chapter 1 : Shipwrecked!

[Synthalus]

NARRATOR

The Raiding Ship of Clan Völsung came upon the great storm like a hammer. It was tossed, turned , and crashed thru its mighty waves. The ships crew fought valiantly to keep her afloat until odin himself looked down upon them and deemed their efforts unworthy. A great arc of lightning struck the main mast of the mighty Viking vessel known as Deep-Chaser, and the ship was split in half and set adrift. Many of the crew died instantly when the flash of lightning struck, the lucky ones that remained alive held onto whatever they could for dear life. It was a long hard night for the remaining crew of the Deep-Chaser. When morning came the crew thanked the gods to find themselves washed upon a distant shore. The Isle of Stratlehiem. The crew had heard of it of course but few Viking clans ever returned from its shores. It was whispered though that three or four clans yet lived on the Isle. The crew could not help but wonder if they would be friendly or enemies. The one thing they did know, they would need to seek shelter soon and food.

GM

All of the PC's are now part of Clan Völsung. You are the survivors of the Deep-Chaser crash. Along with the PC's , six 1st lvl soldiers have survived as well as 1 war horse. The party has salvaged two barrels of water, 1 months worth of iron rations, and 9 silver ingots worth 3,000 GP. You find yourselves on a storm wrecked beach on and isle that you have never been to and is considered taboo. At the moment Horik is the highest in the Viking chain of command to survive the shipwreck , played by (PC: GreyWolfVT ) . It is up to the rest of the party whether or not they will follow his lead or strike out on their on. The game begins.

[zero4306]

The first thing I'm doing is tending to the wounded. As there isn't another healer, I'll remain with Horik.

[smoke warrior]

I am heading get to the edge of the woods and tracking for 3 types of tracks human, predator, and game.

[GreyWolfVT]

Horik Northman Warrior "We must look for a new home. Tend the wounded and we will gather what we can salvage from the wreckage. Let us make sure no enemies are near. Scout for signs and be ready. We should not stay here long." Horik helps gather up whatever can be salvaged and aids where he can in getting the wounded to the healer.

[Inferno]

Morag Mac Tharn, pict savage:

Morag nodded once at Horik's command. He sniffed the air for the scent of man: livestock, fire, smoke, food. Wrinkling his nose animated the tribal scarring and blue, woad-like tattoos that emblazoned his proud, stoic face. (Anything?)

Then, without a word, the barefoot, stone-age primitive ran inland, low to the ground, scouting and looking for tracks with his stone knife in his hand. It was good to be back on dry land again.

He'll fan out in a different direction than that of Smoke Warrior's scout. Here's his Tracking Skill roll. Thanks!
Tracking (90% base): [1d100] = 75

Everyone, could you please tag the top of your posts with your name and class for a little while, until we all know and recognize each other? Thanks.
Happy to be gaming with all of you!

[Dogma]

Torvald Torvaldsson, Northerner Berserker

Torvald considers Horik's orders, then shrugs and moves to help salvage what they can from the wrecked ship. Someone must lead, and it might as well be Horik for now.

[Synthalus]

NARRATOR

The Clan Volsung survivors quickly tend to their wounded and I thus doing gain 2 more 1st soldiers from the gates of Valhalla. Salvaging the shipwreck proves to be a daunting task, one that the crew of the Deep-Chaser are accustomed to. They manage to salvage much of the ships wood, sails, and various tools for building. They gather enough wood from the vessel to build a simple longhouse along the coast for shelter.
Both the Pict savage and the Clan scout search the immediate area along the shoreline and woodline for any sign of passage, be it animal or human.
As the Clan sets themselves to purpose a single barrel washes ashore with a pair of legs sticking out the top. It seems that The Clan Jester has survived in his own unique way, which brings a chuckle from the survivors of the wreck. Trovald helps pull the little man from the barrel and set him to the task of helping the others with the salvage operation.

GM

Fenrir Blackmane and Morag Mac Tharn scout the area but find no sign of human presence. They do find plenty of animal track, specifically, Deer, bear, warthog, armadillo, skunk, weasel, and wolf tracks. This land seems to be teaming with animal life. Which is a good sign for the two trackers. I have presented a map of the parties location. The Ships map has survived and after the two scouts report back to Horik, he is able to triangulate their position.

