Warriors of Haunden (IC)

[Alden Loveshade]

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

Anoras will put her broadsword, fishing pole, etc., in a spot. Somewhere she can find (the tree with the horizontal branch, or the tree that splits at the base, or the dead tree, whatever is available). But not the first aid kit.

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

As Anoras did with her sword and shield, the sign will be in a spot that's easy to find (only a different spot than with the weapons--but a spot fairly close to that spot).

As Anoras has Navigation (Land), Naturalist, and Tracking, it should I think be very easy for her to later find the spot where she hid her broadsword, etc. But just as an extra precaution, she'll look around during the trip to look for other natural markers to help.

Somehow, I don't think it will look suspicious to some warriors recently injured in battle to see their companion looking around a lot. I imagine they'll be doing the same thing.

(Anoras speaking to the warriors three after we leave the others): "Remember, if you feel a sudden pain or have another medical problem, let me know right away so I can help.

"Hopefully, I can learn something from those Haunden prisoners. Do any of you speak Haunden?

"And I am not used to following a crow for directions. Have any of you done that before?"

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

"Ohh, the Venasir all totally . . . " she looks at the Venasir all around her

"Uhm. Uh. I'm sure they do lots of very Venasir things. Apparently sober. Though I like mead better than beer actually. I guess they don't have any cute princes either? Anoras implied they did . . . I'm still single. Anoras I think is single to if she gets rescued. Well okay, that is a point, so I guess that makes sense, but it was a really good raid! I am sure the other Venasir hurry up and attack so we can defeat them and go home. We did have singing and dancing and actual drinks."

Translator: "The Baron's son is six. He's cute, but not in the way you seem to think."


"Are they celebrating those stupid raids back in the village? Its been a very long time since I lived with our people."

"Very well, I Cassandra of Haunden do solemnly swear by my ancestor Bribeam, Great God of Archery, Music and Beauty, that I will not attack or harm the Venasir of this Castle unless first I set foot within my own village."

The translator gives that message to the captain, and the captain brings Cassandra up to the castle walls to look for the coming enemy.

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

As Anoras has Navigation (Land), Naturalist, and Tracking, it should I think be very easy for her to later find the spot where she hid her broadsword, etc. But just as an extra precaution, she'll look around during the trip to look for other natural markers to help.

Noted.

Somehow, I don't think it will look suspicious to some warriors recently injured in battle to see their companion looking around a lot. I imagine they'll be doing the same thing.

Pretty much. and you've got to watch for that crow.

(Anoras speaking to the warriors three after we leave the others): "Remember, if you feel a sudden pain or have another medical problem, let me know right away so I can help.

The one with the longest hair answers: "Good. We'll remember."


They do in fact require to be pampered on the trip, requiring tightening of the splints, frequent stops, questions about the best way to avoid the pain, and so on. This distracts from her wariness quite a bit (-2 to Per), but also ingratiates her to them. (+2 to reaction roll... which makes it neutral, as the roll was 9).

"Hopefully, I can learn something from those Haunden prisoners. Do any of you speak Haunden?

The one with the glave, who has red leather holding his armor together, says "No, none of us speak Haunden."

"And I am not used to following a crow for directions. Have any of you done that before?"

Long hair: "I've done it. Its simple enough. You just follow the crow. But don't annoy it, because you're actually annoying wings or stripes"


There is a touch of fear about possibly annoying the sorcerers.


The crow (or maybe wings) checks in with them regularly, leading them on. After a long hike (maybe three hours) They arrive at Stripe's camp.



details about stripes camp in next post.

[Alden Loveshade]

Originally Posted by ericthered

The one with the glave, who has red leather holding his armor together, says "No, none of us speak Haunden."

(Anoras speaking) "I see. I can speak it roughly. I was going to question a Haunden warrior, but he died. Do any of you know if Stripes or anyone in Stripes' camp can speak Haunden?"

(Anoras is again of course telling the truth. She can speak Haunden roughly--she didn't say that's the only way she can speak it. And she certainly planned to ask Thad questions--about what happened, his medical condition, what he might have learned, etc.)

Originally Posted by ericthered

Long hair: "I've done it. Its simple enough. You just follow the crow. But don't annoy it, because you're actually annoying wings or stripes"

(Anoras speaking) "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Follow the crow, but do not annoy it."

