Session 1: The House of the Three Squires

[Enoch]

"Given that whining, it sounds more scared than angry. If we don't approach it, I imagine we're safe enough."

[Faolan7]

Who's clearing the rubble? Is it Swelan?

Edit: Oops. Didn't see Enoch's post. Sorry. Keep doing what you're doing.

[Rusty Tincanne]

None of us have Peasant or Laborer, so there will be no help from anyone in the group unless we are really creative and Faolin is gullible.

Swelan, Peith and Magda all have Health 4 for their beginner's luck roll. But Peith and Magda have Fresh (+1D) and a trait, should they desire +1D.

The dog can wait longer, without fear of harm. Why not climb back up and rest before trying to rescue it?

[Enoch]

Technically, we should still face essentially the same check to get back into the other room as we did to get in here, since we haven't successfully mapped.

[Marullus]

None of us have Peasant or Laborer, so there will be no help from anyone in the group unless we are really creative and Faolin is gullible.

That's presumptive. There's no guarantee that Faolin's going to have a test for moving the junk out of the way. It is potentially a "say yes" moment, or it might be trapped as the challenge-faced. (Personally, I hope that junk stacked by kobolds isn't that much of a challenge to humans.)

Currently: Peitharian and Swelan are both wary but want to check the room. Peitharian recommended Swelan move the rubble while he guards with his shield in case of trouble. Does Swelan do it? If not, does Peitharian do it? If neither of them take the risk (and presuming Magda and Isabelle are not going to bypass them to do so) we go to the archway.

Faolin: With the barricade in place but the archway open, are we safe to camp here and take a break? We've been assuming, but haven't gotten a direct answer.

[Faolan7]

Yeah, you'd be able to camp where you are. I can't guarantee a safe campsite here though. You guys are basically in a kobold lair at the moment.

[Rusty Tincanne]

The dog can wait longer, without fear of harm. Why not climb back up and rest before trying to rescue it?

One test to get up. Then spend a check to enter the camp phase before the grind. Close the door at the top of the stairs and we'll be a bit safer, at least.

Or, if no one cares to keep fresh, then let's move the debris.

[coil23]

Peitharian gives a withering look of disappointment at the girl (well-practiced) at her lack of concern. He whispers, I worry of traps and ambushes. What better bait than that of something innocent suffering? We should investigate but with caution in case it is something other than it sounds. Peitharian readies his shield to stand beside whoever will start to clear the debris. If anything untoward happens (falling debris, attack by ne'er-do-wells, etc.) then Peitharian will step forward to block any damage to the person clearing.

[Marullus]

Yeah, you'd be able to camp where you are. I can't guarantee a safe campsite here though. You guys are basically in a kobold lair at the moment.

This is a pure judgement call by the GM. Most camps will be “typical” for their location. But if the GM feels you’re close to a patrol route, that’s unsafe.... If you’re camping in crumbling, undead-infested ruins, that’s dangerous.

So, there are clear rules on relative safety. It sounds like clear guidance from Faolan. Each level of danger provides a different roll for the likelihood of a camp event. On a roll of "Disaster," our camp is broken and we lose all our checks. Otherwise we likely risk an inconvenience, which are survivable but, well, inconvenient... likely still worth it to keep Fresh.

Faolin, can we get a better idea of our situation? Is the cellar "unsafe" or "dangerous"? Is the room upstairs (if we choose to go back up with a test) rated "Typical" or "Unsafe"?

It looks like all of us have deferred action to Swelan, so it is his call to move us forward. Peitharian and Isabelle are both in favor of moving the rubble but neither is willing to do so. Does Swelan move the rubble, or no? If not, does he lead us back up to the previous room or camp here?

[Rusty Tincanne]

Feeling it is his task to keep you all safe and healthy, Perthrin will not move the rubble until after camping. He prefers to move back up to the kitchen if it is safer than where we are.

If we stay where we are, we can try to do something to make our campsite a bit safer/comfortable. That would be Turn 3, then enter camp phase.

The dog will (hopefully) survive until after we camp.

Oh. As I outlined before, it makes more sense for Peith or Magda to clear the rubble. Swelan will do it, but he has the same Beginner's luck score but lacks the +1D for Fresh.

[Faolan7]

Where you are currently would be an Unsafe campsite, but with a blocked door, the kitchen would be Typical.

[coil23]

Peitharian was not offering to move the rubble because he thought he would do more good holding the shield at the ready. But if that is not a concern then Peitharian will move the rubble.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Before anyone moves the rubble:

We are in Turn 2. Any more tests puts at Turn 3 and we need to enter the camp phase in Turn 3 to avoid hitting the grind (and you all losing Fresh). If the rubble is moved (and it costs a turn and the dog doesn't create any issues, etc), that would leave us camping in an unsafe location. If we get back into the kitchen with a passed test, we all rest in a typical campsite and likely get rest and you all keep Fresh.

I am looking to the lot of you to decide if you want to press onwards or make camp. Having Fresh is a really nice boost and impossible to reattain until after the Town phase (and from what I have read, it isn't easy to get back there, either). It is your choice if you want to lose the +1D on all tests or if you want to camp. If we want to camp, lets get back to the kitchen so it actually helps us. Or spend a turn improving this area.

If you want to press ahead, Swelan will attempt to move the rubble. He won't likely succeed in a laborer test, but I'm interested to see the outcome (success with condition vs twist vs failure).

[Marullus]

We only have two tests down. Risking a test to get back up to the kitchen, camping there, then risking a test to come back down potentially nets us only one test/turn (turn 1 instead of currently turn 2) for all that effort. (Although, investing three full turns for health tests climbing up and down the rickety stairs is enough tests to advance Isabelle's attribute, all before advancing the story to the first real encounter.)

I think this is getting overwrought. There is no difference in the chance of Disaster between the two sites - we are more likely to have a minor inconvenience. The chance of any disaster at all can be eliminated by securing this site (we get a +1 to the roll if Swelan makes a successful Survivalist test for Turn 3 before we camp.)

I want to see us advance the story, even with a little risk. Isabelle will advocate for saving the puppy. I don't care which route we take as a player, I just want the narrative going forward. Also, for planning purposes, Isabelle is prepared to charm the dog if it isn't nice and grateful, which doesn't take a turn to do.

Isabelle stomps her foot petulantly at the adults' indecision. "It is a dog. A sad, scared dog. Tortured by kobolds. You want to leave it, sad and alone, while we go to the kitchen to make dinner and take a nap? Seriously? It has feelings, you know! It isn't like IT is an emotionless walking corpse."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Swelan turns his head away in shame. He is supposed to prove his humanity, yet won't save man's best friend. He sets his sword down at the edge of the room, Right, you are. Best get to the edges of the room in case of more of these explosions. He walks to the side of the pile, and once everyone has cleared to the sides, he begins to slowly dismantle the pile, using reassuring words to calm the dog. I'll be in there in a moment.

[Marullus]

Isabelle looks mollified, but not satisfied by this outcome. She dutifully steps off to the side and looks conflicted at Swelan's own hurt feelings.

[Rusty Tincanne]

teenage girls... I'll never understand them. Not even when they are fictional.

[Faolan7]

Swelan: Make an Ob 1 Laborer test to clear the debris.

You guys are all doing wonderful jobs playing your characters. It doesn't feel artificial at all, and it is absolutely amazing. Thank you.

[Rusty Tincanne]

I don't have the book/pdf with me at the moment. For BL, it is 1/2 of my health score, correct? So 2D?

[Marullus]

Plus help. I think anyone can help on an Attribute.