- The Morning After Balz rolls to see how things went the night before.
We burn two fellowship points to get a 14. (current total fellowship points: 5)
Balz and Storr are in the center at the statue. Silas, Bran and K at the farm.
Last night, Mowen seemed apprehensive, she wonders if he’s a young Gorgomog? Why did he bring Branwen with him? She’s anxious about Branwen’s appearance, and about Balz’s status. Have two figures from mythology walked into her world? Are you those people or are you some aspect?
Now Mowen feels more at ease and connected to Balz. She is brought to a place to sort of convalesce. At the farm, bread and cheese for breakfast. Recovering (?) from the night’s activities.
Storr and Balz chat about the events. Storr felt strange that she was being kept at bay, but is worried about how Balz feels about things, and if he’s okay if he ends up fathering a child He felt that the whole thing is larger than just him. He’s just there to serve a purpose, and is now free to go. He doesn’t have a sense one way or the other if his presence isn’t required. Storr suggests that perhaps the both of them go to the barn and get some rest.
S & B go to the barn. They got here early enough that we were all at the barn. They all grab some breakfast - S+B just go to bed. Bran and Silas understand what transpired last night with Balz.
- We Fumble The Council As we eat breakfast, a group arrives at the farm. Tarro, the husband we haven’t seen yet. Gov the blacksmith, Ween the brewer arrive with Tarro. They say they need to speak to us about what is going on.
We would try to diffuse. Kind and confused. WE COUNCIL.
Tarro says, “ We are confused about your appearance and your presence. It seems to us as though Gorgomogg (doesn’t see Balz) and the “moon’s mistress, Mother Night” seem to have arrived. You brought darkness into our hall. We want to know who you are, why we’re here, where do you come from.
We choose intimidation to reveal much about ourselves and to try and overturn their negative impression quickly, asking for a long stay io the village and learn about their belief system.
Bran is our spokesperson and rolls a 23.
B: I’m sorry our appearance has startled you. You clearly recognize some wisdom and power in my friend Balz reminiscent of Gorg and mother night in me which seems to alarm you. However, mother night is i think just another facet of your Gwenethen. MN is a friend of Gorg interested in keeping the balance. You seem to fear death and the night and the darkness, but it’s all just a part of the cycle.
But who are you? Why are you here? Where di you come from?
We’re not from Nyth, we came from a way through some dark ways, tunnels beneath the earth, something about genitals and rocks. We were sent on this path by an oracle, by a man named Bryok, his dying wish was to urge us on this path. The balance of the world may hang on it. The SK may be tipping the scales and we’re involved somehow in making sure he doesn’t do that. Our party comes from many different places, but this is our common purpose. Balz would add some of his backstory. He says that he was a captive of the SK across the ocean in the world we come from , the old world, after having been taken as a child and spent years in torture, experimented on for reasons I don’t understand, the results are the scars and the horns. I was freed about 5 years ago but given a mission to seek The Black Water in our world and to get information on it. I was compelled to do that, trained to listen to what SK demands. I managed to shake off that sense of duty, but I did pursue the water for my own purposes and what it can do to help our party succeed. We are a motley crew despite our difference, but that could be an example for you that we don’t have to all be the same to achieve our ends.
What do you all want with us?
Storr: We want to rest for a period of time and not disturb you all. We stumbled upon thi village and didn’t seek you out. We were set upon by the SK’s minions. We just need to lick our wounds and and continue on. Storr rolls persuasion (8 then we reroll to 13 then we reroll for a 6) Having failed, we decide to succeed with woe.
They’re not super impressed with Storr’s comment. They look to B & B. “Look, it’s fine you’re coming from these other places and you want to stay. We don’t want to get involved in SK, we don’t want him here. We know there are roving bands around us and we’d rather that they stay away from us but can’t help notice that a man with horns, we go through all of this festivity to put horns and a crown on someone, but now you have arrived. We’re trying to figure out what this means. You’ve arrived not with Gwenethen but with mother night who brought darkness into our hall.
B: There is no next harvest without night.
We understand that, but what is it that the two of you are bringing to us? Your footsteps to us sound like the approach of doom. You want to stay here. We’re appreciate that Balz performed in the rite, and we recognize this figure in him, he does look to our eyes to be exhausted, and that is why we’re still talking to you. What is it that you want?
Storr: WTF?
Others: we made the connection of Balz’s friend, Bran, be one we feared.
Balz: Why do you think I should be walking with Gwenethen?
Others: We can’t help notice on of you looks like Mother Night. With the harvest festival upon us, this is eerie.