"Oh, wait, we can't hurt the crow. I was exposed to birdpaux. It doesn't hurt people, but the disease can go through the air when I breath. It can kill birds. I'd better cover my nose and mouth. But I need to use a wet cloth. We wouldn't want Wings or Stripes mad at us!"

Anoras will take the piece of clothing she had previously gagged herself with. Then she'll get it wet, and put it over her lower face, tying it behind her head, covering everything on her face below her eyes.

Note that in our world there is a disease called avian pox that can go through the air (often in mosquitoes) that can kill birds and not harm humans. But she's fudging on some of the details. As she has both First Aid and Naturalist at high levels, I figure she could come up with something similar for her world. But of course that's the GM's call.

Also a note that, in written game play, no Venasir has asked Anoras' name, and she hasn't said her name to a Venasir.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

(Anoras speaking) "I see. I can speak it roughly. I was going to question a Haunden warrior, but he died. Do any of you know if Stripes or anyone in Stripes' camp can speak Haunden?"

Long Hair: "Yeah, Vilisan speaks a little Haunden. That's why he's still with the prisoners. Stripes doesn't know Haunden"

(Anoras speaking) "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Follow the crow, but do not annoy it."

"Oh, wait, we can't hurt the crow. I was exposed to birdpaux. It doesn't hurt people, but the disease can go through the air when I breath. It can kill birds. I'd better cover my nose and mouth. But I need to use a wet cloth. We wouldn't want Wings or Stripes mad at us!"

Anoras will take the piece of clothing she had previously gagged herself with. Then she'll get it wet, and put it over her lower face, tying it behind her head, covering everything on her face below her eyes.

Note that in our world there is a disease called avian pox that can go through the air (often in mosquitoes) that can kill birds and not harm humans. But she's fudging on some of the details. As she has both First Aid and Naturalist at high levels, I figure she could come up with something similar for her world. But of course that's the GM's call.

Weird healer doing weird healer things, as far as they are concerned.

Also a note that, in written game play, no Venasir has asked Anoras' name, and she hasn't said her name to a Venasir.

Noted. I assume these two things are to conceal her identity so her old neighbors don't recognize her?

Originally Posted by ericthered

details about stripes camp in next post.

Its open air: only Stripes and the soldiers have tents. They have 16 captives: 19 were initially missing.

only the scoceror "Stripes" and three soldiers are present, but the captives are all tied up and look terrified: they've been arranged in a row and they are tied together in a string. Each prisoner has a sorceror's mark on them.


The soldiers have lots of questions for each other, and Stripes, with green and yellow vertical stripes on his mask, listens in and occasionally asks for clarification.



"Who is the woman?", one of the soldiers ask


"A captive from the Haunden we fought. Wings marked her."

[Alden Loveshade]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Long Hair: "Yeah, Vilisan speaks a little Haunden. That's why he's still with the prisoners. Stripes doesn't know Haunden"

(Anoras speaking): "Ah, I see. Perhaps you can point Vilisan out to me when we get there. That could be helpful."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Noted. I assume these two things are to conceal her identity so her old neighbors don't recognize her?

Correct assumption. The "medical mask" and not identifying herself as Anoras are both to prevent problems from someone seeing her and immediately saying something like, "Anoras! So you were captured too?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

only the scoceror "Stripes" and three soldiers are present, but the captives are all tied up and look terrified: they've been arranged in a row and they are tied together in a string. Each prisoner has a sorceror's mark on them.

Are there any Haunden prisoners Anoras would recognize as being particularly useful in this situation? I.e., one who knows Brawling or Wrestling or how to use a weapon, or is a fast runner or good at hiding, or speaks Venasir, or is good at something like Acting or Fast Talk, or has Escape skill, etc.?

Originally Posted by ericthered

The soldiers have lots of questions for each other, and Stripes, with green and yellow vertical stripes on his mask, listens in and occasionally asks for clarification.

Anoras will listen too, and see if she can learn anything useful to her.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

(Anoras speaking): "Ah, I see. Perhaps you can point Vilisan out to me when we get there. That could be helpful."

They go ahead and do so.

Correct assumption. The "medical mask" and not identifying herself as Anoras are both to prevent problems from someone seeing her and immediately saying something like, "Anoras! So you were captured too?"

Noted.

Are there any Haunden prisoners Anoras would recognize as being particularly useful in this situation? I.e., one who knows Brawling or Wrestling or how to use a weapon, or is a fast runner or good at hiding, or speaks Venasir, or is good at something like Acting or Fast Talk, or has Escape skill, etc.?

