The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford

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Jun 14, 2025 2:42 pm
OOC:
Also, Gann -- I totally missed your post. Vivian's not holding you against your will. If you'd rather press on -- you can!
Jun 15, 2025 3:29 pm
Seeing the that the light of day is already failing, and the offer of rest, Gann lets Vivian lead him inside.

With his lungs burning and a low gurgling behind his breath, he hopes that Brother Dirk can hold out another night.
Last edited June 15, 2025 3:29 pm
Jun 15, 2025 3:32 pm
Wren enters Vivian’s once again and spends some time fooling with the bangles and scabbard to find out if they have any magical properties.

After that, she asks for a quill and paper from Vivian and sings the Song of the Thrush and the Meadow, which allows her to draw a map that "reveals the most expedient course between any two points," choosing Vivian's hut and the site where they can find out about the missing brother, Dirk!

Wren's Song
Jun 15, 2025 8:26 pm
"No point in trying to rescue someone if we have to be rescued ourselves."

With Vivian's permission, Sable sets up a makeshift camp for the rest of the group, well away from the pond full of mischievous nixies. He uses the spike and cord that is left after their encounter for the day to put up a lean-to with his cloak. He sets borrowed bedrolls below. He looks less frumpy with his long cloak gone and looks like he could be rather kind in the weak campfire he makes. The scowl that soon sets on his face as he thinks about his lost tarp quickly brings back his sour disposition. After such a stressful day, Kitt seems to enjoy the large area to run around in, giving the pond a wide berth. Once he is tired out, he happily curls up with Sable to sleep the night through.
Last edited June 15, 2025 8:27 pm
Jun 15, 2025 9:09 pm
OOC:
Good stuff, everyone. We’re over the hump. I’ll get working on a post to move us forward.
Jun 15, 2025 9:31 pm

PART III: THE SEARCH FOR BROTHER DIRK
The night passes.

Vivian sends Gann packing in the morning to rejoin his crew, and while he’s not fully healed he is on the mend. Nessa, Sable, and Wren are all a touch groggy in the morning. Resting outside was not as restful, as the grounds surrounding the witch’s hut seemed rather… active… through the night.

Wren’s map shows where they need to go to find Brother Dirk: due north through heavy woods, about a league from Vivian’s property. A bit of investigation tells the party that there are no trails to pick up; they will be trail-blazing if they go in that direction.
OOC:
The Night Watch passes; the Morning Watch has arrived.

Sable makes camp, enjoys time with Kitt, and removes Fatigue from the pond… then adds one Fatigue because Kitt had trouble sleeping — the area around Vivian’s hut is *alive* with sounds at night, and the wolf was on edge. Which kept Sable up…

Nessa spends time reading her book. She begins trying to research the nature of fauns, and what might help in dealings with them. I’ll cover the mechanics on this is a moment, but Nessa also gains one Fatigue overnight — staying up too late with the book!

Wren sings her song, makes her map, and enjoys Vivian’s company until she’s shooed outside so that the old woman can look after Gann. She removes all that Fatigue from the pool, then gains one because restless dreams robbed her of a good night’s rest. What was she dreaming about? Oh, and she’s unable to suss out anything special about the handles or scabbard.

Gann rests, in the care of Vivian. He is wrapped in quilts and fed delicious soup and honeyed tea — and in the morning is feeling much better! He removes any Fatigue from his sheet, and has recovered 2pts of STR.

Nessa, Wren and Sable, mark off one Ration and mark your Hit Points to full. (The meal Vivian prepared was delicious, but you only got one serving. Gann was well-fed.)

Everyone remember to manage your inventory based on your Fatigue.

