[WFRP2e] The Saga of Jorunn - Part 1 - "That Which Remains"

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will consider with a CK: strategy and tactics roll

(1d100)[74]

since i get nothing out of that, jorunn will order a charge into the clearing

[MrAbdiel]

Marlene ties up the goat, and you check weapons; then you hustle together through the trees before breaking into a dash. What presents to you in the clearing is not something it is possible to be prepared for.

There is an upright menhir with Darkspeech carving into it - a herdstone, like you suspected. But that is not all. It seems to have been... desecrated, or at least decorated with unfamiliar twisting script in black in that runs 'phrases' up and down and over the existing carvings. At the top of the stone's taper, some fifteen feet in the air, is an icon of gold with many inset blue stones; a skull-ish death-mask, like nothing you've seen in the art and treasure you've plundered in your life. It has braided hair ropes tied through its eye hiles, and it sits like the gem on a coronet at the menhir's 'crown'.

This combination of things causes the menhir to emit a shimmering, mournful blue glow which appears to be what was attracting your animals. It has attracted more: many more.

There is a veritable sea of small, dead, mostly skeletonized creatures pooled around the base of the menhir, 'gazing' up at it with eyeless sockets. Rats. Mice. Voles. Weasels. Rabbits. Small birds. You see the dirty skeleton of what might have been a beaver, except for a second boney beaver head sprouting from its neck; not the only mutant to have been caught to the predatory glow. And within their hundreds are a few larger beasts, also - the remains of an elk, a goat, an ox, and a boar, all standing upright with their mostly fleshless limbs and staring, staring at the stone. Until you and your party arrive. As one, the horde of dead beasts turn to face your approach; and all at once, their docile fascination with the menhir turns into violent, hungry malice. They attack.

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

It's Initiative Time!

Elk Skeleton: (1d10+3)[5]
Goat Skeleton: (1d10+3)[13]
Ox Skeleton: (1d10+3)[5]
Boar Skeleton: (1d10+3)[9]

Gribbly Swarm 1: (1d10+3)[8]
Gribbly Swarm 2: (1d10+3)[6]
Gribbly Swarm 3: (1d10+3)[5]
Gribbly Swarm 4: (1d10+3)[6]
Gribbly Swarm 5: (1d10+3)[6]

Each of these swarms represents about thirty or forty little gribbly skellybos.

Marlene: (1d10+4)[7]
Ortel: (1d10+3)[13]
Byjan: (1d10+3)[8]

Give me that initiative! If you happen to be highest, you can act right away, charging whatever you like.
Otherwise, one of them is likely to charge you!

Final Initiative Order:
13 - Ortel
13 - Goat Skeleton
9 - Boar Skeleton
8 - Byjan
8 - Gribblies1
7 - Jorunn
7 - Mangy Wolf
7 - Marlene
6 - Gribblies2
6 - Gribblies4
6 - Gribblies5
5 - Gribblies3
5 - Ox Skeleton
5 - Elk Skeleton

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will frenzy, and prepare for battle. "bring it on skellybobs!" he roars, bashing the daemonspear against his shield

Spoiler: ooc

Show

got a 7 in the ooc for my init

[MrAbdiel]

Spoiler: OOC: Rolls!

Show

Rolls! Description pending.

Ortel: (1d100)[7] to channel, (2d10)[13] to cast.
Goat charge: vs43 - (1d100)[40] against Jorunn
Boar charge: vs43 - (1d100)[16] against Byjan, Byjan's Parry: (1d100)[60]
Gribblies charge a random party member (1d5)[3] for vs55 - (1d100)[63] and (1d10)[7] damage, plus the swarmed effect.

The goat skeleton is the same pony size as the pack goat you've bought, and it quickly breaks to the fore of the skeletal horde to charge you with a train of tinier skeletons in its wake. You feel your bones begin to shift and reform, the fur sprout under your skin and through it it stabbing spikes of white, but you know this change takes several seconds of your focus to induce. The enemy will strike you a few times before you are able to manifest your full strength, here.

