Expedition - Markd/On A Mission From Baudh - 08 May 2021

[Stirling]

Kellstrom kit list, raid as needed.


1 leather sandals worn
1 denim dungarees, linen shirts worn
1 leather belt and 3 waist pouches worn
1 book of psalms and devotional left pouch
1 leather sling and sling bullets x20 right pouch
1 twin spiked chain mace left scabberd
1 chainmail longshirt & mail coif helm AC 5 worn
1 Mule, battle familiar trained lead by hand
2 saddlebags mule
1 bedroll and woven prayer mat saddle bags
1 Lantern, with shutters saddle bags
6 Flasks of lamp oil saddle bags
6 3x wineskins and 3x waterskins Mule
1 gold plated weighing scales 25gp Rear pouch
1 heavy woollen habit, embroidered Baudh star on back worn
10 Scented meditational candles and matches Habit inner pocket.
1 Leather capped scroll case, Commune spell. Right scabberd
5 Days of Preserved Rations Trunk
5 Days of Unpreserved Rations Trunk
1 50ft hemp rope, Trunk
8 Torch firebrands Trunk
6 Days of Mule. Seed and feed Trunk
1 Mess tins, tinderbox Trunk
1 Spade, small hammer & chisel, spare cassock Trunk
5 Large sacks ( body bags)... Trunk
1 Round shield Trunk

And the mule: Piety with battle familiarity.

Body bag and spade provided, use as you see fit.

[Marullus]

As you rested three days, both the blessing of Baudh from the chapel and the curse from opening the warded door have expired. You're all normal right now.

Olaf searches through Kellstrom's adventuring gear and finds five days of fresh food and another five days preserved. You move his other gear and chainmail armor (his flail and sling both abandoned at the henge) and pack them on Piety the mule.

It takes about an hour, Olaf digging as much as any two men, to make a grave of proper depth - a solemn hole looking over the doorway to the barrowdowns just 100' away.

[Rusty Tincanne]

I pm'd Stirling about resurrecting Kellstrom. He seems okay with us burying the body and moving on. So Bremen will drop the talk of that task.

Captain Bremen
Before work onthe hole begins, Captain Bremen expresses his concern that leaving Kellstrom here may just be adding another skeleton warrior to deal with later. He urges for a cremation.

I so think it does no harm to go back to town and try for magical weapons from the Templeasure. Or blessings on our current weapons, at least. We might level up, too.
He'd be willing to explore the voices in the barrow as well.

[Zhym]

Olaf would prefer to head back to town but will stick around if the group wants to further explore the barrow. He will not go with the group if they skip the barrow to try to find the city or tower or whatever the group is ultimately looking for.

FWIW, I think it's highly unlikely we'll be able to obtain magic swords in town. If they were available and we could afford them, we'd have them. An extra 100 gp isn't going to get us a magic sword.

I'm also skeptical that we'll level. We've fought, what, maybe a dozen skeletons, defeated one gargoyle, chased off one, and fled from a third? If the gargoyle that fled counts for full XP, that's about 1400 XP to split between us, plus 100 gp worth of loot and whatever role-play or exploration XP Marullus decides to award. Unless that award is really big, the ~300 XP each of our characters is due to get on returning to town aren't going to level anyone up.

That said, I'm still of favor of returning to town. I hope this isn't too meta, but I plan to have Olaf split from the group when we get back. He's none too happy with Irving, as you might be able to tell, and on returning to town (possibly before), Olaf will reveal that he is no longer willing to adventure with Irving. Or he'll just not join the group when it sets out again. He's also a little disillusioned on this whole "Mission from Baudh" thing. What we really need for this barrow is someone who enjoys puzzles and can Read Languages. If we return to town, I can roll a new PC. If that PC happens to be a magic user who knows Read Languages and enjoys puzzles...well, he might be convinced to sign on.

[onlyme]

Markd nods,
There is extra oil. It wont hurt him any to turn to ashes now versus later.

I detect almost a consensus to head back to town. I know a few are very weak, and others no longer as committed now that you see the dangers. So, I ask... who is willing to continue on with me?

[Keehnelf]

Olaf would prefer to head back to town but will stick around if the group wants to further explore the barrow. He will not go with the group if they skip the barrow to try to find the city or tower or whatever the group is ultimately looking for.

FWIW, I think it's highly unlikely we'll be able to obtain magic swords in town. If they were available and we could afford them, we'd have them. An extra 100 gp isn't going to get us a magic sword.

I'm also skeptical that we'll level. We've fought, what, maybe a dozen skeletons, defeated one gargoyle, chased off one, and fled from a third? If the gargoyle that fled counts for full XP, that's about 1400 XP to split between us, plus 100 gp worth of loot and whatever role-play or exploration XP Marullus decides to award. Unless that award is really big, the ~300 XP each of our characters is due to get on returning to town aren't going to level anyone up.

That said, I'm still of favor of returning to town. I hope this isn't too meta, but I plan to have Olaf split from the group when we get back. He's none too happy with Irving, as you might be able to tell, and on returning to town (possibly before), Olaf will reveal that he is no longer willing to adventure with Irving. Or he'll just not join the group when it sets out again. He's also a little disillusioned on this whole "Mission from Baudh" thing. What we really need for this barrow is someone who enjoys puzzles and can Read Languages. If we return to town, I can roll a new PC. If that PC happens to be a magic user who knows Read Languages and enjoys puzzles...well, he might be convinced to sign on.

And here I thought they'd be BFFs

[Keehnelf]

Irving helps with the digging as much as he has strength to. "If we don't have our full strength, I think we should all return to town for everyone's safety."

