IC Story Thread: Ch.1, Ad.3 - Black Hand

OOC:

Yea, if nothing else, the vision was meant to convey - the figures were not Druedain (they wore boots and cloaks) , not orcs (the hand was clean and trimmed), and it's a good insight you picked out that it wasn't a workman's or soldiers hand.

Did that feel satisfying? Worth an Inspiration?

This is a totally non-RAW ability and the first time we're trying it out, so I can adjust the amount of information it provides...

In a situation where there was more water/more contact with the water, you would likely be able to learn more.

Jan 3, 2025 3:39 pm

OOC:

I think you pitched it great - small details contributing to a bigger picture, it's not like he was checking CCTV footage 😅
And Cirion is just learning to use these strange powers, so it all made sense, thanks

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jan 3, 2025 11:32 pm

"I think we should. We will either find an enemy or a potential ally."

Jan 4, 2025 10:03 pm

"Yes." Duinhir agrees. "It should be possible to track them."

OOC:

Leaving a roll to track the persons through the wilderness either for more information or just to follow their tracks.

[ +- ] Ways of the Wild

[ +- ] Tracker

Rolls

Survival (advantage) - (2d20H1+5)

(1815) + 5 = 23

Jan 7, 2025 4:32 pm

OOC:

Daaang, Duinhir's quite the tracker!

The frozen earth may not take much for tracks, but the crust of snow cover and the dry and dead high alpine grasses do. Duinhir has no problems finding and following their path.

The route the travelers are taking is a winding one. There is no existing path and their progress is slow, taking the course of least resistance while still traveling in a generally westward direction.

Duinhir can tell there are frequent pauses in their progress. And their steps small, unhurried. You have the ability to catch up to them if you wish, to a large or small degree as desired. Or you can simply match their pace and just wait until they arrive at any destination.

OOC:

Do you all want to catch up to them (and possibly risk detection the closer you get?), or confront them, or stay well back not knowing where they night be going and so if it might or might not be helpful to you?

Jan 7, 2025 7:28 pm

"They don't seem to be in haste. Should we catch up with them?" Duinhir asks.

OOC:

From what we have seen there are two of them, right? I suppose the tracks would reveal if it was a much larger group.

Jan 7, 2025 7:36 pm

OOC:

Ooo interesting thought. I hadn't thought about that thought...

Yes, only the two of them that you're following but, you did roll quite well, so...

As you all move along, following their trail, Duinhir notices that the only fresh tracks are indicative the two figures you've seen.

However. Their fresh tracks do occasionally cross older sets of tracks, also booted, from time to time.

So, only two people have passed this way recently. Presumably the two you witnessed from afar.

But Iin the preceding days or weeks - however long it's been since the last snow probably (which you don't know), there is evidence of a greater but indeterminate number (due to the age of the tracks - not necessarily volume) of others that have also passed generally this way. Though there is no defined trail, they're all clearly going the same direction.

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jan 9, 2025 8:15 am

"It appears this trail is used at times by others besides the Druedain. Perhaps it leads to a village. I shall stay to the rear, to reduce the chances of revealing our presence." Éothain hums a barely-audible tune as they walk.

Jan 9, 2025 3:37 pm

OOC:

I think I've mentioned this before, but so just as a reminder, as your PCs would know: it is well known that the Andrast peninsula here where you are, is considered completely unsettled.

And so that we don't get bogged down, or lose sight of possible options, I'm going to go ahead and give you guys some specific options, as I'm not sensing the will to drive the investigation/narrative from you guys atm. Which is a common problem with investigation focused games, so no worries on my end.

1. You can continue to follow them at a great distance as you are now - hours behind them, not risk detection, and just see where they go. But the risk in doing that is, not knowing where they're going, it could set you back days or even weeks from finding whatever the mark signifies on the nautical map, depending on where they're going.

2. The opposite of that would be to try to catch up to them as quickly as possible, to... just see who they are? Confront them. See if you all tracking them servers any purpose at all toward your goal. The risk here tho is, well it would ruin any sort of advantage you might have if they are enemies in them not knowing you're there, and ofc maybe it'd spark a fight even? But maybe they're friendly and can somehow help?

3. You could do something in between. Get closer. Risk detection. But do something to try to learn more about them, before confronting them. Maybe you succeed and learn more, or maybe you're detected and essentially you're at #2 right?

4. Stop following them and just try to navigate toward the X using the nautical map. Which as mentioned, will be difficult, as it's not meant for overland navigation and doesn't have any indication of typography for example.