But then Ortel's hand slaps you on the back, and he shouts an inarticulate yawp of combat glee, and you feel something magical - perhaps divine - impart from his hand to your body. And all at once, the bear comes loose in you - not straining slowly to break its human guise, but like released from a tether by the turn of a key; and Bjarna's full ursine blessing fills you with power and rage.

And not a moment too soon - while Byjan fends of the huge boar skeleton, the goat crashes into you, its horns striking up at your chin as it bucks, and the smaller skeletons begin swarming around your ankles!

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

Ortel has, due to your encouragement and questing with him, learned the Ulrican blessing Blessing of the Blood-Hand; which immediate puts a touched character into frenzy... which is a good way for him to spend his turn when his initiative is before you! So you don't have to spend your first turn frenzying after all.

You do however have to defend against a damage 12 hit to your head, before you take your turn!

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will make three attacks on mr goat. the first two bite deep, but the other one misses

(3d100)[41][51][91](183)

(1d10+6)[12]
(1d10+6)[16]
(1d10+6)[9]

[MrAbdiel]

You deflect the striking horns, and with two mighty blows, split through the skull of the goat-skeleton. The rest of its unliving body seems to get the message, and collapses in a heap.

Spoiler: Rolls, Narrative Pending

Show

Wolf attacks the first swarm.
Wolf's Attack: vs36 - (1d100)[78] for (1d10+4)[12]
Marlene attacks the boar skelebo.
Marlene's Melee: vs47 - (1d100)[13] for (1d10+3)[11]
Gribblies 2,3,4 and 5 will attack Jorunn, Byjan, Ortel, and the wolf, respectively.
Gribblie2 vs45 - (1d100)[11] for (1d10)[2]
Gribblie3 vs45 - (1d100)[79] for (1d10)[5]
Gribblie4 vs45 - (1d100)[1] for (1d10)[2]
Gribblie5 vs45 - (1d100)[57] for (1d10)[10]
Ox Skeleton will charge Jorunn, as will the Elk.
Ox Attack: vs53 - (1d100)[19] for (1d10+3)[4]
Elk Attack: vs63 - (1d100)[2] for (1d10+3)[9]

End of Round 1.
Anyone who got hurt by a swarm is being swarmed, for -20WS and BS.

Ortel attacks the gribblies on him.
Ortel's blow: vs38 - (1d100)[39] for (1d10+3)[11] or (1d10+3)[7]
Boar Attack on Byjan: vs33 - (1d100)[27] for (1d10+3)[4].
Byjan attack on the boar:
Byjan Attack1: vs46 - (1d100)[31] for (1d10+4)[14]
Byjan Attack2: vs46 - (1d100)[55] for (1d10+4)[6]
Gribblie1 on Jorunn vs65 - (1d100)[18] for (1d10)[1]

Final Initiative Order:
13 - Ortel
13 - Goat Skeleton
9 - Boar Skeleton (17 wounds)
8 - Byjan
8 - Gribblies1
7 - Jorunn
7 - Mangy Wolf
7 - Marlene
6 - Gribblies2
6 - Gribblies4
6 - Gribblies5
5 - Gribblies3
5 - Ox Skeleton
5 - Elk Skeleton

The swarm around you legs starts to slow you down; the wolf is attacking them, but hasn't had much luck reducing the swarm. Marlene piles in with Byjan on the massive boar skeleton, and between them they rain bonecracking blows on it that leave it with missing ribs and tusks, on the verge of destruction. But then the tide of little skeletons comes in. They do not succeed in drawing blood anywhere - only Marlene doesn't have them underfoot - but they definately make it easier for the larger creatures to attack. This is seen to be true as both the ox and elk batter into you; the ox's charge absorved by your shield; the elf's antlers testing your deflecting skill with the daemonspear in your hand....

Spoiler: OOC: Outcomes for Round1/Round2

Show

The Goat skeleton is smashed. The boar skeleton attacking Byjan is nearly destroyed; he and Marlene seem to be handling it, but there is also a swarm getting involved over there too.

The Elk skeleton lands a hit on Jorunn's arm for a damage 9 blow for him to parry; but aside from that, everyone else flails around harmlessly in the moshpit, bringing us back to Jorunn.

