(13) The Last Plank (Docks Tavern)

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

"Where is this place and what creature attacks them?"

[Tamerlaine]

Suddenly bombarded with questions, Kang patiently and politely waits until he can answer. "The people live at a small oasis in the desert just outside the Old City, approximately a mile from where we stand. The oasis is a mud hole and that is where the creature lives. It is described as an iron mud worm with powerful jaws and it comes out at both day and night to catch unwary prey. The hard natural armor of this beast cannot be pierced by simple hunting weapons. Nor do the people possess armor for which to protect themselves. You and I, together we can bring down this creature. Please, will you come?"

[shaidar]

Xenos

"Seems like great risk for little reward. It's a shame we don't have bows."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"I'm with Xenos. You said that normal weapons don't hurt the beast. Then what are we supposed to do? It's not like we have gods-given swords like the heroes of old."

[sastaz]

Tuurma seems yet undecided and follows the conversation with great interest.

"I mean I want to help but I don't have any interest in dying the day after I washed ashore here."

She thinks for a second.

"Maybe if we can lure it, set a trap. What do you say Valkrina, you're a huntress?"

Back to Kang

"Are you sure it cannot be harmed by normal steel? Or is this what the farmers told you?"

[shaidar]

Xenos

"He didn't say it was immune to steel, just the simple weapons they have." he turns to Kang "What weapons do the villagers have?"

[OGRE MAGE]

The “villagers/farmers” (your words) are non-combative. They don’t own weapons or armor that will help them kill this monster.

If players don’t like any of the ideas I’ve presented for adventure so far that’s fine, but it would be helpful to me if you didn’t introduce arguments that were never suggested.

Indecision(s)

As the cool, windy Xambaali afternoon rolls ever onward towards evening, and the bloated orange mass of a dying Helios drops further below the dusty horizon, the ever chary newcomers appear to be passing up another possible opportunity to survive the night.

The young monk Kang seems bewildered by all the questions and concocted embellishments to his offered information, as if these sunburnt swordsmen were simply making up excuses to avoid helping him, but he knows he cannot fight this battle alone. Perhaps there are others nearby looking for safe shelter from the cold and dangerous streets tonight? Goodly folk who might be more willing to help save children from being eaten alive.

Actions?

Feel free to move along Tamerlaine, this is a sandbox after all, with another group of eager players and plenty of NPC’s who might be willing to help.

[sastaz]

"Maybe if we can lure it, set a trap. What do you say Valkrina, you're a huntress?"

Tuurma wants to help Kang, as per above

Will post properly in ~8 hours.

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

"If we can't earn gold we might earn reputation. Come back in to town carrying this creature's head on a pike and have the villagers dancing behind us singing our praises.

Might get us some more lucrative work later."

She considers in her limited bestiary knowledge what might pass as an 'iron mud worm'. She shrugs, just guesswork. "A solitary creature hopefully. Kill it, get lauded as heroes. What can go wrong?"

She has a bard Folklore gift:

Folklore: To identify or recall a random fact or sliver of knowledge regarding ancient artefacts, legends, myths, folklore, and other oddities.

Whether anythingexists to be gleaned, as well as the extent and veracity of the information, is ultimately the purview of the referee.

Valkrina: Intelligence vs 10: knowledge about 'Iron Mud Worm' [1d20]=15

Only fantastical beasts like Dragons or Ankhegs which are more like chitinous mantis.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus nods. "A sound argument, Valkrina. Doesn't look like easy work nonetheless, but let's do it."

[Rex]

Drest

"Work is never easy and maybe we can at least earn some allies in this place."

[OGRE MAGE]

My update was the PbP equivalent to the DM rolling a bunch of dice behind the screen before looking up with a smile.

Keep in mind, the monsters ambiguity is intentional to represent the language barrier. I would never pit you up against anything that was challenging to defeat.

[shaidar]

Xenos looks more and more unimpressed as the conversation advances. He shakes his head and sighs:

"Fine. Maybe we'll get lucky and the thing will have eaten someone wealthy and there will be gold and gems in it's guts. But, based on our luck so far, I'm thinking not."

[sastaz]

Tuurma looks around at the streets and the buildings and sighs.

"This place really is infested by evil, isn't it? We can't leave these people having their children taken from them by this monster. We owe them to at least try. Are we in agreement to help Kang then?"

She looks around, expecting nods all around.

[Rex]

Drest

"I think we try and see what happens."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Aye."

[shaidar]

Xenos still looks unimpressed after Tuurma's words:

"I don't owe these people anything, but I said I'd go with you, and I will."

[sastaz]

Tuurma looks at Xenos.

"Damn, you are even more suspicious than me. Well, I guess I can't blame you being almost drowned by a god and dumped in a desert city surrounded by ghouls."

She faces Kang again.

"Kang, we will help you. We will help you help these poor people. Will you show us the way?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Sorry for the delay here folks......

Not sure where Kang has gone.

I will update this later today either way, to give the rest of you something to do.

[Tamerlaine]

Kang stood there, still as a statue, his face stoic and enigmatic as he calmly awaited whatever consensus this group would arrive at. He made a mental note on those who were not interested (and apparent callousness) and for those who showed the promise of virtue.

When a decision was reached, Kang bent his head. "Blessings be on you all. Please follow me. We must make haste for it is dangerous to all after dark."