Kingmaker [Stolen Land] (IC)

[digiman619]

Beltin put his hand to his chin in thought. "Well, that part makes sense, at least. I didn't really get why people so opposite to Erastil's teachings might be venerating him. Still, it's definitely something to keep an eye on." He stretched, popping his vertebrae like knuckles. He groaned from the sensation. "Speaking of eyes, I think I ought to get some shuteye. I'm going to give us a day to recover and have Lini check the weather again before deciding where to head off to next."

[lostsole31]

Beltin heads over to his room and goes to sleep, perhaps thankfuly exhausted enough from the day's travels that he gets to fall asleep first .... instead of trying to do so through Harrim's snores.

---

Oathday, 11 Pharast ...

Morning routine. Knowing this to be a meditation day, Beltin makes sure to go into his akashic meditation free of any veils so as to allow exploration and creativity to help him discover. He has found the right combination of thought balancing his emotions of the day has helped him explore best, so he gives in to what it is he is feeling. And that makes him think of the spider fight two days prior. When he turned away from swordlord training to more esoteric forms, he had learned a whole range of skills - either fully, or the foundation of which - designed to buoy, sustain, and hearten a fighting unit. Though Sajan is understandably philosophic about having been struck in battle, knowing it to be an occupational hazard, Beltin still finds himself unable to fully let go, knowing that there must be some way that he can take on the burden of pain and injury of his friends when in battle.

Before long, he forms an alabaster-white body wrap about him ... an ancient form of wear from southern climes known as a "toga" ... that he now wears. By further meditation, he learns that he can take an ally's injuries unto himself.

Spoiler: Unlock

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Martyr's toga

That afternoon, Harrim will show Beltin a new wanted handbill that was posted in the OTP....[see Discord]

[digiman619]

Beltin look at the notice and nods. If this beast was as dangerous as they said, it would have to be dealt with sooner or later. He'd then check in with Lini and see what the weather held in store. He was thinking that the next expedition would be to the east, but he was hoping it'd be warm enough to bring the whole party and the horses; he wasn't looking forward to another all-night watch like the last trip if he could help it.

[lostsole31]

Weather report is as follows ...
Today: High of 18-F, an inch of snow.
tomorrow: Low of 10-F, high of 25; dry, no humidity.
Mi-day afterwards: low of 10-F, high of 18; less than 1/2" snow; 10 MPH winds from N for -15 wind chill.

[digiman619]

Beltin frowns. He was really wishing that the weather would start to clear up, but winter has other ideas. He checks in on Sajan and Lini, checking that they were up to head out exploring like last time, this time reconnoitering the area to the east of the trading post.

[lostsole31]

It is actually Lini and Sajan that seek Beltin out first. They both recognize you as the alpha, at least the combat alpha, and are looking to get some combat training under your tutelage, and it might do well for Harrim if you include him. (Linzi is kinda doing her own thing practicing her crossbow shooting.)

This is not "sparring or anything like that," just off-camera combat training for the two, and during that time you will find that Sajan has a moderate amount of combat skill, Lini only a little better than a commoner. Harrim, for his part, is even worse. He is strong, but he doesn't really have any combat instincts (yet).

Spoiler: Combat Skill/ Instincts

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After all the builds, feats, and whatever else a person can take, the most core part of a person's combat training is "combat extinct" or in gaming parlance .... Base Attack Bonus. Sajan has +2, Lini has +1, and Harrim has +0.

But that gets you there with both of them, and yes, they are both ready to go out for more exploring the following day. Only because Harrim is there does he admit that he could cast endure elements himself, but it isn't a spell that he prefers to have readied.

Any chatter?

[digiman619]

Beltin informs Linzi and the proprietors of the trading post that they will be heading out in the morning.

[lostsole31]

When Beltin goes out to find Linzi, he does not expect what he sees. She is well outside the Trading Post (Oleg points Beltin to where he last saw her).