Good question.



There aren't any proper fighters: three boys aged 10-14 know how to wrestle and fight, but they lack strength. The Gerrand was a decent warrior before his back and joints acted up. Old man Trendil is a shrewd fellow (acting and fast talk), as is Belansi ( a middle aged woman). Adeleth is a fast running when she's not pregnant, and Timar (a young woman) is fast and stealthy... Anoras is not sure how she got caught.

Anoras will listen too, and see if she can learn anything useful to her.

Its mostly information she knows about... though she gets a little more detail about the exact tactics Cassandra and Thad used.

[Alden Loveshade]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Her father is alive: Mileno made it inside the stockade. But at least three of her cousins and her uncle were taken.

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

Anoras (speaking): "Father, by the stars I promise I will do my best to bring back the others, including my cousins and Uncle Leo."

Sorry I forgot to ask specifically about Anoras's taken relatives. In our time, those statements above were made before last year's Christmas!

Originally Posted by ericthered

There aren't any proper fighters: three boys aged 10-14 know how to wrestle and fight, but they lack strength. The Gerrand was a decent warrior before his back and joints acted up. Old man Trendil is a shrewd fellow (acting and fast talk), as is Belansi ( a middle aged woman). Adeleth is a fast running when she's not pregnant, and Timar (a young woman) is fast and stealthy... Anoras is not sure how she got caught.

So now that I'm remembering, which of them are Anoras's uncle and three or more cousins? I'm thinking Old man Trendil might actually be her uncle (or great uncle). He and Anoras are both fast talkers. And Anoras was careful not to use her own usually used name with the Venasir. She might have learned both those tricks from her uncle! (And in some families, it's not uncommon to use nicknames for family members. For one of my uncles, I don't remember ever calling him by his legal name. And even though Trendil is "Old Man," I had a great aunt and great uncle I called and thought of as my aunt and uncle.)

In any case, Anoras will look for a chance to talk to some of the captives when Haunden-speaking Vilisan isn't within earshot. She'll do that while doing her checking the wounded thing. (Anybody with their hands tied tightly after being captured in an attack could potentially be wounded.) If she has the chance, she'll whisper directly in the ear of Trendil, Belansi, Timar, possibly Gerrand and Adeleth if she's sure they can keep quiet:

Anoras (whispering in Haunden): "Please don't give this away to anyone who can't keep secrets, but I am Anoras."

And yes, it's possible a Venasir might think Anoras is whispering in the ears of the Haunden. That's part of the reason she told the Venasir she's going to try to trick the Haunden into giving away "the secret." You don't generally get somebody to give away a secret openly when people who might hate them for doing so are tied right next to them....

[Alden Loveshade]

Originally Posted by ericthered

....A bone from the skeleton can be made into a charm to resist(but not totally block) the spells of the specific sorcerer who cast this spell....

I don't know that Anoras found a bone to make another charm like the one she made and gave to Thad. And Anoras probably didn't know which sorcerer cast the spell--although I'm thinking it would likely have been Wings or Fireball. Perhaps in the conversation she's been listening to, someone might have mentioned who cast the spell on the skeleton that the bone came from.

And, more than once, Anoras was gathering herbs for healing (and for a charm).

So questions three:

1) Did someone mention which sorcerer cast the spell on the skeleton Thad took down?

2) Does Anoras know a way of making a sorcerer-resistant charm without a bone? Maybe by doing something like using some of a sorcerer-marked person's blood/hair/etc.?

3) If she needs a bone, could she have accessed an appropriate bone?

[Kalzazz]

"Oh, hehe, yep that is rather to young!"

"Uhm, well, there are other reasons than raids to you know. Though I heard it was even more fun before . . . Uh. Nevermind!

Cassandra will dutifully stand on the wall and watch

[ericthered]

You don't know which scorceror made the skeleton Thad took down. You do know that Wings is managing the skeletons they fought.

Any broken spell will work for a charm. So the remnants of a triggered trap, or the feathers of a dead raven that was under the charm before. You could turn your "Mark" into a charm... after you break it.

She could have accessed a bone if she is sneaky about it. There are certainly lots of fragments. Does she have filch or some other appropriate skill for stealing a bone fragment? I suppose stealth could work as well, after Cassandra ran away.