[bramblefoot]

jorunn parries successfully, and will make three attacks on the elk. two miss, but one bites deep

(3d100)[91][31][80](202)

(1d10+6)[7]
(1d10+6)[15]
(1d10+6)[14]

[MrAbdiel]

Spoiler: Combat Rolls!

Show

Narrative Pending!

Wolf attacks the first swarm.
Wolf's All-Out-Attack: vs56 - (1d100)[87] for (1d10+4)[14]
Marlene attacks the boar skelebo.
Marlene’s Attack: Vs37 - (1d100)[80] for (1d10+3)[6]
Gribblies 2,3,4 and 5 will all-out-attack Jorunn, Byjan, Ortel, and the wolf, respectively.
Gribbly2 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[81] for (1d10)[10]
Gribbly3 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[12] for (1d10)[10]
Gribbly4 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[36] for (1d10)[4]
Gribbly5 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[92] for (1d10)[8]
Ox and Elk All Out Jorunn
Ox Vs73 - (1d100)[32] for (1d10+3)[5]
Elk Vs73 - (1d100)[17] for (1d10+3)[13]


End of Round 2!

Ortel attacks his gribblies!
Ortel Attacks All Out! Attack: Vs57 - (1d100)[99] for (1d10+3)[12] or (1d10+3)[8].
Boar All Out on Byjan!: Ox Vs53 - (1d100)[81] for (1d10+3)[8]
Byjan Swifty! 46 - (1d100)[58] for (1d10+4)[14]
Byjan Swifty2! 46 - (1d100)[22] for (1d10+4)[7]
Gribbly1 All-Out-Attack Jorunn: Vs65 - (1d100)[91] for (1d10)[7]

Final Initiative Order:
13 - Ortel
13 - Goat Skeleton
9 - Boar Skeleton
8 - Byjan
8 - Gribblies1
7 - Jorunn
7 - Mangy Wolf
7 - Marlene
6 - Gribblies2
6 - Gribblies4
6 - Gribblies5
5 - Gribblies3
5 - Ox Skeleton
5 - Elk Skeleton (12 wounds)

Your blade cracks into the elk skeleton's backbone, throwing shards but not quite clearing through - but it flails and lashes about with brutal necromantic abandon, trying to skewer you with its antlers. Meanwhile, Byjan manages to finish off the boar skeleton but then topples backwards under a wave of scrabbling, clawing rabbit and squirrel skeletons. He thrashes himself to the surface and throws most off, but it becomes clear how dangerous the little things can be - individually meaningless, but together they might in a moment of inattention drag one of you down just as an army can pull down a dragon. Your companions have limited success, but they see the need to thin out the swarm, and turn their attention to the lesser creatures.

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

You got one hit on you - 13 damage from the elk, unless you can deflect it. But so far you're unswarmed! Good to go again.

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will start trying to clear out the gribblies

two attacks against the gribblies

(2d100)[100][74](174) the 100 was changed to a 2 in the ooc

(1d10+6)[7]
(1d10+6)[9]

one attack against the elk

(1d100)[36]

(1d10+6)[15]

[MrAbdiel]

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

Woops, should have been in the OOC. Oh well. Give me a crit on that elk!

[MrAbdiel]

Spoiler: Rolls Pending Narrative!

Show

Wolf attacks the first swarm.
Wolf's All-Out-Attack: vs56 - (1d100)[55] for (1d10+4)[8]
Marlene attacks the swarms.
Marlene’s Attack: Vs37 - (1d100)[23] for (1d10+3)[10]
Gribblies 2,3,4 and 5 will all-out-attack Jorunn, Byjan, Ortel, and the wolf, respectively.
Gribbly2 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[63] for (1d10)[8]
Gribbly3 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[8] for (1d10)[5]
Gribbly4 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[39] for (1d10)[6]
Gribbly5 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[97] for (1d10)[10]
Ox All Out Jorunn
Ox Vs73 - (1d100)[98] for (1d10+3)[5]


End of Round 2!