Beltin goes south of the Trading post. He doesn't even hear the click. He just sees a crossbow bolt suddenly kickup a little bit of snow and dirt at his feet. Thirty feet from his position, he only barely makes out a small figure with snow, dirt and brush looking his way. And that is only because the crossbow bolt informed him where to look. He figures that he probably would have gotten to within 20' of the figure before he ever would have noticed. It is obvious to Beltin's trained eye that the bolt's angle of trajectory was meant to land six inches from his feet as a warning shot, and not a shot that "missed."

[digiman619]

Beltin raised his hands in a symbol of surrender. "Very well done, Linzi. I wouldn't have been able to see you until it would've been far too late."

[lostsole31]

The earth itself unrolls and stands, dirt and snow falling off, and a 3' tall halfling with needles and nettle covering her blond hair and cold weather outfit comes over. "Aw, you're just being kind, Master Beltin! But, thank you!"

She pulls her bolt smoothly out of the dirt. Beltin notices that the bolt shines a bit more than he would expect, as it if it filed and polished regularly.

[digiman619]

Beltin shrugs. He wasn't lying about not being able to see her, but he got the feeling that pressing the issue might do more harm than good. "Regardless, it's good that you're keeping yourself sharp while not out in the field." He paused, seeing her withdraw the bolt. "Speaking of sharpening, that's a neat bolt there."

[lostsole31]

She shrugs as she walks back to the post with you. "It is some sort of bespoke quarrel, if that's what you're thinking. A normal quarrel with the typical soft steel capping. But that capping gets corrosion and slightly malformation in the case, so I like to polish them to clear away any oxidization and to make sure they are evenly smooth and properly rounded for best aerodynamics. An arrow is designed to go into joints and under gambisons, but a crossbow bolt needs the very best speed so as to punch through armor and mail."

[digiman619]

Beltin nodded. He understood the mechanics, but bolts were a fletcher's job, so he had little expertise to add. He does talk shop about the metallurgic side of what made the bolts work so well, if only because he hasn't had the opportunity to talk about it for a bit.

[lostsole31]

The two of them will chat at the fire pit, and dinner will be served to them once its time (assuming more chat for fun before you leave for a few days, not all of it noted).

Beltin will realize that Linzi has a micro/macro-understanding of metallurgy, and yet not a mid-range one. She has a macro-understanding of metallurgy that exceeds Beltin's own in general - from standpoints of mining, mineral, as well as bulilding theory. And her micro-understanding of metallurgy is that of an "operator" who has a solid grasp of the means by which to expertly maintain their own gear (as compared to "common maintenance"). Beyond book knowledge, however, she has no true understanding of matters of the forge, however.

Spoiler: Beltin

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She has no Craft .... at least, none covering weaponsmithing, fletching, or the like. She has knowledge of dungeoneering and engineering, though. I also am one to believe that sometimes the Combat feats don't just come from "hitting mo' better" because, or just because of, "training." But rather, some with weapon-specific expertise combine drills along with very precious weapon (or whatever is relevant) maintenance. For her, she has Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot. Not just because of good aim, but she puts in the hours off-camera making sure her tools are in top condition.

[lostsole31]

They have their conversation and meal, and then go off to do whatever they do for the evening.

Beltin goes back to his room, and engages in omphaloskepsis. Before long, allowing the energy to continue, a pair of wicked pincers that look deadly as hell have grown from the side of his waist. Messing around with them, creepy and insectile though they may be, you realize not only might they be effective weapons, but cold help you move faster or to give you greater stability. Putting more energy into it can infuse the pincers with precious akasha for an even deadlier effect.

Spoiler: Unlocked

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Pincer arms.

He is not alone, as Harrim is in the room discussing theology with Linzi.

Nothing more for the night.

The next morning, what veils will Beltin shape?

[digiman619]

Beltin readies the Gauntlets of the Void in the wrist slot and Heaven's Blessing in the Body slot.

[lostsole31]

Fireday, 12 Pharast ....

After all morning routines, the party leaves. This time, Lini has a wolverine. As before, she and the wolverine share an eidoletic rune on the forehead. With Lini's expertise, you travel across the lightly snowed-upon ground (dry and no precipitation today, but freezing dry).

