STATIC 8: The Lot & the Cutters

General Summary

Wherein the Blinkertons travel to Rhama's Lot and discover what it means to be a Cutter

With the Cutters

Arriving in Rhama's Lot, The Interdimensional Blinkerton Detective Agency were greeted not by Rhama, or by the gold earring'd one, but by a lumberjack community called The Cutters. The Shop Steward of the Cutters, a goliath named Rain, mistook our heroes for new recruits. After resolving that misunderstanding, the Blinkertons decided to join the Cutters anyway, as it seemed like the best way to gather information about the man they seek.
It was explained to them that the Cutters are a worker's cooperative, dedicated to the sustainable harvesting of softwood, which is highly prized in shipbuilding endeavors as it swells when wet. Each member of the Cutters is expected to assist in this enterprise. Most do the titular cutting, chopping down softwood trees and hauling them back to camp. A few, however, fill other roles, such as the examination of the operation for inefficiencies. While both Corinna Himmelswander and Nero Rubicant were well-suited to the chopping, Hypatia and Sharkbait found their calling among the more esoteric jobs of the community.
Having agreed to work as a Cutter--at least for a little while--the Blinkertons were shown an available campsite and told to join the rest of the Cutters after they get settled it. They took that time to sketch out a plan--they will work as Cutters to carefully and discretely inquire about the gold earring'd one, as he was seen in these environs. If something strange happens, or they discover the man they seek, they'll ask the following question: "have you ever been to the Glow?" A flawless plan, to be sure.
That settled, it was time to meet their coworkers. Corinna quickly made friends with a dwarf from Gatt, offering "home is where you left it," an old Gattish saying, as a way of establishing comradery. The dwarf called himself Ansgar Kornflow, and he helped her understand the Cutters mindset and could, potentially, provide clues about the GEO if approached delicately. Hypatia found out the hard way that questions about past lives are frowned upon here, as she sought to build report with Titanbone, a fellow Cutter logician. Asking about his name earned a firm rebuff, and she retreated before doing any more damage to their cause. Nero just kinda vibed with his co-workers, excited to chop some logs, and, perhaps, earn a place on the Top Daily Cutter leaderboard in the camp.
He had an opportunity to do just that as they headed into the woods the next morning to chop some trees. Both Nero and Corinna managed to chop 16 trees the whole day, which swas enough to earn them tenth place on the Cutter leaderboard and the respect of several Cutters. Hypatia also had a productive day, finding a way to increase efficency through streamlining the construction of the raft used to float the logs down to the mill. Nobody really knows what Sharkbait got up to during this time.
That respect carried them through the day and into the evening. But cutting logs is not enough to become a "true" Cutter, one must also be prepared to consume copious amounts of food. It was in this spirit that Chesty Joenuts, the reigning eating champion of the Cutters, challenged them to an "oatjack" off. Hypatia did the best she could, but ended up suffering a "reversal" at the very end. Nero made it through the challenge, but felt terrible for quite a while. Corinna seemed unphased by the consuming, almost like she has a deep hole inside herself that only oatjacks can fill.
There was little time to bask in the respect afforded to the Blinkertons through this gambit, however, as three cave bears, perhaps seeking out oatjacks for themselves, stormed into the camp and attacked. The Blinkertons fended these animals off, but it was a bloody battle. Now all that is left is to see what damage was done to the camp.

And That's Where We Left It

We'll see how the Blinkertons continue their pursuit of the gold earring'd one during our next session.

Varied & Sundry Details

• On the way to Rhama's Lot, the Blinkertons encountered Armik Drakefoe, a Kenali follower, who, thanks to a curse, isunable to submerge any part of himself in water deeper than a few inches without risking destruction. This proved to be a difficulty as he wanted to cross a stream that lacked a bridge and was too wide to leap across. The Blinkertons, ever resourceful, agreed to assist him with the timely application of the Potion of Flight (thanks Hypatia!) Armik was very grateful, as, apparently, was Kenali, who gifted them a limited boom for their aid.
• Not everyone in that stream, however, was as thankful with the Blinkertons presence. They were attacked by an Awakened octopus wearing a diving helmet. The octopus screamed "TOO MANY PEOPLE" as it battered the Blinkies with its tentacles. When the going got tough, the octopus retreated to parts unknown. Dang!

Character(s) interacted with

• Armik Drakefoe, cursed follower of Kenali
• Vaulath Rainclimber Vathumemo, called Rain, Shop Steward of The Cutters
• Tallbough, Cutter cook
• Ansgar Kornflow, Cutter formerly of Gatt
• Titanbone, Cutter logician
• Chesty Joenuts, Cutter and champion oatjack eater

Report Date

30 Oct 2022

Primary Location

Rhama's Lot