DF Novices, Merrill interlude, parts 1 & 2

     Here is a summary from Merrill's solo journey. As always, I am giving out an Impulse Point to any player who writes a summary for the blog.

Party roster:

Merrill Tangled Tail, cat-folk martial artist, 92 points (PC)

Campaign Dates:    18 to 22 September, Year 645 of the Vycenaean Empire.

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Diary of Merrill Tangle Tail:

It five days to Feast of Two Moons, and Little Moon chases Big Moon. In times of Little Moon waxing, it important to start day with question, even if small question. This day, Merrill asked self question of where. Where Cribble? Merrill very lucky that, on morning of leaving, Erizax the wise answered question of where with direction of north, past forest. That very helpful! Then Merrill remember Kevik met Lamdomon coming from path from Cribble, so Merrill go speak with Kevik too. Kevik confused and amused, reminding Merrill that it Lamdomon who come from Cribble, so it more appropriate for Merrill to ask Lamdomon. Since Lamdomon tinker in town, with own shop, it there Merrill go next.

It unfortunate that Lamdomon not in town, but it expected because Lamdomon travel. That reason why Kevik and Lamdomon meet in first place. This obvious to Merrill, but Merrill still surprised for moment when tinker shop closed. Of all things, that prove that Merrill had mind on journey, yes yes. To end question of where, Merrill also went into nearby shop of cobbler and ask if cobbler had seen Lamdomon. Cobbler confirm it likely Lamdomon going around villages, and there follow interesting conversation about footwear making Merrill promise that if Merrill ever wear things on feet, it cobbler Merrill will come speak to. It of course meant Merrill had to show cobbler toe claws, but cobbler not seem offended, only curious. That good! Merrill does not want to be known as monster, no.

Uncertainty remain over question of where, and with this happy knowledge of not knowing, Merrill set off to north, past hills and mine in hills that not mine, past point where Merrill first met friends and decided to wander along, to forest where friends destroyed evil tree. By that point it late, and Merrill decide to make camp at edge of forest.

During night, Merrill remember advice from Master Lashki just before Merrill step through gateway to enter world, nearing end of Path of Novice. Merrill remember being told that it not important how fast Merrill wander, or how far, but it important Merrill remember places where Merrill has wandered and keep in mind that Master Lomarr wander not to arrive but to think. It certain there faster ways to travel, and Merrill certainly travel faster when with friends, but on unknown path by self, Merrill takes time. It give Merrill time to think, and meditate.

Merrill meditate longer than Merrill wanted, and it already past middle of morning when Merrill set off again. It now four days to Feast of Two Moons, and Merrill wander north, along path, seeing birds and insects and animals and all manner of sight and hearing all manner of silence. People Merrill did not meet. On this path, it seems, Merrill truly walk alone. From middle of morning Merrill walk, until beginning of evening, with break for meal. It truly vexing, but Merrill nearly out of incense, and then how will Merrill eat properly? How Merrill balance Chi when there no incense smoke to guide thought and bring inner calm, when eating? But it no matter. Merrill can live without incense for little while. There no tree around for Merrill to camp under, so Merrill sleep in bush. It rain all evening and all night. Everything in pack gets damp, robe of Merrill get damp, and inside robe Merrill get damp. Merrill not sleep well that night.

Rain break with dawn, and Merrill wakes not so friendly towards world as normal, so Merrill take opportunity to dry robe on bush, eat meal, and meditate on unworthy thoughts so Merrill can be bright light of moons and stars to all Merrill meets. It three days to Feast of Two Moons. When Merrill ready to move on, with dry robe and dry pack, Merrill sees in distance figure on path. This good, yes yes! Merrill walk while figure rides in cart towards Merrill, and soon Merrill meet Lamdomon, tinker of Bridgegate. It good to speak with other person again, and Merrill speak with tinker for some time. It seem to Merrill that Lamdomon very interested in business Merrill has in Cribble, but also points Merrill in right direction. Lamdomon give Merrill advice to take path around forest, not through, to avoid things known as Stryges. They are reason, Lamdomon say, forest ahead known as Strixwood, and it safer to go around. Merrill ask what is Stryges, and is told it thing like bat and bird and claw and bad temper. Avoid, so Merrill is told. This good advice!

Because Merrill nearly out of food, Merrill buy dried fish from Lamdomon, and also pot of salve to aid in healing. Merrill not know how it work, but is told it work very well, it made by daughter of Lamdomon who also in cart but out of view and never coming into view. Merrill think this good deal, and say goodbye to Lamdomon. Of certain, Merrill go around Strixwood... Stryges sound dangerous, and Merrill does not want meet them.

