DF Novices, Team-A, Session 46 - Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail

        Here is a report from the player of Merrill for the game last Tuesday.

Session Date:    Tuesday 12 September 2023

Party roster:

Ben, half-ogre barbarian, 132 points (PC)
Doran Longbeard, dwarf knight, 159 points (PC)
Eleanor Bayley, human thief, 174 points (PC)
- Dagne, human cleric, 125 points (NPC Hireling)
Erizax Ofaris, human wizard, 178 points (PC)
Merrill Tangled Tail, cat-folk martial artist, 92 points (PC)
Randall, human warrior, 135 points (NPC)

Campaign Date:    6 August, Year 645 of the Vycenaean Empire.

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Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail:

On whole, Merrill must remember not to get in way of arrows. This of course good to remember in general, but lately it becoming more of a thing than Merrill ever thought it would be. There is technique to catch arrows, Merrill know there is, but that training not even on path of Disciple, it training on path of Master. Perhaps, in time, Merrill will know how, but until then... until then Merrill perhaps take more care around archers, yes yes.

It been... days since time of darkness. Merrill has lost count of moons, and will need to look at moons and stars soon. According to ribbons in hair, it nine days to feast of two moons, but Merrill could be wrong. Hopefully, friends not notice Merrill has wrong ribbons in hair. But Little Moon chases Big Moon, this much Merrill knows. Fitting with time of Little Moon Chasing, Merrill was looking very much forward to finding what behind door from room through door from corridor. But Merrill slightly disappointed that through door was more corridor. And in corridor, more door. It seem that friends have come this way before, know their way on dark path. They certainly seemed certain that part of corridor that, to eyes of Merrill at least, was suspiciously curved where rest was flat, there no secret door. So Merrill ask question of little moon, and ask why friends so certain. To this, Merrill was told that odd space in corridor probably place where seam of ore been mined in past. Doran very clear on this, and Merrill glad to listen to Doran the Deep when it come to places of rock and stone. But to be certain Eleanor the Swift checked area anyway. It took little while, but it was exactly as friends had said... in this part of corridor, there no door. So we went to next door in corridor, although corridor very long now. Long Long. Longer than Disciple Tingma tail. And that long!

When door opened by Eleanor, arrow was first to greet us. It most rude greeting, Merrill had to turn out of way quick as quick. Not quick enough, there another cut in Merrill's robe, but could been much much worse. Doran and Ben go through door first, and Orc and Goblins inside, with Orc archers. It strange, because archers not where Merrill expected them to be. Certainly, no archer Merrill could see gave fletched greeting we received. Fight was quick, and Merrill decided that friends not need Merrill to hit Orcs with staff, instead Merrill run into darkness to find other archer. Lurking in darkness, there was third Orc archer. It hiding, but Merrill has good eyes in darkness and light coming from staff thanks to spell from Erizax the Wise. Behind Merrill, Eleanor also ran towards archers, and when Merrill had hit archer twice with staff, Eleanor call for enemies to surrender. There had been clatter of swords and knives before, and it seem Doran been disarming Orcs. Enemies then backed away and called back yes.

For moment there was confusion, but Merrill called to friends that Merrill certain Orcs and Goblins surrendering. Then fight ended.

When fighting over, it important to remember that people you been fighting no longer enemies. Enemies only enemies when fighting, afterwards they people like all other people. So Merrill gave healing potion to archer Merrill had hit. They not certain of gift, but clearly they needed healing. Merrill hits hard when he puts mind to it, yes yes.

Meantime, Eleanor ask questions, but answers hard to come by. It surprising. It seem to Merrill that friends always have many many question, and many answer to single question, but when time come to ask question, they uncertain. Moons, but Merrill must teach them more of Path! Eventually former enemies persuaded to put down weapons and leave. Doran and Erizax made certain they leave towards exit, not leave towards rest of Orcs and Goblins. Then someone mention they not certain surrender was going to happen, because nobody speak language of Orcs.

This made Merril's ears perk, and Merrill then break tradition and ask Big Moon question in time of Little Moon Chasing. Merrill ask that, if nobody speak Orc language, why they call to surrender in first place? At this, there silence. Friends not have tails and ears, but they have reactions in facial fur above eyes. Merrill could see that some of them uncomfortable with question, others had not even considered question. It then mentioned to Merrill that there little time to learn, and few words known. Merrill suggested that, next time Orc surrender because they understand common language, and can answer questions in common language, friends ask what words are in Orc to ask surrender. At this, more silence. There many things about friends Merrill does not yet understand, but to Merrill it seemed obvious. Perhaps that only because Merrill know challenge of having to translate thoughts from mind to language thoughts are not in. It getting quicker every day, but there times when Merrill long for simpler days in Temple where Merrill could speak with precise tail.

It then suggested we rest. It always good time for nap! So Merrill devoted himself to study of how comfortable were bunk beds of Orcs. As turns out, they very very comfortable. More comfortable than floor, but less comfortable than beds in inn, and certainly less cozy than sturdy box. But in mine that is not mine, it good place to sleep.

At least, that what Merrill think until friends wake Merrill up some time later to leave. From corner of eyes, Merrill could see big big bug crawling near Merrill's leg, bigger than Merrill's thumb and claws together. Urgh... Merrill checked for vermin, but forgot about other bugs that Merrill did not know about. Now Merrill worried it time for special shampoo again. It been years since Merrill had infestation in fur, back when Merrill was still little little! It not pleasant, and Merrill hope it not necessary. But Merrill will take extra time in washing tub when we get back to inn, that much is certain. After seeing big big, Merrill quickly scuttled away from bed and followed friends back into corridor. Randall surprised Merrill by asking Little Moon question of Why. Randall wanted to know, why friends down in mine in first place? That good question! Erizax replied that friends are here for treasure, and to that Randall replied it good to keep this in mind.

Perhaps when Merrill go back to Temple, Merrill will take Randall along. Merrill thinks he will like Path of Two Moons Dancing.

There more doors in corridor which now so long Merrill cannot remember where is beginning, but they all lead to rooms that empty. There no treasure in empty rooms, so we continue. Along corridor. To other door.

This time, Erizax hear more voices in side tunnel. Moons, but his ears are amazing! Merrill could not hear thing, and Merrill has big big ears. Too big, Merrill think, but knows that Doran thinks otherwise. Merrill will grow into ears! One day...

Merrill went to warn other friends further in tunnel, and we went into smaller tunnel towards sound.

It ambush!

Tunnel so small, Ben barely able to walk through. Eleanor and Merrill not have problems with this, but ceiling so low Merrill worry about fighting with staff. Low and narrow... that better to fight with claws, not sword and shield and staff and axe and hammer and crossbow. When Doran approach door after narrow tunnel, enemy jump out from shadow and cut into arm of Doran the Deep. It deep cut! Very deep. Doran drop axe, and that not good sign at all. That bad bad! Then from side tunnel more enemy appear, including archer which again narrowly miss Merrill. Ben and Erizax very clear they want Merrill to go down other tunnel and fight off enemies there, but Merrill can see four goblins in gloom. Two of them archer as well, so that problem!

Merrill call Merrill needs help in tunnel, but then Merrill hears sound of fighting behind back. It big fight. It sound like Hobgoblin again, and Orc, and... well, it sound like fight not going well. One Goblin archer run, but run down corridor where friends expect tunnel meet tunnel friends were in. But Merrill cannot chase! There two Goblins with sword attacking now, and while Merrill hit one with staff, other is now on top of Merrill. Merrill must stay and fight, otherwise friends doomed!

But Merrill also cut off and alone, in narrow tunnel, between enemies and friends. Moons guide me...