So perhaps discuss those options, ooc or ic. If you have any questions that you feel need answered to make a choice, plz ask those questions.

Jan 9, 2025 7:11 pm

OOC:

I feel this must be something interesting based on the fact that these people are not Druedain and this is unsettled lands.
My vote is for the in-between option of risking to get closer to learn more but not confront them before we know more. I'm however open to other suggestions

Cirion of Pelargir

Jan 9, 2025 9:47 pm

OOC:

I'd say (2) has its advantages - if they are allies, great, and if they are foes, we outniumber them and might have a good chance to best them / take them prisoners? They are checking the Stone Sisters, they might be the ones rendering them blind (or, like us, they are after the perpetrators)

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jan 10, 2025 7:06 am

OOC:

I vote for #2. We'll have to confront them at some point. If we do it openly, that increases the chances that they trust us.

Jan 11, 2025 7:04 pm

OOC:

Good points for 2

Jan 13, 2025 4:34 pm

OOC:

I'm sure you guys have noticed as well, but @Thunder_Lungz has seemingly ghosted us, since the holidays.

But so it sounds like 2 has it?

Could you guys give some narrative toward that end?

Some considerations might be (tho also please include your own): Do you approach still with caution/moving quickly but trying to remain hidden as long as possible (in which case, please each make a Stealth check at disadvantage), or just completely unhidden but not hailing them either, or do you start hailing them once you get within earshot bidding them to stop and wait?

In the daylight or at night?

Etc.

How do you approach?

Cirion of Pelargir

Jan 14, 2025 1:05 pm

Encouraged by what he found out, and by the fact that the two figures they spotted in the distance seem to be no Orc, or Druedain, he petitions to the others.

"Brave companions! We should make haste - they probably have spotted us as we spotted them, so it might be worth catching up with them by the shortest route, putting stealth aside. If we set off now, we have a good chance to reach them. We shall see if those men are responsible for the Sisters' blindness.
They are the best lead we have!"

OOC:

I say go for haste! Catch the fellows, think about their reaction once we're on them...

Jan 14, 2025 7:13 pm

OOC:

If the sneaky guy says, no sneak, then that's what I'll go with :P

You all begin to pursue the travelers with haste. There will be no concealing your approach, and so it is not a matter of if they will notice your approach, but when.

Their path has begun to take them up a shoulder of the mountain, and so they do make occasional switch backs and it is on one of these turns that they seem to notice your approach.

You're still a couple hundred meters away, but you can see the two stop in their tracks, they appear to confer with each other for a few moments - raising hands to block out the glare of the sun as they look in your direction. Then they start into a jog going a bit further up the mountain side. There is nowhere for them to hide, but they have stopped at what could be considered the most defensible position available to them.

A rocky out-cropping that sits perhaps 25 feet above the path they just took to ascend the hillside. Which is also the path you would have to take, to approach them directly.

Though you could of course detour to approach from a different route, or if you do wish to approach them directly you could certainly attempt to parlay from a safe distance...

Jan 14, 2025 10:11 pm

"Hello there" Duinhir shouts at a safe distance from the outcrop. "We mean you no harm. We just want a word. Travelers are few and far between in these lands, what brings you here? Can we come closer?"

Jan 15, 2025 3:58 pm

There is a brief pause and their mouths work silently as they exchange words with each other that are too quiet for you to hear.

"Hail! You gave us a scare, coming after us in such hurry as you did...

We have no wealth!", the speaker pauses to hold open their traveling cloak, turning a circle to prove that he has only a backpack, and that sags with some weight at the bottom, but otherwise it does look largely empty.

It also serves to display a sword at his hip.

The companion sits still as stone, making no such gestures, gripping a long spear in one hand.

"And we will leave our food for you, here, on this rock!

We do not wish to be bothered, and I tell you, we will be more trouble for you than what we carry will be worth!"

It's hard to tell what exactly it is, due to the need to shout to communicate, but the speakers words bear some heavy accent.

OOC:

If/as you continue to parlay, please provide an appropriate check for your goals, along with the narrative.

Also, as always, let me know if you have any questions for me, or want to make other checks.

Jan 16, 2025 4:54 pm

OOC:

I know we lost the PC who was probably our skilled talker but there are mechanics you can leverage here in your favor - namely the Help action.

Cirion of Pelargir

Jan 16, 2025 5:50 pm