Balz: We could tell you of when we met Gorgomog, and your smith can mess around with the hammer during our stay.
Others: You met Gorgomog? Where, when and how?
Balz: we are pretty sure he was him. Island, split by night and day, moon and sun. She controlled half the island, and he the other. He had a farm, Mog’s farm. Horned, jolly, made beer.
They decide that yes, they will grant our request with conditions. If that is amenable and we’re willing to follow some of their rules, then you’ll be able to take a rest here for 5 days.
Balz asks if he’s able to check in with Mowen. They will discuss. The four will leave and for now please hang out on the farm.
COUNCIL ENDS
They return, and want to know if they can get to the Mog person, and how to get there. They ask us to stay confined to the farm for the five days so that they know where we are unless accompanied by the farmer. Gov is interested in the hammer, and wants free range on the hammer while we’re here.
K (as Hopps) offers that he would like to be with Gov while he uses the hammer, and he is willing to acquiesce that request.
The dudes abide.
We decide to augment Silas’s beechstaff with some of the obsidian we provided.
Balz would still like to see Mowen if possible.
- Gorg, Gwen, and Mother Night Discussion They still believe that Balz and Bran might be these two entities and not realize it, so they’re still trying to figure out who we are. To them, Gorg and Gwen are married, age varies, sometimes young, sometimes an elderly couple living in a cottage. But they’re always growing things, always a garden. They are nurturing god and goddess and father and mother to the people of the town. They see them not as rulers, not controlling, no aristocracy, they more bring luck if you’re thoughtful and kind and generous, they might bring you luck. They won’t go to war or grant favor or special prowess. And its always the two of them. They would talk about mother night as an enchantress who might bewiutch Gorg especially, sort of a winter element of this. Gorg represents fertility and Mother Night (MN) comes in on a cold night and whisk him away. To them, MN and Gwen are different.
We discuss Gorgomogg and his situation. Mike R: Mog seemed to be under some enchantment. Maybe the other half of the island was occupied by MN, and he didn’t realize it. He said his wife was close by.
Mike H. mentions something about Gorg that negates Mike R’s idea from a story. But the stories are also told from a particular perspective.
Gorg also tried to have constant harvest and it didn’t work out well.
- Long Rest Activities Bran tries to mend Balz’s levels of exhaustion, she fails, but Balz still loses 1 level of exhaustion
Gov and K were successful in crafting an obsidian tipped beechstaff. (Details forthcoming)
Balz is able to see Mowen. She gives him a “woven circlet of ripe wheat” that he can wear on his head.
Silas trains Arthen. Branwen extends her leechcraft capabilities. We share some of the items we’ve come across in our travels.
We write with the quill, “casting a silver laced pattern…”
Silas and Branwen play chess while smoking Copin’s pipe. Silas (18) obliterates Bran (8).
We long rest. The village is there to see us off.
- Like the Kwisatz Haderach, We Journey South
Image:
The party journeys south from Trevas.png
Back on the map, we need to head due south, or perhaps south east to cross the river in front of us into the forest for cover and avoid the higher hills.
Balz rides Bill so we don’t have to worry about his halved speed
Roles:
Scout (Exploration) - Silas (+6)
Look-out (perception) - Krambler (+4)
Hunter (Hunting) Storr (+3)
Guide (Travel) Balthazar (+4)
Our journey path is to the waterfall.
Blaz fist pathfinding check: 17. Event is three hexes away and we manage to cross the river.
First event: Storr the hunter (18) Terrible misfortune. Fatigue saving throw: +3. She goes out hunting and the band os soldiers spots here. She has the wherewithal to misdirect the soldiers and not lead them to the group. She’s missing for a night. Loses half her hit points and returns. Lets us know what happened. They are looking for us but I think I’ve thrown them off. Branwen tends to her wounds.
Next path check: 18. Three hexes away. We;ve made it to a source of one stream between two hills adn continue moving through a forest. Mountains to the south. More hills, grassland off to the east.
Lookout (Branwen) Fatigue saving throw +1 (Mishap?). Bran thinks she hears the band of SK soldiers. She spends an afternoon hiding, never quite sure if they’ve caught up with us. Exhausting day trying to dodge and stay under cover and keep bill happy.
Path: 18, three hexes. We see a town on the horizon. Silas: 6, mishap. Fatigue saving throw + 2. Storr is climbing some rocks to catch a goat and we follow. We get a view of what’s around. We burn a day for the detour. We’re in the foothills of the mountains, pretty rocky. This town is a walled town at the end of the river, quite wide at this point. The town is strongly gated and protects one end of the bridge.