On path around Strixwood, Merrill finally see more animal and more people in distance. And when Merrill come around forest, while sun setting in sky, Merrill can see lake ahead and village at shore of lake. That Cribble!

Merrill answer question of where Cribble. It now part of Big Moon.

It easy path to Cribble, pleasant yes with pleasant people, yes yes.Everywhere Merrill go, people look at Merrill. Every time Merrill smile and wave, there reaction. Soon sun begin set truly, and Merrill look for inn to be indoor and ask questions. Merrill find place that look like inn and has post for inn sign, but no sign for inn, so Merrill go in. Friendly people in inn, yes yes, all suddenly silent when Merrill come in, so Merrill can give all in inn greetings of bright moons. Merrill then meet owner of inn, named Haldor.

Haldor friendly, yes yes, ask Merrill many many thing while Merrill ask Haldor many many thing. It uncanny! Merrill find out mountains north of town known as Stoneheart mountain, there is cat kin in town called Scratch, and there person living by lake who rarely come to town and keep self to self, known as Silis. From what Haldar tell Merrill, it seem that Sillis may be Master Merrill is looking for! This exciting!

It also unfortunate that it seem that what Merrill been told by Lamdomon about Scratch it true. Haldor tell Merrill that Scratch come into inn and drink, and then get in fight. Also get in fight in town. Everywhere, it seem, people not like Scratch, and Merrill very disappointed to hear that there kin who drink alcohol and start fight. That not way kin behave! Merrill quick as quick to tell Haldor this, yes yes, and promise Haldor that Merrill will have word with Scratch.

Haldor sell Merrill delicious meal of fresh fish and milk, and offer Merrill blanket and place by fire for night. This all Merrill needs, and Merrill sleep well that night.

Then it two days to Feast of Full Moons, and Merrill awake to smell of breakfast. Haldor tell Merrill more about Silis, and also that since it look like Merrill know how fight and take care of self, perhaps Merrill known of people who can fight troll? It appear there troll on northern shore of lake that cause trouble, and village need someone to deal with troll. Haldor tell Merrill there no constables or others around to protect village, and village protects self, but village cannot protect self from troll. Merrill promise Haldor that, when Merrill return to Bridgegate, he speak with friends about troll. By then, Merill certain, friends have finished with mine, yes yes.

Haldor tell Merrill of path west of lake that lead to cave where live Silis, and that Scratch claim to be student of Ten Tiger Academy. Merrill never heard of Ten Tiger Academy, but it sound like academy that founded by kin, and so with light heart and curling tail, Merrill set off to see Silis. It walk that take some time, but not many time, and soon Merrill at cave. Merrill ask to come in, and meet Silis. To slight disappointment, it seem Silis not kin, but human female. It no matter. From Eleanor the Swift, Merrill know that human female can be quick and dangerous, yes yes, and anyone that is Master clearly capable. So Merrill bow and ask to be student of Master Silis.

Merrill is told no.

This... bit of blow. Merrill ask why, and Merrill is told that Master Silis already has student, named Scratch. And this problem. It not place of Merrill to speak with student of master about manners if Master available to speak with student. It often better that Master speak with student. Merrill recalls very well when Master Lashki had talk with Merrill about manners, and how Merrill walk around with swollen ear for days after. Often while cleaning pots and pans, oh yes, Merrill learn manners quickly. So Merrill tell Silis that Merrill will not speak with Scratch about manners, and Master Silis want know why Merrill would speak with Scratch about manners.

So Merrill told Master Silis truth. It... Merrill not know if that was good idea. But it thing that needed saying, and Merrill get idea that Scratch been untruthful to Master. That very very bad. It not intent of Merrill to speak bad of Scratch in hopes of becoming student instead, and Merrill hopes that not how Master Silis understood. Then Master Silis invite Merrill in for tea, and Merrill feel right at home when it take fifteen minutes to make cup. Was familiar ritual, yes yes. It nearly bring tear to eye.

Then Master Silis speak with Merrill about why Merrill travel so far, and where Merrill train. Master Silis hear of Temple of Two Moons Dancing, but never been to visit. Master Silis also confirm Scratch not student of Ten Tiger Academy, but Master Silis is Master of Ten Tiger Academy. But it clear that Master Silis not want Merrill to stay too long, and Merrill ask Master Silis if it proper to invite for Feast of Two Moons?