Rolls

Weather - (1d6)

(1) = 1

Wilderness Event - (1d6)

(4) = 4

Wilderness Action: Travel / Chance of Getting Lost - (1d6)

(1) = 1

Night Watch Wilderness Event - (1d6, 1d6)

1d6 : (5) = 5

1d6 : (5) = 5

Jun 16, 2025 1:48 am

Nessa’s Research
The book in Nessa’s possession is utterly enthralling. It is voluminous, disorganized, hard to comprehend, coming apart, packed with loose pamphlets, sketches and notes, and is engrossing to pour through. It contains multiple volumes that cover a dizzying variety of topics, and it’s all too much for the young woman on her initial multi-hour read…
OOC:
Here’s how you get info from this book:

1. Decide on a subject you want to research.
2. Spend a Watch reading.
3. Roll 1d6. Add +1 if you are reading the book by moonlight. Add +1 if you have already researched this subject.
4. On a 1-3, you don’t learn anything about your chosen subject.
5. On a 4-5, you gain partial knowledge about the subject, or you learn about a different subject.
6. On a 6, you learn everything the book contains on a subject.
7. On a 7, you learn everything the book contains on a subject and something additional.

Notes: If you fail twice on a specific subject, there is nothing to learn on that subject in the book. Subjects in the book include the fae, magic, ancient lore, etc.

Rolls

Reading Rolls (+1 in Moonlight) - (1d6+1, 1d6+1)

1d6+1 : (1) + 1 = 2

1d6+1 : (1) + 1 = 2

Jun 16, 2025 2:50 am
Wren greets the dawn with a groggy yawn and a stretch. She shakes her head, recalling the violent dream she had the night before. She'd always been one to hold a grudge, unfortunately, and last night her revenge fantasies showed up in spades. In her dream, she saw the king who condemned her kind, trying to drive them into hiding, and she reveled in revenge, dreaming that she drowned him in the river with her bare hands.

She breathes intentionally, trying to regain her serenity. It takes much of the early morning before she feels calm again. Finally, she stands, ready to start her day.
Jun 16, 2025 11:24 am
Gann said thanks Vivian graciously for her help, then head outside to join his companions.

So we have a heading, but do we have a path? Should we look for a trail or head straight through the wilderness? The priest in Brandonsford seemed to think there was a path somewhere. Perhaps on the map?
Jun 16, 2025 3:28 pm
OOC:
If I recall correctly, you did buy a map, yes? I’m realizing that Cairn’s travel and exploration rules really differentiate traveling on roads, paths and trails, and in the wild. So — added paths to the map you bought. The one in red / pink is what Wren drew.
[ +- ] Map of the Area
It’s highly likely that if he was headed for the tomb… Dirk took the river-side path.
Jun 16, 2025 3:30 pm
OOC:
Also, love this:
Quote:
In her dream, she saw the king who condemned her kind, trying to drive them into hiding, and she reveled in revenge, dreaming that she drowned him in the river with her bare hands.
But I have to ask — what constitutes ‘Wren’s kind?’
Jun 16, 2025 3:57 pm
Harrigan says:
OOC:
Also, love this:
Quote:
In her dream, she saw the king who condemned her kind, trying to drive them into hiding, and she reveled in revenge, dreaming that she drowned him in the river with her bare hands.
But I have to ask — what constitutes ‘Wren’s kind?’
Hmm! Who knows? She passes as "normal", doesn't she? Hmm.
Jun 17, 2025 6:10 pm
Sable unfolds his body awkwardly as he gets up to stretch. Kitt whines on the side a little, having a poor night's sleep that has translated to both of them being feeling very exhausted already. He looks around and sees the whole group has not slept well, but is relieved that Gann at least appears to have healed a little once he joins them.

"Well, let's find this Brother as soon as possible so we can get back to a real bed. Not sure how you did it Wren, but let's take the quickest route you marked back to the river so we can find the man. We should try to move as silently as we can so we can hear any giants or other fey approach."

Of course Sable would suggest moving silently based on his training, but he's also probably just in a bad mood too.
Jun 18, 2025 1:37 am
OOC:
So — back to Brandonsford and then up the riverside path to the northeast? Or WNW to get to the river asap, then follow the path? Ooooor — due north to the location Wren marked?

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