1. The hunt ends?

[mb.]

The gnoll's eyes narrow, and he looks back and forth between Oelle and Bedwyr, "this one lives? This one goes to pack?"

[mb.]

Just to get clear on everyone after the slow weekend:

Oelle is bent over the gnoll talking with him, right?
Bedwyr is behind Oelle and holding one of the chains?
Boggs and Dunwick are where and doing what?

[KingOfCowards]

"Not even real silver" Boggs announces to no one in particular. This doesn't stop him from placing the chain in a small sack, and collecting the others if he can.

He gives Oelle a questioning stare, while he treats the patient. Then shrugs at Bedwyr. Chuckling, quietly to himself while imagining the doctor dragging around a gnoll and then being eaten for all his trouble.

[mb.]

This doesn't stop him from placing the chain in a small sack, and collecting the others if he can.

Okay Boggs, there are four chains:

1. One's around the neck of the surviving gnoll (I'm assuming you're not collecting that one, yet)
2. Bedwyr has one – are you asking him for it?
3. One hasn't been touched by anyone, it's still around the neck of the throat-slashed gnoll.
4. Oelle gave you one.

[KingOfCowards]

This doesn't stop him from placing the chain in a small sack, and collecting the others if he can.

Okay Boggs, there are four chains:

1. One's around the neck of the surviving gnoll (I'm assuming you're not collecting that one, yet)
2. Bedwyr has one – are you asking him for it?
3. One hasn't been touched by anyone, it's still around the neck of the throat-slashed gnoll.
4. Oelle gave you one.

Correct. If possible meant with as little effort as possible. He leaves the one on alive gnoll, Bedwyr can keep it for himself or put it in Boggs' bag. Although, I still believe we killed four, not three. Two dead by Bedwyr's blade, and two more to Boggs.

[Spartakos]

Bedwyr has no issue letting Boggs hang onto the chains for now, and will relinquish his to him if asked; assume that happened.
Also, yes, your assumption about Bedwyr's positioning seems correct to me.

[mb.]

I think we went through the tally earlier, and Spartakos was right: there were 6 + alpha, Bedwyr killed two, Boggs killed one & hamstrung one, so 3 dead, 1 immobile, 2 + alpha ran away. So there are 4 chains, as described above, and Boggs has now collected three of them.

So without Oelle for a couple days, we're not going to resolve the living gnoll situation, so maybe let's do the End of Session move?

[mb.]

Since we don't actually have sessions as such, I declare this the end of session, for purposes of the End of Session move. Here's the move:

When you reach the end of a session, (1) choose one of your bonds that you feel is resolved (completely explored, no longer relevant, or otherwise). Ask the player of the character you have the bond with if they agree. If they do, mark XP and write a new bond with whomever you wish.

Once bonds have been updated (2) look at your alignment. If you fulfilled that alignment at least once this session, mark XP. Then answer these three questions as a group:

(3) Did we learn something new and important about the world?
(4) Did we overcome a notable monster or enemy?
(5) Did we loot a memorable treasure?

For each “yes” answer everyone marks XP.

For 1 to 5 above, can you each please answer and explain, e.g. if a bond was resolved, which one with who? When did you fulfill your alignment move? And so on... Don't feel you need to squeeze every XP out it – as you can see the end of session will come pretty often, and it only takes 8 XP to level.

[jbinc]

Given my general lack of combat-ness, Boggs do you agree Dunwick hit the bond that you "...don't trust him, and rightfully so?"

My alignment is to avoid a conflict or defuse a tense situation... don't think that was hit this session.

As for the 3 questions, the good thing about session 1 is you always learn something (everything!) new and important about the world. I'm not sure how memorable the gnolls were in the scheme of things, but those silver chains may become memorable treasures?

[KingOfCowards]

If the goal is to confirm a bond, Dunwick has succeeded. Boggs probably trusts him even less after he disappeared during combat.

