Ulf: "Ivar, you must learn the difference between the spellcasters and the Fighters. :rolleyes:
We don’t hide out.
We are **always ** prepared.
Please remember that I killed a couple of opponents ‘bearhanded’ today. 
Finally, have you cured both myself and Jorund completely? 
(I am getting concerned how about many times I have had to ask you for this.)"
“We were hardly expecting to be provisioned by an outlaw,” says the herald, "and it is the wrong end of a tiring day for footling questions, for we have had to work hard to make this landfall. We number forty, but we have made our own arrangements for food and drink.
“Another messenger?” He looks openly sceptical.
Is anyone surprised to be told that there is no inkling that the ship Kim arrived in was ever here?
“UUhh where Kim go? . . . Me like him . . . Why tell again? . . . Me check on shed” Jorund wanders off to make sure the prisoners are still securely held captive but still keeps an on the new comers they seem suspicious to him rebringing the news that Kim already brought.
Ulf looks at the men coming.
Unless they are mainly in Chain (when he has his Pole Axe to hand), he will be ready to use Battle Axe and Shield.
Since the herald has no drawn weapon, I try to look defensive.
The crew just look like a tired ship’s company who have had a long pull at the oars with contrary wind and tide. They wore only tough leather jerkins (well… and breeches and so on… you know what I mean) while aboard ship and are not in a hurry to don heavier armour. They are breaking out ship’s rations and preparing to make camp just off the beach.
Ulf suggests that any spellcaster who can cast Detect Magic might learn something about Kim.
Certainly these men don’t look offensive.
So are the prisoners still there? Did I see any signs of Kim going to check on them?
The prisoners are still very much there, yes. The shed you are using is quite adequate for the purpose.
Cast a Detect Magic and sweep it around, seeing what turns up.
Would Kim, simply being a skald, turn up magical? What would be more surprising- him being magic or him being mundane?
A skald with a level or five behind him would likely have a few items that would show up, and could possibly have some spell effects running. Nothing pops up, however.
“Cr-e-e-e-e-py…”
"So uh, should we start packing and head on out, Bjarni?
We should leave instructions for our thralls. Or some means of contacting us and letting us know if they have any problems. But hopefully they can manage to stave off any intruders. If not, I suppose I could make up a few signs about how our land is curse’ed, and to let others know not to try to take over the land. Just so we still have a home to return to, after all our adventures. I rather like my cottage by the cliffs- it’s got a delightful view of… well, the cliffs.
And pray tell… why are THEY : points to the Herald and the tired men: setting up camp on OUR land if we’re outlaws? :dubious:
This is most strange… But I think we should prepare ourselves right now for a long voyage, and settle all our other affairs in the Town.
And see if we can find this enchanted “Kim” again. Did anyone of you recognize the accent- perhaps we can visit those people first and get some more information?"
Say. How loyal are they to Gautrek?
Could they be persuaded to work FOR us, those greedy bastards?
In exchange perhaps for their lives? :dubious:
“Me no like sleep with baddies near . . . We need watch or we need leave . . . Maybe find Kim at tavern” Jorund is starting to get nervous as it slowly sinks in that Kim vanashed.
Talking of thralls, you’ll need some crewmen for Black Snake. She should have 25 men in total, one steersman (Bjarni) and two dozen rowers. Vikings don’t consider it servile to pull an oar - it is labour fit for proud-spirited men and keeps the arm strong until landfall is made; indeed, strength and endurance at the oar is something to boast about. There will be no difficulty at all in getting thralls to volunteer as it is customary to reward them generously after a successful voyage; you should remember, however, that they are unlikely to be much use as soldiery.
Bjarni can approach the prisoners with an offer to accompany him if he likes. At present they have a future on the bottom rung of thralldom awaiting them, as being people who took arms against you and lost.
The visitors appear unfriendly but not hostile - they are sleeping here only because it is late and they are tired, and a shore will be more comfortable than a ship. As crew and escort to a herald on a legitimate mission they have no reason to start anything.
If we do set off on a sea voyage, what happens to thralls who stay behind? Do they just carry on farming the settlement?
Presumably they’re not in danger, at least from the Jarl’s decree (because he said staying on our land was safe).
Would another [COLOR=Blue]ESP tell us if the prisoners would actually be loyal? Do Vikings swear any oaths of loyalty?[/COLOR]
Ivar, given that Kim foretold the Herald’s news so accurately, then made both himself and his ship disappear - could he be a messenger from the Gods?
Yes - you have an overseer to run things for you in your absence. And yes - they will have to manage as best they can on what the settlement can provide, since no-one is allowed to trade with you (at least as far as the Jarl’s writ runs).
[color=blue]ESP will let you know a person’s surface thoughts, so if he’s thinking “Hah, let’s not and say we did” you’ll pick that up. And yes, oaths are taken very seriously, especially in a land where things aren’t often written down.[/color]
Is the settlement self-sustainable?
Presumably if someone had a conversation with the Herald and the party cast [COLOR=Blue]ESP, we’d get some useful thoughts?
Would Gautrek’s men have sworn an oath to him or Ketil? Are they allowed to change employer? Presumably they are slightly better than a thrall at fighting?[/COLOR]
Sooner or later the settlement would be bound to run out of some essentials, but it could last for quite a while with good management, particularly as the bulk of the work for Spring has already been done for this year.
Maybe. You can try it if you like. 
The horsemen seemed to have some idea of how to swing a sword - don’t forget that three of them actually hit you! - and they come with ring mail and shield. If you want to ask them, they can also serve as footmen with axe, spear or bow, and have been on a raid or two. Employment oaths are usually voided if the employee is unfortunate enough to be captured in battle - most men will not sign on for an undertaking to be loyal unto death, at least not death in cold blood. Sometimes prisoners will ask to wait and see if either ransom or rescue is on the way, and if neither is forthcoming, they are free to sign on again.
That is a good point. Kim hasn’t yet acted in an overtly malicious manner. However, he is clearly hiding something.
How would Kim have come to know the contents of the Herald’s news?
Why would he trouble himself to come here and tell us this news?
What are his motivations?
I feel we must answer these questions before embarking on our journey.