Warwick started talking about looting the thing. Was he crazy?! You don’t go wishing that sort of bad luck on yourself by messing with old graves like that!
We argued for a while about whether to plunder it. I had just about persuaded him that we should leave it alone and move on, when I noticed a symbol near the base of the cairn.
Well fuck me! It was only the family crest of the Redmond family.
I guess it was time to tell Warwick. A few years back I was on hard times, had been doing some not so moral work for shadowy figure that ran a bunch of criminals. After a lot of skulking around, I eventually found out who it was. It was Thomas Redmond. This guy was nobility. He was on the council! All that pomp and superiority, and secretly he was down in the muck with us. At that point I had gotten quite high in their esteem, and ended up working directly for him. He was very insecure about his “station”. He liked the reverence, class and general arse licking that others afforded him, but was well aware of his double life and wanted to secure his position amongst the uppers. To that end, he contracted me to find his lost family burial grounds. He was convinced that something proving his lineage and right to position was buried long ago with one of his ancestors. I’d promised to look in to it, but then scarpered. I had become sick of his two faced hypocrisy.
Since then I have heard that a contract is out on my head. I guess I know too much about him and his shitty family.
Well, given this cairn has their crest on it, I may have just stumbled on to a solution to get me out of this bind. What are the chances?!
I gave in, and we started to dig up the soil around the cairn.
Big fucking mistake!
Sharrow Now Move Agility x1 x 1 PUSH!
Warwick Move – Pushed Agility x1 | l 1 Move x0 x 1 | l 1 1 damage applied to Agility
I saw it start to appear above the cairn. Warwick was oblivious. i knew nothing good would come from messing with a grave like that. I fucking knew it!
I grabbed Warwick, pulling him back with me and we both sprinted as fast as we could away from it. Once we were clear we looked back at it. I was something else! Looked like a massive iron clad warrior with a really big sword, and it wasn’t too pleased at being disturbed. We watched it from a distance for a good hour before it eventually dissipated back in to the cairn. Looks like it wasn’t quite the fortuitous find I thought it might be. I’m going to have to work up to that big bastard!
Party Rolls on the Plains table: The Nature Of The Camp: A shallow ravine offers good shelter from the wind.
We decided to setup camp far away from that cairn. We found a nice sheltered spot in a little ravine. The weather didn’t look like it would turn bad so we dealt safe from flooding in there, and appreciated being hidden.
Warwick Make Camp – Pushed Wits x0 | l 1 Survival x0 x 0 | l 1 1 damage applied to Wits Roll Mishap!
Party Draws a result from the Make Camp Mishaps table Downpour: A massive rainfall starts in the middle of the night. The camp is flooded and everything gets soaking wet. All adventurers must roll for the effects of cold, and no one gets any SLEEP this night.
Sharrow Food x1 6
Sharrow Water x0 2
Warwick Food x0 4
Warwick Water x0 3
Sharrow Keep Watch Wits x1 Scouting x0 x 1 PUSH!
Well, neither one of us claimed to be wind readers, obviously we were terrible at reading the weather. In the middle of the night, I was keeping watch while Warwick slept. The biggest god damn storm I ever saw rolled in, flash flooded the ravine we were in. Thankfully I saw it coming so we didn’t get soaked or worse, but Warwick didn’t get much in the way of sleep. Guess I’ll have to let him sleep it off in the morning before we head off.