[Synthalus]

NARRATOR

The Viking survivors believed themselves safe and secure after the scouts reported back. Little did they know they were being observed by something right beneath their noses, that was intelligent enough to cover its tracks.

[zero4306]

Fenris: Cleric

How many CLW does it take to heal the two soldiers?

Before we start moving, I tell the party to gather close to me, and I cast Prot Evil on the group.

[Inferno]

Morag Mac Tharn, pict savage:

Morag was a primitive Pict from a very different tribe than the Pict Jester, whom Morag did not completely understand. Clan Voslung had adopted Morag, given him a home, treated him as one of their own. The stone age tribesman did not take this lightly. He was intensely loyal to Voslung and Horik. He gave his report to Horik in broken Common. "No sign of Men. Animal tracks. Good hunting grounds."

Morag readied his spear and bow and moved into the woods in search of game to feed his Clan.

Tracking (90% base): [1d100] = 86
Hide in natural surroundings: (47%): [1d100] = 43
Move quietly: (35%): [1d100] = 83

And in case those goblins try anything...
Surprised only 10% of the time. 5% in familiar terrain: [1d100] = 91

[GreyWolfVT]

Horik "Very well. But I still have an uneasy feeling we are being watched. We should post some guards and consider if a camp here is a smart plan or not." he informs as the scouts return and report. Waiting for others to chime in. "We should eat, keep our bodies strong and be ready for anything that might attack. Who knows what creatures are out here." he says as he motions at the wilderness around their makeshift long house.

[zero4306]

Fenris

I would advise against camping on the shore. Not only would we be an easy target for any enemy forces from the treeline, we would also be vulnerable to anything from the sea herself. I suggest we send one of the scouts with two men to find a more secure location to set up a base of operations.

[smoke warrior]

Fenrir Blackmane Northman Figther/Scout

"We need food, shelter and a safe place to defend while we explore our new home. I say we do all 3 at once and follow the bears tracks I found in hopes that it leads us to its cave."

[GreyWolfVT]

Horik shaking his head Horik speaks up "Caves aren't as secure and safe as you might think." why would we build a longhouse here anyways mr DM? None of us mentioned building a longhouse just salvaging wreckage. "We need a place to stay for now it may be a lot of work moving the salvaged wreckage but we do have some food here. Less anyone wishes for a hunt. It's not fresh but better than starving."

[Scott308]

Bilit Taauth, Atlantean Witch

I too have some healing ability, although minor. I can give aid if needed.

[zero4306]

Fenris

Regardless, we cannot remain in such a vulnerable position. I suggest we take what we absolutely need, and venture inland.

[smoke warrior]

Fenrir Blackmane North man Fighter/Scout

"Yes caves can be dangerous but it is safer than staying on an unknown beach where we can be attacked from every angle. In a Cave we only have to defend from 2 sides, and as for food we do not have enough to last us very long our 2 main goals need to be temporary shelter until we can find a place to build and food anything beyond that is foolish."Fenrir says with a scowl on his face. The young warrior not willing to back down so easily knowing the entire clans life's are at stake.

[GreyWolfVT]

Horik "We must save the clan, or at least what remains of it. To that we all can agree. Caves have more than one front, the caves always have at least one other entrance usually tunnels and hidden passages. So don't count on only having to protect from the face of a cave. Let us move off of this beach with what we can of necessity. Don't overbear yourself."

[Dogma]

Torvald, Northerner Berserker

The northeren finds himself siding with Horik. "I argue against the cave also. One way in means means one way out too. To easy to trap us all like flies in a bottle."

[Synthalus]

NARRATOR
It is noon time on the Isle of Startlehiem and the men of Clan Volsung Prepare to move off the beach. They take what they can without to much burden at Horik's request and venture into the tree line to where the bear tracks begin. Horik and the young scout argue some more and the Pict savage comes back with three rabbits.

There is still 5-6 hours of daylight left. If the party can decide on a course of action they can have shelter and a full belly by nightfall.

The long house is makeshift, and thus easy to transport. The picture is of the longhouse once it is in a solid location. As it stands now the longhouse has rods coming out the sides of it for easy movement by six men.