Ortel attacks his gribblies!
Ortel Attacks All Out! Attack: Vs57 - (1d100)[74] for (1d10+3)[6] or (1d10+3)[9].
Boar All Out on Byjan!: Ox Vs53 - (1d100)[68] for (1d10+3)[11]
Byjan Swifty! 46 - (1d100)[45] for (1d10+4)[6]
Byjan Swifty2! 46 - (1d100)[85] for (1d10+4)[9]
Gribbly1 All-Out-Attack Jorunn: Vs65 - (1d100)[50] for (1d10)[2]

New Entry.

Rolls for Wolf (1d100)[76] (Fail)
Rolls for Ortel (1d100)[4] (Pass)
Rolls for Byjan (1d100)[8] (Pass)
Rolls for Marlene (1d100)[52] (Fail)

Final Initiative Order:
13 - Ortel
13 - Goat Skeleton
9 - Boar Skeleton
8 - Byjan
8 - Gribblies1
7 - Jorunn
7 - Mangy Wolf (Terrified!)
7 - Marlene (Terrified!)
6 - Gribblies2
6 - Gribblies4 (3 Wounds)
6 - Gribblies5
5 - Gribblies3
5 - Ox Skeleton
5 - Elk Skeleton
1 - Spectre!

You smash droves of the little skeletons with big swipes of your powerful limbs; your wolf darts into to scatter the remainder, and they begin to fall apart on their own as the tide turns - whatever energy animates them begins fading rapidly when they are on the definitive backfoot. A backhand blow decapitates the elk skeleton, and you fend off the ox; while nearby your companions thrash about, squashing and crushing more of the little things. You seem to have things in hand, and no worse for wear - down to one large skeleton and half as many small ones, before a leering translucent figure lurches out of the menhir. It seems to stretch, like its ghostly legs are bound into the stone but it strains toward you; and as it does, you see the face of what must have been a graeling man now rendered to ectoplasmic remnants. No hall of the ancestors for this poor soul - he leans, he stretches, and as he does his mouth distends open so awfully and hideously wide that it seems to you that within him you can see terrible things - flickering, disoriented flashes of his life, his violent deeds, his petty triumphs, his confidence in himself, all leading to a put, and eleven days of suffering, and then... this.

This, forever.

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

No attacks land from the enemies this turn - none that hurt. But you do need to make me a TERROR roll as this spectre reveals itself. Ortel and Byjan passed - not so much for the wold and Marlene.
It's a flat WP roll. Fail and Jorunn must flee - but since he's frenzied and can't do that, he'll be frozen in place and taking a -20% to attack rolls. Failure also conveys an insanity point!

[bramblefoot]

jorunn bellows in defiance of the spectre, and will attempt to drop the ox. his rage makes him clumsy, and he misses

three attacks against the ox

(3d100)[85][75][59](219)

(1d10+6)[14]
(1d10+6)[14]
(1d10+6)[14]

[MrAbdiel]

Spoiler: Rolls, narrative pending!

Show

Wolf flees!
Marlenes flees!
Gribblies 2,3,4 and 5 will all-out-attack Jorunn, Byjan, Ortel, and the Jorunn, respectively.
Gribbly2 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[79] for (1d10)[4]
Gribbly3 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[19] for (1d10)[8]
Gribbly4 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[46] for (1d10)[6]
Gribbly5 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[32] for (1d10)[8]
Ox All Out Jorunn
Ox Vs73 - (1d100)[87] for (1d10+3)[4]


End of Round 3!

Ortel attacks his gribblies!
Ortel Attacks All Out! Attack: Vs57 - (1d100)[64] for (1d10+3)[5] or (1d10+3)[4].
Byjan Swifty! 46 - (1d100)[68] for (1d10+4)[6]
Byjan Swifty2! 46 - (1d100)[42] for (1d10+4)[11]
Gribbly1 All-Out-Attack Jorunn: Vs65 - (1d100)[82] for (1d10)[4]
Spectre Charges Byjan: vs62 - (1d100)[16] for (1d10+4)[5]

Final Initiative Order:
13 - Ortel
13 - Goat Skeleton
9 - Boar Skeleton
8 - Byjan
8 - Gribblies1
7 - Jorunn (1 Wound taken)
7 - Mangy Wolf (Terrified!)
7 - Marlene (Terrified!)
6 - Gribblies2
6 - Gribblies4 (3 Wounds)
6 - Gribblies5
5 - Gribblies3
5 - Ox Skeleton (11 Wounds)
5 - Elk Skeleton
1 - Spectre!

