DF Novices, Team-A, Session 71 - Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail
There was no game this week due to most of the team being unwell. So this summary from the player of Merrill brings us to date for the party. As always, I am giving out an Impulse Point to any player who writes a summary for the blog.
Party roster:
Ben, half-ogre barbarian, 176 points (PC)
Doran Longbeard, dwarf warrior (knight), 202 points (PC)
Eleanor Bayley, human thief, 233 points (PC)
- Dagne Timar, human priestess of Metallys (cleric), 147 points (NPC Hireling)
Erizax Ofaris, human wizard, 232 points (PC)
Randall, human veteran (knight), 157 points (NPC)
Maximilian "Stout" Grupher III, goblin cleric of Ishtanna, 121 points (PC)
Merrill Tangled Tail, cat-folk martial artist, 139 points (PC)
Fenn, human scout, unknown points (NPC)
Oleanne, human druid, unknown points (NPC)
- 2 grey wolves, unknown points (Oleanne's "pets")
Campaign Date: 6 and 7 December, Year 645 of the Vycenaean Empire.
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Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail:
It day since big fight with bandits that captured friends, and Little Moon chases Big Moon. It important Merrill now write this down, because he no longer have enough hair to tie in tail with ribbons. It possible to tie ribbon to tail, but that look silly. That thing little kitten apprentices do when they make mistake every day and have hair that very short. Merrill's hair will grow back, but only if he stop making mistakes. It three years since last mistake that big big, and tail braid long. It feel strange not there, but Merrill will cope.
Yesterday many thing happen, and of things that happen, one thing happen that Merrill always say he never do. That second of things Merrill done that he say never do, but when friend in danger it easy to forget that Merrill always say he never jump into water that not shower or bath. But Merrill also say he never lay hands on friends, and Merrill's hands grabbed Erizax yesterday. It only Merrill's head that stop argument from being fight. It all for best, Merrill hope.
When fight over, everyone hurt. There also much fire, but it Erizax fire and that always go away after little while. But after Erizax fire go away, there still more fire, because Erizax fire now grass fire. Ben quick quick to remember shovel and shovel sand on fire where possible, and Erizax feel better after healing from Dagne and help put out fire that not Erizax fire with same power Erizax use to put out Erizax fire, or so Merrill think. It magic. Merrill have no head for magic. In truth, at end of fight, Merrill have no head for much, only see where help needed and help. It while Merrill helping mysterious lady with staff that he see Erizax pull knife and...
... Merrill promised self to not write of thing. It thing that he not happy with, but it also thing that friends say need doing. That possible, but it matter of Big Moon chasing Little Moon. Perhaps after Feast of Two Moons, Merrill ask question and perhaps answer questioned. That best way of things. Merrill see that now.
But when seeing, Merrill quickly run to Erizax and demand, what he doing? Erizax say we fight these bandits three times, there not be fourth time. But Merrill say, if Erizax do what Erizax doing, then no answers to questions friends have. Erizax say that bandits give no answer to questions, so it not problem. Then Merrill's hands, almost by self, they grab arm of Erizax, in hold of Little Moon Dancing. It one flick of arms away from throw of Little Moon Waning, and Merrill thinking Erizax suddenly understand this, because he say to Merrill to let go. Merrill ask, how Erizax certain these bandits give no answers, when Erizax not asking them questions?
It tense moment. Merrill and Erizax, we both hurt. Erizax armed with knife, yes yes, but Merrill have hands on arm. There moments in life that crossroads, and of road taken there no way back. It now clear to Merrill that Erizax understand that too, and there dark road ahead we not want to walk forever. So Erizax say, he ask questions of few bandits, but not all bandits. That is compromise, and although Merrill young, he also know when solution offered that not perfect, but it best offer going. So Merrill nod, thank Erizax, and go back to balancing Chi of mysterious lady with staff.
While doing this, mysterious archer introduces self as Fenn, and Fenn introduce mysterious lady with staff as Oleanne. Merrill return greeting, and Fenn say he know other friends but not Merrill. Merrill reply that coincidence, because Merrill also not know Fenn. That moment, Fenn have same expression as friends did when meeting Merrill first time. It uncanny.
