Due to merits, I shouldn’t have noted that Cyrus had taken wound penalties during the fight. My mistake. Everything went as described, however.
“I regret not placing a wager on thy behalf, Cyrus. Well done.”
Relieved to note that at no time was Cyrus in danger of death, Hrothgar still thinks it odd that grown men should settle serious quarrels with their bare hands when weapons are readily available. Still, one more strangeness from these crazed lords is of small account, and at least everyone came out of the affair with as many noses as they began it, pace [del]Biter[/del] Cutter.
Baldur watches the fight with intense excitement. He puts Týr on his shoulder, but covers his eyes during the most brutal parts. At the fight’s end he crys out, “Huzzah. Good show!”
After he sees Cyrus is uninjured, he remarks jovially, “See, if you’d had your way earlier, you would have missed out on all the fun.”
I will tend to any wounds Cyrus has if he requires even minor medical attention.
“Are you experiencing any pain? Also, my Lord, do you wish for me to treat “lord” Wilifred, or leave him as is?”
With Sohan presumably seeing to Cyrus’ wounds should he allow it and his pain being soothed, the party finishes up its congratulations of the Faramond champion and heads back upstairs to the Lord Ironhall’s receiving room. There the Baron explains what must be done. “Venora is the site of the manor of Paul D’Bleum, the Knight of Blooms. He is even older than I am, if you can believe it. He was appointed by my father to oversee the population in that area nearly thirty years ago. I don’t know how the years have treated him, but he’s always been… eccentric. His post in Venora was a charity but now he must fulfill his duties. You will go with Sir Harrow to collect him and aid in levying the serfs he manages. The organization of defenses in Ironhall has begun but time is short; Shedlund’s forces may be already underway.”
Here is an updated map with Venora noted to the north of Ironhall, about three days’ travel depending on conditions.
EXPERIENCE AWARD
All player characters are awarded four experience points to spend. Unspent experience points can be saved to be used at any time.
When purchasing statistical upgrades with experience points remember that you must purchase them one rank at a time. So if you have a Strength of 2 and want to get it to 4 you must first purchase Strength 3 separately. Experience point costs:
[ul][li]Attributes - New rank x 5[/li][li]Skills - New rank x 3[/li][li]Skill Specialties - 3 [/li][li]Merits - New rank x 2[/li][/ul]Once the majority of players have PM’d me their experience point expenditures (please don’t post them publicly) we’ll continue.
“I’m fine,” Cyrus says dismissively. “Ironhall will do with Wilfred what he pleases. I’m sure he’s not eager to ease that weasel’s suffering.”
Cyrus dismisses himself and returns to the room accommodated by Ironhall, with Brute in tow. “Come on, you ugly beast. Time to rest up, so we can meet the Bloomin’ Knight.”
A clarification on merits: Some merits (well, only Striking Looks so far but that may change as new merits are introduced) don’t have consecutive ranks, instead having ranks 2 or 4, for example. In that case you can skip the missing ranks.
Henry congratulates Cyrus on winning the battle cleanly and effectively.
Bare handed, no armor. Nice touch. And we got to send Shedlund a message and prove our strength to Ironhall without anyone getting killed.
The party is given little more than four hours to prepare (and in Cyrus’ case, rest) before Sir Harrow informs them that it is time to go. Sir Harrow rides a massive and powerfully-built grey horse reminiscent of a rhinoceros; though it is taller than any of the other partymembers’ horses its considerable girth gives it a squat appearance. Naimar successfully identifies it as a northern frostbred, the largest and most hardy of the so-called finebreeds. The four spear-wielding Ironhall soldiers also accompanying the party ride simple light horses of varying colors.
The group leaves Castle Ironhall shortly after noon. In town peasant men are reporting for duty in the streets, lining up before roll-calling yeomen. The party sets off north from Ironhall, following the slopes of the Greyhorn Mountains. The first few hours are uneventful. A drop in temperature and the arrival of rain makes travel exceedingly uncomfortable and the party’s animals whine their complaints. Eventually the group stops to set camp for the night in the bosom of the roots of a particularly large tree, with the various peasants taking watch in turns. By morning the rains have brought on a thick, clinging fog that severely reduces visibility. The party presses on.
*Sometime during the late afternoon on the second day Walter points out tracks in the mud. A large mounted party has moved through here no more than a few hours ago. Harrow commands the group forward but urges everyone to stay on guard. A few hours later, as evening begins to fall, the party is halted by one of Harrow’s men. * “M’lord, take a look at that.” He extends a hand and points off into the distance, where a shape looms from the fog.
“You’ve got to be shittin’ me!” Cutter exclaims as the party draws nearer. “Don’ tell me we’ve been ridin’ in circles.” It’s the same tree the party camped under the previous evening, complete with campfire remnants. The tracks the party found earlier were its own.
“We must have gotten turned around in the fog.” Offers Harrow with a sigh.
