Bogtown: Travels and Encounters en route

[Spearmint]

This thread may work a little different. I am trying to put in a 'fast travel' element so folk leaving Helix or Ironguard to trek to Bogtown don't have to roleplay each mile they travel, creating unnecessary delay, especially if no specific encounters in the road are met.

So what I suggest is each group gets to post here the date they leave a neighbouring settlement. I will then roll for any random (or set) encounters, which can be dealt with here rather than setting up an expedition thread.

Upon safe arrival in Bogtown, characters roleplay in the location threads and use this thread again to cover any reverse journeys.

Hope that is simple enough.

Let us go forward then with a current example:

[Spearmint]

Helix to Bogtown

June 6th 1066.

Dalin and his new comrade, Johka set off on the long trek towards Bogtown. They have a side mission to contact a brigandine, Renata who the dwarf once rescued and aided earlier.

I will hold here until Dalin finalises his Helix business.

[Spearmint]

Helix: Upon the Trade Road to Ironguard,

June 6th 1066

Dalin sits on the front bench seat of the covered wagon. The faithful draft horse which pulled him to Crooked Yew now plods in the opposite direction hauling a small team of hirelings and adventurers towards the murky creek frontier town of Bogtown. Johka handles the reins. Behind them, mage Cloverfield sits on some kegs of ale. The mini barrels full of local Helix Scrumpy, home brewed and exported to the Toasted Troll.

Knatchbull sits feet dangling at the back of the wagon, his oversized weight dwarfing Dalin and his half-orc kin both. The wagon almost drapes upon the rear axles, luckily in case if misfortune upon the much pitted trade route, you carry two extra wagon wheels should changes need to be made.

The safest though longest way from Helix to Bogtown is along the trade route, passing south of the Ironguard Citadel and crossing the wide spanning Old Dwarf Bridge. The journey is approximately thirty miles and at a good pace, without incident may take the best part of twelve hours.

Without incident being the key feature. Dalin
has already encountered swarms of strange bugs upon the road and the Highway woman Renata being chased by the Duchy Militia. He has even planned and executed his own heist upon the prison stagecoach. The dark forests and overgrown canopy of trees hold no fears for him though the group stay alert for any dangers, rockfalls, fallen trees, bandits or even damsels in distress.

Helix to Bogtown: random encounters vs 1: [1d6]=1[1d6]=4[1d6]=5[1d6]=3[1d6]=1[1d6]=3
Trade route random encounter: A) [1d20]=17 encounter : B) [1d20]=9

So in an effort to quicken the journey to Bogtown, I rolled for some random events and critically you have one at the start of your journey, described as follows:

About a couple of miles outside of the patrolled hex of the village and a couple of hours into mid morning after your breakfast time start, you head eastwards in the trail. At a certain point as the wagon rumbles on, you hear a call for help from up ahead. A hooded man leaning upon a staff for balance is lurching awkwardly down the road towards you. He waves acknowledging your approach and almost collapses beneath the horse's hooves.

actions Johka & Dalin please.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin holds a hand up "Woah, Johka slow us down, lets come to a halt about 30 feet away. This feels kinda like how another heist went down on this road that I was privy too. But if not I'd like to help if it really is someone in distress." turning to the two in the back "Be ready, this could be trouble but it might not. Keep eyes peeled and watch for anything along side the road, we may be heading into an ambush."

[Joey2k]

Johka complies, bringing the cart to a halt. He nods at Dalin's warning, turning his gaze to scan the rough vegetation beside the track, from behind them toward where the man appeared, reasoning that if the man were a decoy or distraction, an attack would likely come from the opposite direction. He slides his broadsword from it's sheath and places it across his lap.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin once at a stop clambers down and moves to the man in the road and offers his hand in helping the man back up. "What's the matter sir? Here let me help you up." his other hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

[Spearmint]

Helix: Upon the Trade Road to Ironguard,

June 6th 1066

The wagon stops and the hooded man lurches forward, gasping for air and water. He raises a hand out to grasp yours and you quickly withdraw it see as his hand and arm are covered in a thick barkskin type growth.

Pushing back his hood reveals a half face of flesh and another lignified into tree form.

"Help me please." he pleads though it is difficult to say what specific help you could give. He does not attack or seem threatening. Across the trail the wind billows in the woods, bending branches and shaking leaves as a strong gust of rushes by. The man looks behind him, creaking his joints as he does so. Your draft horse neighs nervously, disturbed by the strange encounter and eerie movements.

The mercenary duo have not seen such incidents before. You can help the man into the wagon or choose to pass him by.

here is a picture of a man with a dreadful skin disease which mimicked tree growth. Amazing story.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin motions for the wagon to move up and will offer to help the man into the back "Alright we got another passenger folks, make room."

[Spearmint]

Helix: Upon the Trade Road to Ironguard,

June 6th 1066

Dalin takes pity upon the stranger, opening up the tailgate and getting Knatchbull and Cloverfield to assist him aboard. Once he climbs in he collapsed in to the wagon bed. You can see his hand and entire left arm, shoulder, left leg and that side of his face and body are lignified with the bark like growths. He is given water by the mage and drinks thirstily.

Johka calms the bucking horse and jerks the wagon into motion as more wind and billowing leaves rustle in a violent surge behind it. The trees groan against a fearsome gale being whipped up in the neighbouring forest though you can see clearly that further down the trail, the weather is still and normal for a summer's day.

"You must help me please." the man appeals.

actions please having decided to stop and take the lignified man on board, what would you like to do with him and where do you go?

Also: you get to ask a couple of questions each. Give me a [4d6] vs intelligence or wisdom check (whichever is higher).

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin "Dunno that any of us on this wagon can help ya. But we are heading to Bogtown and I know a druid there that might help you. If not I might be able to arrange for a ride to the Crocked Yew where Brother Clive may be able to help you out." the dwarf says trying to calm the man.

WIS 11 [4d6]=15

Already headed to bogtown I would direct to drive the wagon to the location of the druid there that Dalin already has met before and helped.

[Joey2k]

Johka eyes the man with a mix of curiosity and slight revulsion. "How did you come to be in this condition?" he asks

[Spearmint]

thanks guys.

So Dalin and Johka take an extra body on board the wagon, the unidentified mystery man who appears to be suffering some lignification malady, turning him into a tree.

The decision to divert to the Moathouse ruin and seek help from Bjornark ends the 'fast travel' to Bogtown in this section. So now this expedition thread for you both will continue in the Bogtown: Favours expedition thread which I shall update later with a brief summary from here.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin chimes in with one little bit of information "Don't matter to me how you ended up like this but know if Bjornark can reverse it he won't do it for free, he'll ask for a favor in return likely."