(Corvin/Mordred Adventure 2): Hole in the Thornwall

[archolewa]

"I do not have any objections," says Sebastian. "I will miss Mordred, he was a dear friend. But all who live, die. Those of us who have not must continue, and a part of that is building new friendships. They do not replace the old, but they enrich us all the same. And I think Kasper would agree with me. I see no reason to distract him from his work getting the refugees settled."

Astrid shrugs. Her lips twist bitterly. "Refusing help is dumb."

Sebastian gives Astrid a sharp look. Astrid ignores it. She keeps her focus on the trees surrounding the path, occasionally glancing towards the Wall behind her.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin casts a worried look Astrid's way before handing the dagger to Jalko.

"I hope this will help for now. I hardly use it anyway."

[archolewa]

Astrid shrugs at Corvin's look.

"We should also get you some armor," says Sebastian. "Hey, Kasper! I know, I know I said we shouldn't disturb him, but you know."

Kasper jogs over. "Something you need?"

Sebastian gestures to Jalko. "This is Jalko. He's one of the refugees. He was inspired by Mordred's courage and is offering to help us, but he needs some basic equipment, at least until we can get to his village. You think you can fit into Mordred's armor?"

Sebastian shoots a sheepish look at Corvin and Astrid. "Assuming we're OK with you know..."

Astrid gives a grim smile. "I'm using my dead mother's sword. My family descends from a very practical people. We always believed it was insulting to bury someone with gear that could be useful. It would be like refusing a final gift from the departed."

Kasper smiles at Astrid. "We should compare family trees. I wonder if we might share a bit of cultural lineage. And yes, I think that with a bit of adjustment I should be able to put on Mordred's armor. He's a bit taller than me, but the Refuge has designed its armor to adjust somewhat."

Astrid shrugs.

Sebastian nods, and looks at Corvin. "And how would you feel about Kasper using Mordred's armor? Then Kasper can give Jalko his mail, which seems to have some magic in it that allows it to resize to fit the wearer."

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

Astrid shrugs. Her lips twist bitterly. "Refusing help is dumb."

Jalko nods in agreement.

Corvin

Corvin casts a worried look Astrid's way before handing the dagger to Jalko.

"I hope this will help for now. I hardly use it anyway."

"Thank you" - the halfling twirls the dagger in his calloused hand - "It'll do just fine"

[shaidar]

Corvin

Sebastian nods, and looks at Corvin. "And how would you feel about Kasper using Mordred's armor? Then Kasper can give Jalko his mail, which seems to have some magic in it that allows it to resize to fit the wearer."

Corvin shakes his head "I'm fine with that. It seems pointless to just let it rust in the ground."

[archolewa]

Kasper nods. He pulls off the coal-black mail, including the accompanying helmet, and hands it to Jalko. As Jalko takes it, it seems far too big for him to fit in. But as soon as he has it fully in his hands, and he gets a proper look at it, it seems perfectly sized for him.

Kasper, now wearing just a tunic and hose, goes over to the cart. He murmurs something softly over Mordred's body as he takes the fallen warrior's plate. Astrid goes over to help him get the armor on. A bit of cursing (from both of them), a bit of futzing, and tugging on straps and before long Kasper is wearing Mordred's armor.

"Here's hoping it serves you better than it did Mordred," says Sebastian.

Kasper nods, and gives Sebastian a grim half-smile. "Here's hoping."

Kasper has worn the mail enough to get a sense of its quality, I think. The chainmail is chainmail+1, so it gives an armor class of 4 rather than 5. I'm also going to say that it gives a +1 bonus to the Halfling's Unobtrusive ability when used somewhere it is relatively dark (so at night outside, or in a dungeon lit only by lantern or torchlight) due to its dark color.

[shaidar]

Corvin

"I'm sure Mordred would be happy it's keeping a friend safe."

[archolewa]

"Yeah, I think you're right," says Kasper. "Mordred was merely mortal, like the rest of us. But his friends' safety was always a top priority."

Astrid's jaw clenches for a moment.

Kasper looks towards the wagon. "What do we want to do with his sword? It is a magnificent weapon, but I can't even touch it. Ever since the Kinslayer's death, touching a sword fills me with hideous visions of being stabbed and gashed."

"I don't use steel," says Sebastian. "It carries not even the faintest hint of the Earth Mother in it."

