And here’s our session so far. We’re still in the GM’s turn. I don’t know what’s up with all the astrix’s they just appeared…
*me:* While taking care of the bees in the Apiary a small beetle skitters up to you. It has a box on it’s back and you recognize it as Roibin the Scribe’s pet who often deliver’s messages
*AaLesha:* Looking down at the lil beetle "Well Hello there lil guy, is there something in that box for me?"
*me:* The beetle makes a little hop and waves his antennae towards a letter folded up
*AaLesha:* Grinning at the beetle, I reach down to gently lift the letter off his back "well what have we here"
unfold the letter to see what it could possibly be
*me:* |Cheddar- I have a mission for you regarding the mail. Please come to my office as soon as you’re done with the bees for today - Gwendolyn|
*AaLesha:* looking down at the beetle " Looks like I better get my work done, thank you Beetle"
*AaLesha:* Finish up with the bees, making sure every bit of my work is done, then I set out to see what Gwendolyn needs of me
*me:* After you finish you’re work shortly after lunch you head to Gwendolyn’s office where she stands behind her map table. "Hello there Cheddar, I’ve got some mail that needs to be delivered to a few settlements. Four to be exact. The spring weather is going to make it a little difficult, but I these are fairly important."
*AaLesha:* "Of course Gwendolyn, How may I be of assistance?"
*me:* She hands you a bundle of about ten letters "Take these letters at the break of dawn tomorrow and go quick as you can, they are communications regarding the upcoming year as well as a few personal letters that are overdue."
*me:* "Be sure to get plenty of rest for tomorrow and check the weather before you head out. You’ll be alone since most of the other patrols are out repairing the paths from the thaw."
*me:* Gwendolyn also hands you a map of the territories with marks on Elmoss, Sprucetuck, Dorigift, and Gilpledge.
*AaLesha:* takes the bundle as well as the map "Of course, I will deliver these as quick as I can. Before I go to prepare myself is there anything else?"
*me:* She shakes her head "No, I think you’ll be fine. It may be hard but just remember the Guard’s Honor and it’ll guide you. *Gilpledge is rather busy now as there are a bunch of refugees from Walnutpeck. Especially for a settlement so far away."
*AaLesha:* nod in agreement “Will do. I should be off now to prepare.” once back home, Buzz Buzz, greats me "Hello Buzz, looks like you and I have some work to be done! We must rest up and prepare ourselves"
Buzz Buzz is her pet cricket that travels with her as a companion. Kinda like a faithful hound.
*me:* You pass the night sharpening your pair of knives, and double checking the destinations for the letters. In the morning you share breakfast with your folks. After that you tuck your knives in your belt. Then you strap the letters, map, your journal and quill to your back and make sure they are covered by the hood of your white cloak. Before you set out you look up into the sky and try to discern what lies ahead for you.
She makes a Weather Watcher check vs. Spring: 2 vs. 4 she lost. No prediction.
me:* Squinting up at the wispy clouds you can’t quite figure out what the winds will bring you, you hope for a clear day, but the wind seems eerily chilly.
AaLesha:* wrapping my cloak around myself, I look down to Buzz “Ready lil guy?, we have a long way to go” * *
*me:* Wrapped up tight and with this in mind you head out from Lockhaven along the well worn path leading to Elmoss. You pass another patrol as they clear out a part of the path which has been washed out in an earlier rain. The leader nods to and wishes you well. After two days you make it to Elmoss. It’s muddy and chilly for spring but nothing to bad.
*me:* In Elmoss the family rulers to receive their letters are overjoyed, and one of them offers you the night in her house. It is a warm meal from the cold road. The next day you set out for Sprucetuck.
*me:* You get a similar reception in Spruce tuck, but don’t dally as the stout smells of sciencemice at work make you sneeze. So you head out after the letters are handed off.
*me:* The path from Sprucetuck to Dorigift is a long and infrequently traveled one. Especially after this Springs rain. The clouds grow a bit darker and the wind is biting.
She has to make a Pathfinder Ob 6 check, she chose not to boost it anyway and take what happens. She got 2 successes so I used the weather twist.
*me:* That chill wind was certainly an omen. Along the way to Dorigift you are overcome by a wicked cold rain. Even though you stop and take shelter it steadily drives down and you’ll have to forge on through it.
Had her make a Health Ob 3 or become Sick. She got 3 on the nose and came out fine.
*me:* Luckily your cloak proves warm and well-made it sheds most of the water that falls down on you. You are careful not to fall into any puddles and quickly hop from tree to tree. You end up moist but not particularly chilled when you enter Dorigift.