It not improper, Merrill is told, but it not change anything.

Hah, that we shall see yes? Merrill know from Haldor that Master Silis come into town rarely, but when does come into town always eat meal with rabbit. This Merrill will provide, and perhaps as Merrill has heard in Bridgegate from other humans, way to heart go through stomach. Merrill certain that not correct, but it thing humans say, and Merrill must become student. Otherwise, all for nothing.

So Merrill wander back down to village, stopping to eat along way, and then spend evening watching fishing boats and having talk with fisherman. Fisherman tell Merrill that lake is simply known as lake in Cribble, but Merrill can also call it Silverfish lake. Merrill is told that there underground river leading to lake, and Merrill tell fisherman that is good thing so fish never run out. There much laughter at that. Merrill not know why, but Merrill glad to bring gift of joy to fishermen. Merrill also ask, if lake is Silverfish lake, fish in lake particularly silver? Then Merrill is told that, at full moon, there possiblity to catch Silver Trout. Merrill ask more of trout, but fisherman does not want say more. So Merrill comment it good that soon it full moon, yes yes, Feast of Two Moons. But fisherman look at Merrill and ask, which moons?

This seem strange to Merrill, so Merrill explain bith of Path of Two Moons while fisherman mends net, and then points out Little Moon and Big Moon. Yes, ask fisherman, but what is name of moons? So Merrill name moons.

And Merrill is told, is wrong names.

Argh! Where can Merrill put face?! Merrill get wrong name of Big Moon, and fisherman tell Merrill correct name of Big Moon. This seem important to people of Cribble, because Silver Trout only come when correct moon in sky. This is thing Merrill did not know! Now Merrill knows that Merrill does not know many many thing about moons, and that not do! Merrill will need study moons more, yes yes!

When Merrill go back to inn, Merrill ask Haldar if Haldor can cook meal of rabbits that Master Silis like so much in time for Feast of Two Moons. That not possible, say Haldor, because Haldor has no rabbits. But if Merrill can catch rabbit, Haldor will cook it. And so Merrill say that Merrill will go chase rabbit next day and hit it over head. Again there much laughter.

Before Merrill go to sleep, fishermen come to Merrill. Person who speak for them appear to Merrill as dwarf, or so it seem to Merrill at least because they look much like Doran the deep. Spoke dwarf tell Merrill that if friends and Merrill can help village with troll, there could be reward. That good thing! Merrill will certainly speak with friends, but it seem that fishermen not very happy that Merrill not going back to Bridgegate soon. It odd, but it no matter. Wrapped in blanket, Merrill soon asleep by fire. Mrrr, warm!

Next day dawn, and it now only one day to Feast of Two Moons. Today is day that Merrill go catch rabbit, yes yes! So Merrill set out and try to find rabbit all morning in small woods near village. But it odd... no matter how careful Merrill walk, no matter how silent Merrill creep, there never rabbit. So Merrill wander further, and further, until Merrill suddenly in bigger wood.

Then Merrill remember it important never to wander into Strixwood, but Merrill need rabbit! So Merrill continue, silently, until Merrill hear flapping of wings and sees flitting of things ahead. Over past few days, Merrill sometimes thought what would Strix look like? And when Merrill see Stryges, Merrill suddenly understand why nobody come in wood! Hefting staff, Merrill shout at things to go away, because Merrill is looking for rabbit, but things fly straight at Merrill.

They quick!

They small!

Argh, one on back!

It not often Merrill run from things with tail between leg, but Merrill run quick as quick from Stryges. They so small Merrill have problem hitting them with staff, and they so swift they catch up with Merrill and grab on to clothes. So Merrill roll every time Merrill feel one of creatures grab robe and shake off thing, then run faster. It seem like age before Merrill out of forest, but once free of trees things stop chasing.

That scary!

Thinking of this, and how Merrill will now find rabbit, there suddenly voice up ahead near junction with path towards Cribble. And there, for first time in many many many moons, Merrill see another of kin.

There, on wall, sit Scratch. And Scratch not happy with Merrill.

Merrill speak briefly with Scratch, telling Scratch that Merrill not in mood for this right now, but it clear that Scratch is looking for fight. Ugh, unseemly! Rude! Unbecoming of student, and it really set bad example of kin to humans. From swift glance, Merrill can see that Scratch strong, but is Scratch quick as quick? Or perhaps Merrill better with staff than Scratch with claws?

It seem that, one way or other, we now find out.