“How? The Sun’s been on our backs all evenin’.”
Choke interrupts them, his voice loud enough for all to hear yet sounding like little more than a whisper, “It’s mist.”
There is a long silence as everyone turns in their saddles to look at the slave. Moments later the quiet is broken by a long, unearthly howl from the north. It immediately sends the horses into a panic, with Henry, Naimar, and three of the peasants losing control of their mounts. Brute stands at the front of the group, barking into the mist.
Dark shapes flit here and there in the distance and the pack animals led by Choke and Hrothgar strain at their lines to escape, kicking and stamping in the mud. Harrow shouts to his men, “Stay together!” For one of them his warning falls on deaf ears. The frightened peasant turns his animal around and spurs it on southward in a panic. Howard calls off after him “Get back into line!” but it comes too late. Just beyond the edge of visibility there is a flash of movement and the rider’s shape is torn from his horse’s, which continues to ride out of view. There is a terrified shout and, seconds later, the pained scream of a horse.
The mistwolves, perhaps a half-dozen of them, continue to circle the party, appearing for a few moments only to vanish into the fog. The partymembers instinctively close ranks. Cyrus’ dog continues its incessant barking, still anchored to its original spot about ten yards north of the rest of the group, refusing to give ground. North, in the distance, looms a large and still shape, larger than its companions. It watches the party in silence.
“Are we fighting or running?!” Harrow’s voice is panicked.
I’ll take orders now. If your character has lost control of his mount he will have to spend time getting it back. Simply tell me what your character does once he regains control in that case. As always feel free to be as detailed as you please.
Cyrus, to Harrow - “You saw what happens when someone tries to run from these things. We don’t have a choice but to fight.”
Cyrus draws his sword, and readies his shield. He will attempt to kill the first mistwolf that approaches the party, and then prioritize attacking wolves that threaten to team up against any of the peasants. If the big one enters the battle, Cyrus will attempt to draw its attention, and focus exclusively on it. “Keep close!” he shouts to the party. “Don’t let them separate you!”
Once Naimar gets control of his mount he will draw his bow and take aim for the nearest mist wolf and wait until orders to fire are given then from that point on he will fire at the nearest wolf to him and continue from there until all are gone.
As usual, Hrothgar’s chief priority is to see that Cyrus doesn’t get into more danger than he can handle. He will shoot anything circling behind Cyrus if it’s safe to do so, otherwise he will charge it with his axe; similarly if Cyrus is attacked by more than one wolf or the mysterious big one. If Cyrus appears in no danger then Hrothgar will shoot whichever mist wolf looks nearest to the party, but will wait for orders to fire after announcing:
“Bow is ready, sir.”
“See, I told you there were mistwolves!” Baldur says in an inappropriately happy tone of voice
At that last word, Týr pokes his head out of Baldur’s pocket, eyes sharp and alert.
Baldur looks at Týr and quickly utters, “No brother, you misheard me. I said… fistfuls. As in, this fog is so thick you can grab fistfuls of it. Must be a local weather pattern.” Týr blinks at him, his tail bushing up. “And what was that scream? Well, Henry’s horse stepped on a bramble. That’s why it’s running around now. You’d do the same if you stepped on one.” Týr cocks his head and chitters. “No, I am not hiding anything! What ever would make you say that? Now it’s getting late, so please go back to bed brother.” After staring at Baldur some more, Týr goes back into his cozy pocket and rests.
After getting his horse under control, Baldur will stay close to Henry. Staying on his horse to keep Týr out of mistwolf range is his main priority. He will attempt to shoot some with his crossbow. If Henry seems to be in dire peril, he will rush to protect him. He will also keep an eye on Cyrus, although after the last few weeks, he trusts Cyrus can handle himself very well.
Bow.
I assume there is no way to find cover and I would guess I maintained control of my horse. If she can find cover, she will and fire from there. Asuming the other way.
:Sohan prepares her bow and does her best to shoot at any Mistwolves she says:
“I have no idea if I can hit these things at such close range! Let me know if any of you are injured!”
Sohan begins firing at the wolves.
A longbow cannot be fired from horseback. Assuming Sohan will dismount and attempt to fire?
:Sohan will draw her knife, but try not to get involved in any close combat. She will stay near armed allies at all times:
OK.
*Henry will try to regain control of his horse, once he gets it to calm down, he’ll draw his long sword and be prepared for anything that comes his direction. Since he has no real skill at fighting on horseback, and his horse isn’t trained for combat anyway, he’ll pretty much only attack wolves that get within reach. (He keeps his shield hand on the reigns, of course.)
While he gets his horse under control he says to the party:*
Follow Cyrus’s lead. If he says fight, we fight. If he says run, we run!
Then adding somewhat to himself, but not particularly quietly:
I managed to survive Mildred’s petulancy without killing her or myself. I don’t plan to die so soon after that trial-by-fire.