Mythic Sagas: Chapter 1

[Risada]

"Then might as well move while it's still bright... One hour in horses is quite a bit more distance than out feet can cover."

[phaedrusxy]

"We can ride these horses full gallop and not worry about having to put them away at night. I think we should try to catch the caravan, even if it means riding after dark a bit."

[zook1shoe]

It must be done to catch the caravan, let's be off then. mentally startled by the unusual show of witchcraft from her now companion.

[ksbsnowowl]

Over the next few minutes Skulda summons enough mounts for the entire party, and you make use of the remaining daylight, galloping* for nearly an hour.  The sun falls below the horizon, and the twilight of dusk seems to enhance the green glow of Skulda's left eye.  About five minutes after the sun sinks below the southwestern horizon, you see a farm with several familiar wagons circled in the yard.  The workers hobbling the horses for the night wear a look of surprise at seeing you arrive through the opening in the low turf wall separating the farm from the road, and one stops what he is doing and hurries over to the longhouse.  Ospak emerges a few moments later, a broad smile lighting on his face, and his arms held up wide in happy amazement before he claps his hands together. "We had given you up for dead! I'm happy to see that we were wrong.  When you did not return we feared the worst, and the few men I sent to check the next morning, well, they said they only found a cave filled with troll corpses..."

"We pushed ourselves hard each day, traveling as fast and far as we possibly could; losing you like that was a bad omen.  Though it seems you've returned just in time to strengthen everyone else' spines.  This farm is disturbing; it seems abandoned.  We've not seen anyone since we arrived, and the hearth was cold.  There are no farm animals around either," he says as he glances around the trees and fields that surround the house.


*hustling at 120 feet per round.

[Risada]

Agni replies to Ospak, a wry smile appearing halfway in his face.

"Good to see you are all fine and well... Although I wonder if our meeting in an abandoned farm would be 'good'."

Then he approaches Skulda and whispers to her.

"Do you have anything that could help here? Could you look for spirits or something?"

[Nanshork]

Einar chuckles.  "And of course you waited to take a look until the true warriors arrived."  He smiles warmly, it is plain that his words are just a small jest.

[phaedrusxy]

Skulda replies to Agni "I will check to see if there are hidden spirits about. You and Einar come with me."

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She's going to radar the place for ghosts with Detect Spirits

[ksbsnowowl]

Skulda opens her senses and walks around the farm.  First the small shack off the side of the longhouse, where the animals would have been kept; it lies empty with moldering hay on the floor.  The longhouse itself doesn't look lived in; what food stores were found have evidence of spoilage and rodents.  No spirits are detected; perhaps the farm is merely abandoned.

[Nanshork]

Einar follows along, hand on the haft of his spear, as he looks around for any signs of danger.

[Risada]

After Skulda checks the surroundings, Agni says "So... The answer is 'Ospak is scared'? Maybe we should just keep watch for tonight and move as soon as possible tomorrow."

[skydragonknight]

After arriving, he apologed to the caravan leader for their absence and explaining that they were delayed by a small cave-in - which, in a sense, was not far from the truth. Then Thorgrim did what any self-respecting barbarian guard would do and did a search of the premises for signs or danger or alcohol. He searched each of the buildings separately from the others, looking for signs of a struggle: blood stains or doors that look that they may have been forced open. He would be happy to find none. Perhaps some sickness had claimed the livestock and the farmers had chosen to leave? It was not wise to let so many untrained in the art of battle rest here without some clue of what had happened.

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Thorgrim, master detective! He will be making active Search, Spot and Listen checks, to feel free to roll them all secrety and DM-like.

[zook1shoe]

so you know these people?

[phaedrusxy]

After scanning the area, Skulda tells Thane to Seek (command in Elven).

[ksbsnowowl]

Thorgrim's thorough search turns up nothing dangerous, aside from a clay tankard with a cork that exudes a pungent sour odor when opened.  Thane's seeking turns up some more information; his attention eventually focuses upon something out in one of the hay fields, and his attentions there draw Skulda and the rest of you.

Hidden from view by the tall grass is a scattering of bones; probably a pony or small horse.  The bones have been mostly picked clean.  This hay field is two different heights; that to the northeast is less than knee high, while that to the southwest, between the longhouse and the bones, is mid-thigh in height.  Some of the other fields nearby to the home appear to have had other crops: barley or rye, beans, and onions, though all had been harvested, and had not yet become overgrown with weeds.  Whatever happened here must have occurred since harvest season in late August.

In answer to the question from their new traveling companion, Bjartr says "The farmers?  No, we don't know them.  At least, I don't.  This is the caravan we had been traveling with, however.  Well, some of us, at least."

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This isn't a very large farm.  Just a longhouse with an attached side building, apparently for some of the animals, as well as some wicker animal pens that also lie empty.

Here's a general idea of what I'm talking about:

[skydragonknight]

"Whatever harm has come, it has since moved on, it seems. Given the flatness of the land, this place seems very defensible - we should rest while it is still dark." Thorgrim said. Flat land was indeed a boon; should anything approach, it could be spotted from a safe distance. "Rune casters should get full rest. I propose two watches. I will take the first. I will whistle loudly should I require assistance."

[phaedrusxy]

Skulda says caustically "And what of those who cast without runes? Are we to dance all night?"

[skydragonknight]

"Sorry." Thorgrim said, scratching his head. "Force of habit. You may dance if you don't need rest for your spells."

[phaedrusxy]

She turns with a Hmmph sound to look for a place to rest for the night.

[Risada]

"I can tank the last round of watch if needed."

And with this Agni goes to rest for the night.

[ksbsnowowl]

Assured there is nothing to worry about, the caravan drivers fire up the hearth in the longhouse and begin cooking the evening meal as the twilight fades outside.  The hearth is fairly long, and they leave room for those not in the employ of Ospak to cook their own meals.

As you eat your meals Ospak and the others ask about the trolls you fought; how many were there, did they regenerate or not, did you save the two new women from them?  They leave the more grizzly questions unasked, and soon turn to other matters; two of the drivers pull out a hnefatafl board and set to playing a game by the light of the fire.  The house isn't large, but there is enough space that you can all sleep against the walls in the sitting position, which is typical of the Norse.

Conversations continue for a few hours, and the house slowly quiets as people drop off to sleep, while the guards take their turns watching the chill night from outside, beneath the late-rising waning gibbous moon.  Your rest is uninterrupted, aside from turns at watch, and as the first dawn light brushes the horizon you are all woken to begin warming leftovers from last nights' meal, and prepare the horses and wagons for the day.

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The sun fully set about 5:30, and dusk fully ended around 6:15; dawn will brush the horizon around 6:30 the next morning.  The sun will make its appearance around 7:10 am.