*me:* In Dorigift they dry you off and gladly accept the letters giving you a loaf of warm nut bread and a mug of cider. It’s still raining when you set out the next day for Gilpledge with no sign of letting up. Luckily Gilpledge is not as far away.
For the shorter trip she had to make a Pathfinder Ob 4 check. Only 2 successes this time so I decide this has been building up to our first conflict!
*me:* On the way to Gilpledge the rain begins driving down even harder and you fear for the mail. It’s almost like the weather has it out to ruin this.
The conflict begins and our goals are set.
Round 1
Spring (Disp 9) - Ruin the mail! Cheddar (Disp 6) - Get the mail safely to Gilpledge.
Action 1! Spring Attacks and Cheddar Defends; 3 to 4 she overcomes it all, but her Disposition is already max so no gain there.
*me:* The rain comes down fierce upon you, but you take off your cloak and roll the mail up in it quickly to keep the last few letters extra safe. It’s cold and wet, but these must be dry.
Action 2! Spring Maneuvers and Cheddar Maneuvers; 2 to 3. Spring decides to give +2D for it’s next action. Cheddar goes for the Disarm action. (I decide the leaf gives Spring a -1D on Attacks and Feints as it’s primary weapon is rain)
me:* You run quickly along the path and spot a large leaf along the ground. Picking it up it completely covers you and Buzz Buzz blocking most of the rain. You can hear the wind picking up and howling.
Action 3! Spring Attacks and Cheddar Feints; Nothing to 3. Cheddar makes a powerful strike at Springs disposition
*me:* You can feel the wind blowing as it whips the rain at you quickly, luckily you see large group of bushes with a perfect path through them. You dash through here making great progress.
Round 2
[i]Spring (Disp 6) - Cheddar (Disp 6)
Action 1! Spring Maneuvers and Cheddar Attacks; 3 to 3 Cheddar decides to break the tie with her Quiet trait against her to earn 2 checks. Spring goes for the Impede option since it won by 1 success.[/i]
*me: As you emerge from the bushes lightning strikes nearby causing a brilliant flash that startles you. Losing your footing you slip into a waist deep rivulet of cold water.
-----Updated Here On Nov. 16 '09-----
Action 2! Spring Attacks and Cheddar Defends; 4 to 2 Cheddar’s disposition is reduced by 2!
*me:* Slogging through the small stream of water is starting to numb your legs and slow you down you try to scurry up the sides but slide back down into it.
Action 3! Spring Defends and Cheddar Maneuvers; 2 to 4 Springs disposition raises by 2, and Cheddar Bolster and Impedes.
*me:* Finally you flip the leaf against the side of the deepening trench and scurry up it pulling it along after you. The ground seems to have grown softer and slips easily between your toes making progress difficult.
[i]Round 3
Spring (Disp 8) - Cheddar (Disp 4)
Action 1! Spring Defends and Cheddar Feints; Nothing to 5. Spring loses 5 disposition![/i]
*me:* In the distance you can see the rocky out cropping that is Gilpledge. Spying your destination invigorates you and you spy to your left is a line of small boulders that you leap onto giving you firm footing as you rush along.
Action 2! Spring Attacks and Cheddar Maneuvers; 1 to 1. It’s a tie!
*me:* As you run along the small boulders you hear a vicious howling from the wind picking up. Holding on tight to your leaf you leap into the air and sail through the air landing under a tree safely waiting briefly for a lull in the rain before you set out again.
Action 3! Spring Attacks and Cheddar Attacks; 1 to 1. Both lose a little ground
*me:* As the rain lightens up you dash to the next tree only to slip and fall in the mud, but you get up quickly and make it.
Round 4
Spring (Disp 2) - Cheddar (Disp 3)
-----Updated Here On Nov. 17 '09-----
Action 1! Spring Maneuvers and Cheddar Defends; 2 to 4. Cheddar recovers 2 disposition.
*me:* It’s not far now, the crack leading to Gilpledge is just ahead. You double check the bundle of letters and it’s wrapped up tight and safe. With a firm grip on your leaf you dart your way between small puddles.
Action 2! Spring Attacks and Cheddar Feints; 3 to Nothing. A mighty blow to her disposition.
*me:* Thinking you’re safe you decide to push yourself a little further and make the final dash to safety. Only to hear a rumbling come from behind you as a torrent of water floods down the path. There seems to be nowhere to run.
Action 3! Spring Feints and Cheddar Attacks; Nothing to 2. It’s the final strike at Springs disposition and the conflict ends.