That night at camp, as Lini goes to search for some winterberries (not too far from camp) with her wolverine, Beltin and Sajan finally get around to talking about martial arts. In many ways, it is one of the few times Beltin has been alone with Sajan, and it is this point that he finally learns quite a bit about him, and he in turn about you. While you are vastly superior in overall combat training and skill (and experience), he very well may have a better foundation upon which to grow. It turns out that he is both more limited, and more advanced than yourself. Part and parcel of his mystic martial arts is that whereas your training and zeal have you pretty confident on what you have readied at any time, he starts out a sparring lesson with less ready-able, but by the time a sparring session has gained momentum, he is actually more able to adapt to the situation.

Spoiler: Martial Class

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"Mystic" martial arts is exactly that. He is not only a monk .... he is a mystic, and he draws upon intuition and improvisation to deal with the threats at hand. Mechanically, he doesn't separate, or acknowledge a "separation" of classes or anything so prosaically player-thinking. To him, it is all one very broad, vast field of study of physical, mental, spiritual, and supernatural martial study he has been steeped in all of his life. Whereas you can ready 4 maneuvers, he starts with 2, but can have up to 5. You really can't divine more at this point, and having faff-all in Knowledge (martial), any information he would tell you beyond this is sort of lost.

When you are sparring together, at some point your sword slipped out of your hand. Almost instantaneously, a great scythe of akasha appeared in your hands ... a dark and foreboding affair, to be sure, but possessing an almost mercurial center of the blade. Once you realize how dangerous it could be, sparring is over .... so you don't accidentally hurt Sajan, but also to study this new veil.

Spoiler: Unlock

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Reaper's Scythe. As you mess with it during your watch, you will learn how to bind it as well.

Night passes uneventfully, and then the morning comes. What will you shape the next day?

[lostsole31]

Starday, 13 Pharast ...

Today, the group will explore this tract of plains.

During the day, you will see a lone hut on the rolling landscape. What do you do?

[digiman619]

Beltin gets about 30 feet from the building before announcing in a loud voice "HELLO, THE HOUSE!". Hopefully that would rouse its residents, if any.

[lostsole31]

And who should appear .... Bokken! The crazy hermit who put up the handbills looking for those willing to bring him fangberries!

"Ah, comeincomeincomine! So happy toseeyou!"

[digiman619]

"Oh, hey!" Beltin will remark, actually surprised that the house was occupied. "Nice to see you again. Sure, we can take a short break." As he approached, he addressed Lini without looking at her. "Lini, if he has us there from more than 20 minutes or so, I'm gonna want you to insist that we have to get back to exploring."

[lostsole31]

She rolls her eyes, suppressing a smile. Bokken allows you inside his medium-sized hut, but on the inside it is so incredibly cramped with all of his various things he has as a mad, potion-making hermit. His manner is that of a nervous bird, or a jittery child, and his speech is clipped as if he's eager to finish every conversation he starts. "Oldiz, right, right, right? You buy potion right from Bokken, yes? What you wannabuy?"

[digiman619]

Beltin shrugs. "Well, we're out here exploring the area, but I've got some coin. What do you have for sale?"

[lostsole31]

"Well, my selection isn't magnificent right now," he admits shyly, "but two to help survive the elements, and another four four healing. Two are low-strength, and two of a higher quality."

[digiman619]

Beltin looked at the selection. "What are you asking for them?"

[lostsole31]

"Fifty gold sovereigns for any but the two higher-quality healing potions. They are worth 300 sovereigns."

[digiman619]

Beltin nodded. "Could I interest you in a trade? I only have about..." He quickly checked his coinpurse "39 sovereigns on me. Would you be interested in some goods to make up for the remaining 11?"

[lostsole31]

He doesn't seem to be paying attention to your question, but is staring at something.

[digiman619]

Beltin will turn, attempting to see what has his host so distracted.

[lostsole31]

Beltin looks behind him, and then looks back, then realizes Bokken is looking at something on him. He reaches out, his fingers twitching. "Lemme feel, lemme feel it!" he is reaching (non-combat, slow speed), towards Beltin's shoulder. Do you let him do whatever he is doing?