Game. On the Road in Thaemor.

[cybersavant]

Randar "I'm fine, just a little nick. I could use a bit of water to clean it off, i guess."

[tibbius]

The farmer family seem concerned about something, but don't express whatever it might be. You arrange watches for the rest of the night, which passes uneventfully. Dawn is cool and damp. You have a few more days to go until you reach the Empty Sanctum. You're not totally sure where it might be exactly, but expect that you'll be able to ask around the vicinity (near some rapids on the river Wyr) and get directions.

[cybersavant]

Randar In the morning he goes to the house to thank the farmers for letting them stay.

"Everyone ready to get back on the road?"

[shaidar]

Hopkirk Thanks the farmers for their hospitality and is ready to get going.

[tibbius]

The road goes northeast from the farm stead. You follow it in morning mist and then the sky clears around mid day, so that the sun shines unusually warmly on this part of Thaemor.

About mid afternoon you see figures cavorting at the edge of a woodland to the right side of the road, about a half mile south. They do not appear to notice you. They seem to be a herd of margr intent on a ritual dance.

[cybersavant]

Randar keeps a watchful eye on them as the crawler passes by. He periodically checks behind to see if the margr have noticed them.

[shaidar]

Hopkirk keeps an eye out up front, in case the dancing is some kind of distraction.

[tibbius]

The dancing margr recede as the crawler lurches onward. Eventually, night falls. The land at this point is grey and rugged and covered with scraggly brown thorn bushes, among which the road staggers side to side. The dismal cold drizzle has started again. It is a salient feature of Thaemor, though not celebrated.

Do you set a watch?

[shaidar]

Hopkirk

"With the Margr problems last night I think a watch is a good idea. We could draw straws for the order."

[cybersavant]

Randar "I'll take middle watch. He examines the controls. "I wonder if there's some way to set this not to start."

[shaidar]

Hopkirk

"Good idea. I don't know much about mechanical stuff, but maybe here is something simple we can do to stop it going."

[tibbius]

Certainly, you can fiddle with this poorly-understood technology. IF you choose to do so, make a WITS roll. I'm going to bend the rules a little and tell you that Expected is that you get it to stop ... until you fix it (another WITS roll). Worse is you get it to stop for good. What are worser and better?

Also, you can choose any of the three characters to make the roll. Even Janks, if you like.

[shaidar]

I'm willing to give this a try, if cybersavant agrees. Hopkirk or Jenks should be the one to try it. I would suggest that better is that we understand that particular part of the crawler enough we don't need another roll to restart it. Worser is that it goes bang and someone gets hurt (or damages something we have?)

[cybersavant]

Randar looks at the workings of the crawler. "Not so simple a proposition, is it? Dare we chance it? Taking guard position on top would ensure we don't fall asleep during the shift and that no one can sneak on and take it."

[shaidar]

Hopkirk

"That's a good idea having the guard on top of the crawler, it might give them better visibility too. That's a far less risky idea."

[tibbius]

"I'll take the dawn watch," Janks volunteers with his usual cheerful tone.

[shaidar]

Hopkirk

"Fair enough."

He enjoys some dry rations for an evening meal, then settles down on top of the crawler for his watch, bow close to hand.

[tibbius]

Janks awakens you by shouting "Up! A l'armes!" you hear his weapon firing a staccato, and you hear a goatish shriek.


Where are you?

[shaidar]

Hopkirk

Having tried to find a spot near some bushes to protect himself from the rain, he does his best to avoid the thorns as he scrambles up, grabbing his bow.

[cybersavant]

Randar wakes up, grabs his bar and rushes to the crawler.