"It's too large for my tastes," says Astrid. "I'm trained with a shorter blade more suited to tightly-packed, shield to shield combat. You need more room to swing it than my style really allows."

[shaidar]

Corvin

"It's of no use to me. Maybe we can find someone who can make good use of it in a way that Mordred would approve of, in return for something of use to us."

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

Kasper nods. He pulls off the coal-black mail, including the accompanying helmet, and hands it to Jalko. As Jalko takes it, it seems far too big for him to fit in. But as soon as he has it fully in his hands, and he gets a proper look at it, it seems perfectly sized for him.

"Thank you" - the halfling seemed impressed, turning the mail deftly around in his hands, and evaluating its make - "Expertly made. And magical..." - he turned to Kasper once more - "Thank you again"

Kasper has worn the mail enough to get a sense of its quality, I think. The chainmail is chainmail+1, so it gives an armor class of 4 rather than 5. I'm also going to say that it gives a +1 bonus to the Halfling's Unobtrusive ability when used somewhere it is relatively dark (so at night outside, or in a dungeon lit only by lantern or torchlight) due to its dark color.

Sweet! AC2 (1 w/Shield)

He does not even speak a word about Mordred's blade.

[archolewa]

Kasper shrugs. "It belonged to Grimm, the leader of the people who kidnapped you. Seems fair that one of his victims should receive his armor as restitution."

One of the men loading the kidnap victims onto wagons calls over to Kasper. Kasper speaks with him for a moment, and then returns.

"Everyone is loaded up, people are being fed, and they're going to start taking people home. It'll be about a week for them to get everyone there, but it doesn't sound like anyone wants to split up or anything," says Kasper.

"Not a terrible idea," says Sebastian. "Raids from Outside have dropped quite a bit since the Kinslayer's death, but as we've seen, haven't gone away completely. Still, I suspect the caravan will be fine. It is large and intimidating looking. Any raiders will probably seek softer targets."

"Where is your village Jalko?" asks Astrid. "We need to travel southwest to a Monastery of the Weeping Eye."

"More like south, then west," says Kasper. "We'll be going down the Thornroad about a day or so, and then we'll turn West about half a day."

Kasper looks up at the afternoon sun. "And we can probably get about ten miles today. So, about ten more miles south along the Wall tomorow, and then ten miles West. Ish."

[shaidar]

Corvin

"It'll be good to get going, and I'm happy that it's not that far. I hate to talk about rations again, but I think we might be a little low for the journey. We might be able to pick some up at a village on the way, assuming there is one."

Sorry to bring this up and I don't want to drag it out (again)
17 outside halflings plus the 3 NPCs and 2 PCs makes 22
So we need 44 for 2 days, or 33 for 1.5 days.
We have the following:
Corvin has 7
Kasper 11
Sebastin 16
Astrid 7
Mordred: 5
Totals 46, but we need to take off 14 for the food eaten this morning, leaving 32.
So we could very likely stretch it to when we get to the monastery, or try to pick up a few rations at Jalko's village. We'll need to restock at the monastery.

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

Corvin

"It'll be good to get going, and I'm happy that it's not that far. I hate to talk about rations again, but I think we might be a little low for the journey. We might be able to pick some up at a village on the way, assuming there is one."

Jalko has 4 days worth of rations, couldn't afford any more.

"Where is your village Jalko?" asks Astrid. "We need to travel southwest to a Monastery of the Weeping Eye."

"I figure about half a day south along the Wall. I am thinking this is where we'll be spending the night in on the way to the Monastery"

Maybe we could get some rations there if archolewa agrees this would be a village which could provide such resources.

[shaidar]

Corvin

"Sleeping over at your village sounds like a good idea. How big is it? Do they have an inn for travellers, being on the Thornroad? We might be able get some food there. Jasper, would the monastery be able to provide a few days rations when we travel on from there?"

[archolewa]

You guys are bringing one of their own back home. Jalko's village will absolutely feed you. Honestly, by the end of the week, once all the victims are gotten back home, you'll be greeted with open arms at every village within a day's walk of where you are at least. Probably every village up and down the Thornwall by the time word finishes traveling.

The village doesn't have an inn or anything, it's too small. But there is a community hall where the group could probably sleep. At this time of year, if the weather is nice sleeping outside, but within the village's palisade is also an option.

The monastery will also likely provide food, since you travel with one of their Order, and are clearly invested in the mission of the Weeping Eye.