1) I do not feel any other bonds have been fulfilled.
2) Neutral alignment for a thief - Avoid detection or infiltrate a location. Yes. I believe so. No infiltration, but I feel Boggs snuck up on a gnoll to give it a good old fashioned backstab which should count at avoiding detection.
3) Did we learn something new and important about the world?
No. I do not believe we learned anything profound. New maybe, but not important.
4) Did we overcome a notable monster or enemy?
Honestly, not really. Just a pack of gnolls in my book. Unless I know who they are, I don't find them notable.
5) Did we loot a memorable treasure?
Could be. Four almost-silver chains aren't that memorable just yet.

[mb.]

I'd tend to agree with Joe on 3): you learned everything you know about the world this session, so definitely enough that's new & important to warrant XP. I'd agree that 4) the gnolls aren't necessarily notable, but I'd think 5) that magical mystery metal chains are memorable.

But in the end it's totally up to you if you get any XP or not...

[Pulpatoon]

I'd say two XP for Oelle, this session. One for treating the Gnoll, despite self interest, although it seems the gnoll didn't really need it. The other for basically discovering that Onde needs to be rescued from gnolls who themselves may be under magical bondage. Does that seem about right?

[mb.]

So with XP, 1 & 2 (bonds & alignment) are individual, and 3, 4 & 5 are for everyone in the group together.

If no one strongly disagrees, here's my suggestion for XP. For Bonds & Alignment:

Oelle gets 1 XP for alignment since he used magic to directly aid another.
Boggs gets 1 XP for alignment for avoiding detection and backstabbing the gnoll.

For the rest everyone gets 2 XP (on top of the above), since you learned everything you know about the world this session (new and important), and you looted the chains which appear to probably be valuable and are enchanted with something nasty (memorable).

Shall we continue?

[KingOfCowards]

Sounds good. Continue onward.

After collecting what passes as treasure, Boggs will check back with Neff and see if he has come up with anything on a path to follow.

[mb.]

Ah, just occurred to me: Oelle did aid others, but didn't use magic to do it, so take that 1 XP off. Sorry about that.

You're deep in The Wood, where occasional shafts of early afternoon light slant through the dark green air. It would all be idyllic were it not for the stink of the four gnoll corpses lying about amongst large puddles of blood between the trees.

Boggs has gathered four chains from the dead gnolls' necks. Oelle is trying to talk the surviving gnoll into leading you all to his pack, to which he only replied, "this one lives? This one goes to pack?". And Bedwyr is standing behind Oelle, dumbfounded by his compassion for the creature.

Neff pushes his way through the bushes, "it certainly looks like the big one ran straight home." He points through the forest where the alpha disappeared, "best chance we have of finding your woman is that way."

[Pulpatoon]

Oelle to the gnoll: "We'll try. But you can't put any weight on that leg. We'll need to devise a way to carry you. How far is it?"

[mb.]

The gnoll looks a little confused. "Carry? This one?" He seems incapable of imagining or believing that you'd do that, or maybe just why you would.

He thinks a moment. "Pack run half day here."

[Spartakos]

Grumbling about "ridiculous situations" and "softhearted fools", Bedwyr cuts and trims a tree limb to serve as a crutch. "Here. Let him hobble on this. Better than carrying him, which I doubt he would enjoy any more than I would." Laying a hand on his pommel, he adds, "And mark me, gnoll...if we get to your pack and they try to kill us, don't think you're going to outlive me."

[Pulpatoon]

Oelle, ignoring Bedwyr's grumbling, fashions a splint to immobilize the the gnoll's leg. He makes it rather more cumbersome and restrictive than the gnoll actually needs, seeing as it isn't really all that injured. He is trying to hobble the gnoll to prevent it slipping off as much as anything. "Here, this will make sure the leg heals straight. The crutch may be the best thing, if your... pack is so far away. What is the terrain like between here and there? Easy walking?"

[mb.]

The gnoll looks the whole time like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop, but he accepts the splint and crutch and with your help is able to stand. He nods at Oelle, "Easy run. Follow water."