Unfortunately, Merrill certain he not able to rebalance chi of Lady Oleanne properly, but Dagne come to help after resting. There moment Merrill try to help wolves who injured, but he not recognise their chi. Perhaps Merrill simply need more practice, or perhaps chi of wolves it different to chi of people. That would be strange to Merrill... cats nearly people, and there cat people. Orcs, Goblins and Ogres, they people. Elves people too. Merrill hear of goat people. Perhaps there no wolf people? It strange. Because dogs nearly people, or so people say many time. Dagne and Stout help wolves instead.
When Erizax begin asking questions of bandits that still alive, Merrill not look in that direction. If Merrill not see, he can pretend it not happening. It solution that not perfect, but... it best solution going. Instead, Merrill begin searching through pouches of bandits who no longer able to answer questions, finding small pile of coins. Eleanor see this, and ask if Merrill searched bandits properly? Truth important, and he never want to be untruthful to Eleanor, so Merrill say he did not. Eleanor sigh and then search bandits again, finding larger pile of coins, rings, and shiny belt buckle.
Fenn say, he and Oleanne hunting bandits for while, and overhear us talking about Termion. He ask, what friends want with Termion? We say, we asked by village of Mere to find Termion, and Termion master of Erizax. Fenn say he know where find Termion, he at farm of Kuipos, after Oleanne rescue him from bandits. Fenn say bandits come from cave nearby, but he never found cave.
Although Merrill not seeing, he hearing questions being asked and answers given by bandit who now giving many answer because previous bandit did not and now no longer able to answer questions. Bandit say cave in direction he pointing, and it at edge of forest but still in forest. Erizax thank bandit and say bandit allowed to live. That not good news for other bandits who chosen to answer questions but soon after no longer able to answer questions. Stout say that Ishtanna need him to heal bandit, or stop bandit from dying, and help bandit to not die. It soon become obvious friends need camp because Fenn know way to farm of Kuipos, but refuse to leave Oleanne, Oleanne refuse to leave wolves, and there one wolf that look more dead than alive to Merrill. Ben and Doran pile bandits in heap in clearing, and put bandit that still able to answer questions with other bandits that can not.
Last thing that happen, Stout decide to heal Merrill, because Merrill still hurt but not hurt bad anymore. So Stout offer to heal Merrill so he not hurt anymore at all. Of course Merrill agree, and Stout put hand on Merrill's leg and speak quick prayer to Ishtanna. Merrill expecting quick tingle and warm feeling, but that not happen.
Next moment, there sharp pain, Merrill feel awful for brief moment, and then there darkness. Much, much darkness. When Merrill wake up, he still feel terrible. Stout in all state, he nearly crying and apologising, to Merrill wrap arms around little cleric and tell him it okay. Clearly, Merrill do something Ishtanna not approve of. Stout offer try again, and Randall offer potion in case Merrill no longer trust Stout. But Merrill trust Stout, it not Stout that problem.
It Merrill that problem.
When Merrill feeling better after Stout heal, it time to do what Merrill know he need do. Mistake was made that nearly cost lives of friends, and then when fight for lives happen, he nearly sleep through whole thing because there swords in places where no swords should be. It obvious now that gods not approve of actions that Merrill has taken.
There been signs for days. Troll break staff that gift of Eleanor, Merrill frighten little child, friends nearly drowned in Marsh, and now friends nearly die because Merrill make mistake. It now required that Merrill do what right, and mark mistake. So with sword that laying around on ground, he cut off braided ponytail and leave it on tree stump near place where he make mistake. And with great pain in heart, Merrill also sacrifice remains of broken staff and leave next to ponytail. In years, perhaps Merrill once again have braid this long. Perhaps he never have braid this long again. That matter of telling only time can. Merrill strayed from Path of Two Moons Dancing. Merrill's feet are now back on path, stepping on thorns of Path of Master. Merrill hoping, Gods forgiving him.
It long night watching forest and sky for bandits, and it even longer night because much of equipment lost to fire. It remind Merrill of first few days traveling with friends. Perhaps that good sign?
When come morning, there no bandits, wolf healed, and bandit that not dying no longer around. Erizax tell him to become farmer. That perhaps big hope, but friends certain he not gone back to bandit cave.
It time to set feet on path, and carry burdens. Burdens lightly burned, but that okay. It never said Path is easy.
If path easy, it not worth walking.
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