[Zhym]

And here I thought they'd be BFFs

I thought so too when they set out. But you know what they say: a good friend will help you move; a true friend will lend you his great great great . . . granduncle's sword when he's hurt and you really need to try to kill a gargoyle.

I'm sure it's something like that.

[Marullus]

Let's keep it IC. Resuming with responses you your expedition leader...

Markd nods,
So, I ask... who is willing to continue on with me?

[Rusty Tincanne]

I see Zhym's point about leveling. Not likely, and Kells is going to burn (so why are they still digging a hole!?), so...

Captain Bremen
It's crazy, but I'll come with you. We'll take Piety, I assume, since she's on this quest too. He toys briefly with the idea of taunting Olaf with a comment about keeping oaths, but decides against it since he still wants a favor from the dwarf. Olaf, if you are set against coming with us, would you be wiling to take my share of the gold back to town? It is that much less to carry for now. You can ask the clerics at the Temple to hold onto it for us.

If Irving wants to stay with the quest, Captain Bremen will suggest staying at this site for 24 hours so he can heal up.

We should divide Kell's stuff, too. I'll let the party leader decide on that split. Captain Bremen is not interested in the mans armor, shield or helmet. We could use the oil, lantern and torches, for sure. And any food that the others don't need for getting back to town.

[Zhym]

He toys briefly with the idea of taunting Olaf with a comment about keeping oaths, but decides against it since he still wants a favor from the dwarf.

Just as well, because I don't remember Olaf swearing an oath to stay with this bunch.

"If ye were as smart as ye think ye are, ye'd go back to town and get what ye need to look at that tomb proper," answers Olaf. "I'll go with ye if ye want to go into that barrow again, but if ye be dumber'n I look and yer granite set on skipping the barrow to go wandering around looking for a place where ye don't know where it is, yeah, I'll carry yer treasures back to town."

[Keehnelf]

Irving nods. "If we've got Olaf," he smiles at the dwarf, seeming to have missed at least part of his coldness, "and I feel mostly recovered tomorrow, I'd be willing to dive in there again."

If Irving gets back up to at least 3hp he'll give it a cautious try.

[Rusty Tincanne]

If Irving gets back up to at least 3hp he'll give it a cautious try.

FYI, that is Captain Bremen's max, hence the ubiquitous use of the crossbow.

[Keehnelf]

note that clumsy Irving never picks up a ranged weapon

[Marullus]

Trying to regain focus...

Motion #1 - On to the Tower: Markd proposes continuing on to find the tower. Bremen is in. Olaf is out. No others responded.

Motion #2 - Camp a day to heal, enter Barrow first: Olaf is willing to enter the barrows again before returning to town. Irving is willing to enter with him if they rest a day first.

Will Markd and Bremen concede to searching the barrow now before pursuing your quest to reach the river?
If Markd insists on pushing onward instead of entering the barrow, will Irving go along (knowing Olaf won't)?
What is Bandy's willingness on either proposition?

Please clarify positions, then Markd can decide if he moves foward with limited crew, enters the tomb again first, or leads everyone back to town to start over.

[Rusty Tincanne]

preferences:
1. Rest a day, then delve into the barrow and find loot and information. Then go to Gaul and level up (and add XP to items so they might become magical enough to kill a gargoyle) before heading back out to the city. (We said we'd find the relic, but we didn't say right away. )
2. Go to the city with Markd and as many others as well come.

[Alethan]

Bandy Sandybanks

Bandy thinks about it for a minute before speaking, then says, "I don't know who sent you on this mission, Markd, but it might currently be more than we can handle. Did they give you a time frame for when this has to be done? If not, I think we might benefit from checking out the barrow, after a day of rest, and try to equip ourselves better. My vote is to rest a day for Irving, then enter the Barrow, then head back to Gaul. Then we can head out to that city with the clues and hopefully some better weapons."

[onlyme]

Markd answers,

No time table that I asked about or were told. I just assumed we'd walk there and get it. I didnt realize we would find so many distractions. I dont know the penalty for walking back empty-handed. I owe my life to Baudh, and I wont rest until I accomplish that task. That said, I cant do it alone. And, if I have to go back to Gaul to restock provisions and find more muscle, than I supposed I aint gotta choice.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Captain Bremen
Prior to anyone digging, Captain Bremen moves Kells' body away from their campsite ~50' (and away from the barrow). He uses a flask of Kells' own oil and douses the corpse. It was a foolish act that caused his death. He places the pouch of his gold coins in Kells' hands and starts the fire. He immediately regrets leaving the unfinished bottle of wine in the blaze and sighs.

more later. The library is kicking me out now! :O

[Marullus]

Irving heals [1d3] = 2

The tent is put back up and camp re-established. Brother Kellstrom's body is burned with funerary rites, the buried in Olaf's hand dug grave. The group settles in to rest the day for Irving, close enough to the grave to somberly reflect on last hour's decision that they couldn't rest for Kellstrom.

The day passes uneventfully, mostly. In early afternoon, a gargoyle is seen flying in the northern sky, but it never approaches. While Irving rests, the others forage in the area once more. This time, Olaf returns with a sack of fat-capped mushrooms which have popped up after the rains. (4 man-days fresh rations)

The group rises in the morning, Irving partially recovered, the decision of the Barrowdowns door before you.

Time: 12 May 2021, 7:00 am
Light source: Sun
Weather: 46 F, wind 9-14 SSW
Injuries: Irving (lightly injured)