*me:* With the flash flood coming straight at you and nowhere to run you leap at the crack for Gilpledge’s entrance. The water slams into you and sends your body tumbling through the crevice. With a crash you’re thrown through the main door of Gilpledge. Soaking wet and gripping the bundle of mail tightly you slide to a stop in the middle of the cavern. With water and mud sluicing about the floor the town mice stare at you in astonishment. You let out a violent sneeze and feel pain shoot up your leg.
Cheddar discusses a compromise of delivering the mail safely but with the conditions of becoming Sick and Injured. She wants to put the safety of the mail before herself.
*me:* The mayor of Gilpledge approaches you, “That’s the first time the rain has ever delivered the mail mouse to us! Are you ok?” As he comes near there is a splorch noise nearby and Buzz Buzz leaps out of the mud to land between you and mouse.
We’ve finished the GM turn and now enter the Player Turn. She has 3 checks to spend.
*AaLesha:* Reaching out I gently calm Buzz Buzz, and while grabbing for the mail bundle, pain shoots up my leg again "It seems while the Mail has made it in one piece, I have not. *My leg appears to be injured."
*me:* He puts an arm under you and gestures over another mouse to help, "We’ll get you to our healer straight away. I’ll have my assistant hand the mail out while we get you bound up."
*me:* While hobbling to the healers house you let out another drastic sneeze. "I think you’ll need some herbal tea for cold you’ve come down with, you might want find some soon as your leg is well."
*AaLesha:* Sniffling "Yes, thank you, that is a lovely idea."
*AaLesha:* Hobbling upon the healers door, with the help of the other mice, Buzz Buzz wearily at my side, one of the other mice knock gently upon the door
She wants to use one of her Checks to recover from being Injured with the Healer.
*AaLesha:* From behind the door come noises of shuffling and then, “What do you want?” *I reply, "I have traveled a long way from Lockhaven to deliver a bundle for the Mouse Guard, and I am afraid I have hurt my leg along the way"
*me:* An old gray mouse opens the door. She’s wearing a thick shawl of many colors and her eyes filmy. "C’m’in, deary. Guardmice forget their bodies are as brittle as any others. ‘ways thinkin’ of simple letters and packages 'fore themselves."
*AaLesha:* Smiling slightly, yet wincing as I hobble in with the help of the other mice, "I’m afraid that’s part of being a Guardmouse, all in a days work though. Sneezing hard, “Excuse me. *Is it alright if my companion comes in with me, or would you like him to wait outside?” Motion over to where Buzz Buzz is hiding behind the door frame.
me:* She peers at the cricket and grunts, “Crickets are good luck. Friend likely the reason you made it.” She ushers you over to a bed and starts moving her hand a long your leg, "Looks like you’ve sprained it. I’ll try to brace it and hopefully it’ll be better by tomorrow. If you hold still and help me keep the pieces in place while I bind it we’ll have better luck."
We did a Healer check using the Healer from the Denizens section with her skill of 5 and +1D for Cheddar assisting with her own Healer skill. The oldfur got 4 successes so her Injured condition is lifted.
*AaLesha:* Wincing but trying my best to stay quiet, “Just tell me where to hold what you need.” Glancing over at Buzz Buzz, who has placed himself near the head of the bed, "Make sure to stay out of the way, lil guy, can’t have you getting hurt either."
*me:* With your help to steady the brace and her knowing hands the leg is tightly bound and the pressure relieves much of the pain. She gives you a pat on the head. "I think you’ll be fine. Was there anything else I could do? Your nose seems t’be drippin’, why don’ you be lookin’ through my cupboards f’r some tea. I have a hard time with the labels myself."
She requests another Check be used to lift her Sick condition. Results are the same as before!
*AaLesha:* "Yes, my nose is giving me quite a fit. If I am your eyes, will you help me find the right tea?" I say smiling, "Thank you so much for my leg, it feels better already."
*me:* As you sort through some of the jars and call out labels she shakes her head at most of them, “Hrmm, barkroot…or bitterbark…bitterelm…no, none of those. Ah, did you say Elmsleaf? That’s the one.” She takes the jar and boils the contents in a pot of water. Reaching up she opens one of your eyes wide, then pulls your tongue out. “This’ll keep the cold away and settle your sneezes before you knock anymore of my tonics loose.”
Things will get more interesting now that she’s gotten rid of those pesky conditions! Sadly only one Player Check remaining.
You mean to tell me players can call for tests during the GM’s Turn even without me telling them they had to test anything? I know they can do that for the Player’s Turn, but for the GM’s Turn?