You barely strike the Ox skeleton, keeping it at bay with your shield while bashing and breaking parts off it with witherbrand. Ortel and Byjan lay about, barely keeping the smaller skeletons at bay while thinning their mass. But the hideous spirit has strike fear into Marlene's heart; and with wide eyes she backs up and away from the combat, rocking back on her heels and looking like she is ready to run. Even your redoubtable wold releases a confused and panicked whine as he scoots back out of the bone-melee. You clearly have the upper hand; but then a wave of skeletons, crows and mice and rats and other things, surge up together like a reaching arm and splash on your flank, threatening to drag you down. As this happens, the ghastly spirit distends from the menhir and reaches a ghostly finger toward Byjan. He slashes at it with his axe, but the mundane steal passes clear through, and the fingertip touches him and elicits a gasp of pain from your old friend.

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will attempt to finish off the ox, and then move to attack the specter

(3d100)[66][17][13](96)

(1d10+6)[8]
(1d10+6)[14]
(1d10+6)[12]

[MrAbdiel]

With two terrible blows, you smash the ox skeleton to pieces and wade through the biting, scratching and nipping of smaller skeletons to assist Byjan against the spirit. Witherbrand does not fail you here; where Byjan's blade passed harmlessly through the spirit, this sword leaves a rent in its form as if you had cut through tense fabric leaving its flapping halves snapping and curling away from the blow. It releases a gasping shriek, and turns its focus immediately to you.

Spoiler: OOC: Attacks!

Show

Wolf Tries to recover! VsWP - (1d100)[17]
Marlenes tries to recover! VsWP - (1d100)[8]
Gribblies 4 and 5 will all-out-attack Byjan and Ortel respectively.
Gribbly4 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[18] for (1d10)[3]
Gribbly5 All-Out-Attack: Vs65 - (1d100)[82] for (1d10)[6]


End of Round 4!

Ortel attacks his gribblies!
Ortel Attacks All Out! Attack: Vs57 - (1d100)[87] for (1d10+3)[9] or (1d10+3)[9].
Byjan Swifty! 46 - (1d100)[93] for (1d10+4)[10]
Byjan Swifty2! 46 - (1d100)[57] for (1d10+4)[11]
Spectre Swift Attacks Jorunn: vs42 - (1d100)[94] for (1d10+4)[12]
vs42 - (1d100)[87] for (1d10+4)[10].

The damage from these blows ignores armor, and cannot be parried with a ‘free’ parry; only taking a parrying stance to parry with Witherbrand exclusively, given that Jorunn’s shield is not magical.

...But for all the supernatural fury of the spectre, it is shy of your blade and doesn't manage to land a blow - though you realise immediately that your shield does not avail you in this context.

Marlene and the mangy wolf seem to take strength at your steadfastness; you can hear then beating their way back to the combat, while Ortel and Byjan make little headway against their swarms, for little damage in return.

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will do one attack, and then a parrying stance

(1d100)[15]

(1d10+6)[12]

parry

(1d100)[21]

[MrAbdiel]

Your comrades stomp out the remaining smaller skeletons; some just seem to give up and fall to pieces out of sympathy when their companions die. Marlene and the wolf are back in time to get a few licks in, as well. But it's all they can do to step back and watch as you slice and parry with the spectre.

Your second strike causes an eerie, rage filled shriek from it - and it rains upon you its desperate spectral blows...

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

Spectre attacks:

Vs42 - (1d100)[4] for (1d10+4)[6], ignoring armor.
Vs42 - (1d100)[61] for (1d10+4)[5], ignoring armor.

A pitiful 6 damage hit which you immediately parry.

I also forgot that the Daemonspear can't parry these; it's not a magical weapon yet, just a hand weapon. But it's too late, I already thought you changed to Witherbrand. So you got a free quickdraw in there I didn't mention, lol. One more good attack should finish it!

...But you have the measure of it now. Slower than the daemon on the plateau; weaker than the giant in the trap. If you can just land a firm strike...

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will attempt to finish off mr spectre

(1d100)[35]

(1d10+6)[11]

parry

(1d100)[27]

[MrAbdiel]

Furious as it may be, it is unable to land its blows on you, thanks to Witherbrand's magical edge; and in turn you deliver a blow that rips it apart like a frayed cloth, its howling remnants scattering into the wind.

Quiet falls over the scene; you and your comrades standing victorious over a pile of dry bones with the ominous menhir and its chained-on foreign gold icon radiating their malice.

"Well... That little sword has proved its value again, I think." Byjan's one good eye regards Witherbrand warilly. Ortel is focused single mindedly on the icon.

"...Not beastmen, then. Something else - something that shouldn't be here. It is... turning the dark magic of the herdstone to an alien purpose. We should topple it, and break that icon. But it is... taller than I had thought it might be."

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

The scene is clear of enemies - but now what shall you do with this herdstone menhir, that has been jury-rigged to necromantic purposes?

[bramblefoot]

"toppling it would take too much energy" jorunn says. "just take the mask and go" he'll scale the menhir and take the mask after putting on gloves. he'll examine it closely, and then snap it in half

[MrAbdiel]

You loop a length of rope around it, and use the oppositional force to scale the menhir. When you get to the top, you find the mask isn't fastened tightly - simply placed, and removed easilly enough. It is some kind of ceramic with gold covering it - easilly enough broken, in your hands.

Yet the measures you have taken to insulate yourself from the magics of the menhir are not complete. They can't be - Chaos cannot be denied. Only resisted. You can feel it in your skin - warm. Probing. Almost... hungry.

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

Give me a mutation resistance roll. It's a Challenging Toughness Test. You do have some things going in your favor, however.

You took pains to make sure you were wearing gloves and being careful while dealing with the source of dark magic, so that's +10%. And as a Norscan, you have the Innured to Mutation talent, giving you a further +10%.

On the other hand, wielding a Chaos weapon, Witherbrand, has its drawbacks... and at some point, they come due.
That penalizes you by -10%.

So at a grand total, it's a toughness test at +10%. Feel free to reroll it with a FP!

If you fail, roll me a d1000.

And pray.

[bramblefoot]

jorunn shrugs off the mutations effects, and drops the snapped ceramic mask to the ground. "the magic is broken" he says, and will walk back to the goat

[MrAbdiel]

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

A neat little 100XP for you, having this little side quest. And you didn't even grow an extra head!
Good for you.

The necromantic magic dispersed, you return to your companions and beasts. Let the beasts have their herdstone; that's the Graeling's problem, not yours.

"The land will recover with time. Maybe by the time we make the return trip, there will be some game." This is Marlene's speculation, and it may yet prove out. You have dealt with the source, but the corruption remains as it fades, and it appears to be still a lean trip for a few more days...

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

Give me a toughness test to hold up under days of travel without food. The rules for starvation are pretty harsh - It's three days with no penalty, then every 3 days or part thereof, it's a -10% penalty to WS, BS, S, T, Agi. There's no roll to avoid it - starving is starving, and characters with all those states high might last longer than others because when one drops to below 10% you start taking wounds each day instead.

The toughness test is more about how far you and your poor group travel. You've been traveling for a couple of days in this foodless state already. If you pass a challenging toughness test, you're able to muscle through the hunger pains and out the other side to the next encounter with only 5 days of starvation - and that -10% penalty. If you fail, you've been plodding slowly because of the faintness, and you arrive after 6 days of starvation - and a consummate -20% penalty to those five stats. Either way, at the other end...

Finally, after days of travel through the wasteland left by the dark magic, you start seeing grass again. And some scraggly green leaves on trees - you're almost hungry enough to eat them. But then there is the smell you have missed - woodsmoke, and something cooking. Fish, you think. You have followed the frozen river this far, hoping to find the fishermen who can point you the rest of the way. But whoever is beyond the next snow covered hill with this cooking fire could be friend, or foe, or anyone... and your half-starved companions are in poor condition if they are hostile. Approach may be crucial...

Spoiler: OOC:

Show

What's the play? Sneak to the hill and peek over? Approach hoping for friendlies? Rush over weapons out in a show of force? Something else?

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will stalk over to the ridge and peer over the ridge on his tummy.

perception roll

(1d100)[53]

[MrAbdiel]

They are not so far away that you need to strain your eyes - the evening cooking fire of a group of six men with nets and reels and woven baskets. Some of them have small axes; more tool-like than weapon. Sticks with small skewered fish roast over a large fire. There is plenty of dead wood to burn, because of the blight on the forest; the fur-clad folk converse amiably to each other while warming themselves. One of them is a child; perhaps eight or nine years old. There is a low shelter build from mud-packed timber and bark that seems to be a semi-permanent fixture, and there are large logs around the fire being used for stools which, judging by the lack of drag marks in the snow around, have been here for much longer than the present gathering.

They seem to be fishermen, peaceful enough; preparing for the failing of the light to bring them to rest, and then an early effort to ply their trade in the river again.

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will look back at his warband and say "fisherman. lets act friendly and see if they'll feed us" he'll walk down to the fisherman, and ask. "we recently traveled through the blight, and lost all of our rations."

assuming they let him sit down and eat, he'll bring the rest of his warband down and pay them for the trouble of feeding us

[MrAbdiel]

There is a difficult pause as the men size your party up - some of you are quite rough looking, at the wolf doesn't help... but the now-skinny goat adds a softer touch to your crew; and the man with his child there is the first to respond.

"Well, you might as well join us. The river's been giving dead and foul fish mostly for months now, but it's been a little better yesterday - just enough for these little ones." He gestures to the small fish on the sticks. The fisherfolk share their small bounty with your warband - not enough to fill your bellies or theirs, but enough to fend off the cravings and it feels like a feast after your fast. "Any luck, tomorrow'll be better. We'd be poor countrymen to deny hungry travellers something to eat." It also might have invited your starving warriors to take the food by force, which has proven not necessary. They spend a little longer around the fire telling stories and trying to establish enough rapport with your and your companions that you can comfortably camp near to each other without fear.

Spoiler: OOC:

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What an excellent opportunity for a Profession: Storyteller roll!

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will spin tales of far away places and battles hes seen and fought in, making it seem as fantastical as possible

(1d100)[47]

[MrAbdiel]

You might lean a little hard into the violent realities of the things you have been a part of. Some of the fishermen are a little green at your wild descriptions of battlefield courage and destruction.

The kid, at least, seems to think you are the coolest person he has ever met.

That may be enough. You establish an easy enough rapport and share the slim yield of the river, and then settle in for the night. You and your companions sleep much better with something in your stomachs. By the time you have awoken, the fishermen are up, holes cut in the ice, fishing again; pretty happy with the results.

"Looks like it's getting better upstream. The blight's letting up. Thank the gods for that. Decent catch this morning!"

Byjan, who was always a big fellow and was fading physically from the starvation, is particularly pleased that the fishermen are pulling up decent fish. He pulls up a couple himself, with a small reel he buys off one of them.

"That's pretty good," One of them says, commenting on a decent sized sterlet that Byjan guts, bound to expand his breakfast by one more tally. "You do much fishing."

"When I was a kid," he answers mildly; and offers you a wry smile.

After a filling breakfast, your party takes a few hours for empty stomachs to adapt to fullness again, during which time the fisherfolk are happy enough to direct you towards Fijrgard.

"Our village is Llansbruuk; it's close to Fijrgard. We contribute too, to the den of the wolves that walk like men. We had a warparty of Vargs come out raiding and razing eight years ago, and the wolves honored their part; came out and ran them off. They scare me, though."

Spoiler: OOC:

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You have directions to Fijrgard; just two more day of journey. If there's anything you wanted to ask about the town and the much hyped shifters who dwell there, you may. Otherwise, you may head out to your destination.

[bramblefoot]

jorunn will pick the fishermans brains about fijrgard, asking just general questions about the wolves who walk like men. he wants to get a general feeling for what he's walking into when he gets to fijrgard

"can you give me an idea of the temperament of the wolves who walk like men?" he asks, looking at the fishermen. "i plan to train with them"