Session 2: The Mountain Road
General Summary
GM Summary
Bezahltag (Taxday) 1st Day of Brauzeit, 2511 IC: Time Early Morning: Weather Still chilly, but the snow has stopped leaving a thin carpet covering the ground.Rom and Felix say farewell to Rom's father Ernst and brother Hans and head out of the village bound for Hugeldal. There is only one road through the village and Rom steers the cart along it towards the mountain road heading west.
There is still a small gathering outside the Doctors house and it's obvious a lot of people caught a chill at last nights festivities. Fortunately, Hilda and Isla seemed to be healthy enough this morning. As Rom steers the cart out of the village the snow becomes crisp, white and unblemished on the road ahead as it begins to climb into the mountains. Clearly you are the first people to leave the village this morning. Rom and Felix continue in silence for a while, Ballard knows the road and doesn’t need much guidance.
For the first part of the journey, there is nothing of any real interest on the road. The mountains rise up on the roads right, whilst the land drops away on the left towards a stream about a mile away through the trees.
As Messingen finally disappears from view behind the tree's the snow is disturbed by the first animal tracks. Early morning predators looking for food. Felix studies them lethargically, just the usual mix of fox, weasel and badger. Nothing of any concern. Then from out of the trees to the right of the road, you both notice a more significant set of tracks. They come out of the tree's and then turn to follow the line of the road. Something is ahead of you.
Rom keeps focused on the road painfully aware that for once he has a passenger making him more aware of the journey.
(To Felix Schwarzdorn) Roll D100+10 to determine what made the tracks. Felix Schwarzdorn:rolling d100+10 (Result=28) (To Felix Schwarzdorn): Wow! ok nailed that. You can tell easily that the tracks were made by two humanoid creatures wearing hob-nail boots accompanied by a small four-legged animal probably a dog.Ballard keeps plodding forward, you should be able to see whatever it is ahead of you once you crest the next rise. Rom doesn't stop Ballard’s progress the tracks look like those of a small animal that would get out of the way itself. Felix who had been studying the tracks keenly, shrugs. "Well, looks like we aren't the only travellers on the road this morning. Couple of folks and their dog looks like"
As you crest the next rise you can see two figures in the distance accompanied by a small dog. At first, they take no notice of you but as the cart gets closer the sound causes them to halt and look to see who it is.
(From Romerich Jaeger): Is it normal for people to walk this far out? (To Romerich Jaeger): Not normal, most people would stay home in this sort of weather unless they had important business like you.
Rom gives Felix a sideways glance the first time he has really looked at his companion since they headed out. “Not normal for people to wander out this far especially when it's been snowing.” Rom keeps the cart moving at a steady pace planning to keep moving past the travellers on the road.
(To Romerich Jaeger): As the cart draws closer you recognise the two men as Erich Hoger and his son Werner together with his dog ‘Ripper’. A couple of shady characters from the village who often sell rabbits and chickens to the Tavern and villagers.
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The larger of the two men stops and grins at Rom. “Morin Herr Jaegar, weren't expecting you out on a cold mornin like this. “Out looking for Rabbits Hoger?..” Calls Rom as the cart approaches but does not stop. “Gotta keep the people fed Herr Jaeger. Cold, snow, rain or whatever.” Rom nods “Docs real busy so don't go catching a chill...” Meant as a friendly reminder that they should head back to town and before they get into trouble.
Erich is about to make some other comment but suddenly pauses and the blood drains from his face.
'Taal's teeth if it ain't my old friend Herr Felix, not lookin fer me I 'ope yer honner. I ain't done nuffin wrong.' he stammers his face instantly taking on an innocent look.
Rom looks over at Felix reluctant to stop but giving Felix the opportunity to request it.
(To Felix Schwarzdorn): Roll D100 for perception. Felix Schwarzdorn:rolling d100 (Result =21) (To Felix Schwarzdorn): Felix quickly runs through his mental database of known felons and comes up with Erich Voss a notorious chicken thief he had brought to justice several times in Ubersreik.Felix grins widely, in what appears to be a genuinely friendly manner, which somehow ends up being all the more terrifying. "Not today Voss, it would seem Ranald smiles upon you, at least for now! See to it you keep your nose clean and it stays that way eh?" Eric relaxes slightly. "I'm a reformed man Herr Felix, got a family now and a new life. This is me son Werner." He says putting his arm round the boy who quickly shrugs it off. 'Yer a long way from 'ome Herr Felix, must be somfin important to drag you this far from Ubersreik. Someone bin nickin the Graf's apples again?" he adds impishly. Felix Schwarzdorn nods, still smiling as the cart continues to trundle past. "Glad to hear that Voss" He waves a hand lazily in the air without turning back, adding. "And, my work always is!" paying little mind to the quip about the apples.
Ballard continues down the road and Eric and Werner let it pass watching it disappear out of sight.
Rom who had been trying his best to mind his own business gives Felix a quick look curious how he knows someone like Hoger but decides it might be best not to pry.
The road continues to climb steadily into the foothills, the snow is once more devoid of tracks.
(To Romerich Jaeger): You reckon you must be about halfway to Hulgeldal now and so far the snow has held off although the sky remains cloudy.
Rom Jaeger occasionally glances at the sky as if judging whether the weather will get worse but keeps the cart moving forward. The cart rounds a spur of high ground and crests yet another rise and Rom and Felix are greeted by a strange sight heading towards them. The road ahead is full of caravans heading towards you led by a dejected-looking girl wrapped in a shawl and walking barefoot through the snow.
Rom looks at Felix openly unsure on what he is seeing. “Wouldn't happen to know them too would you?” he jests unsure on what else to do in this situation.
As you get closer the girl looks up and her face lights up with a big smile,
(To Romerich Jaeger): Rom recognises the girl as one of the dancing girls from the Strigany camp outside Hugeldal.
The girl throws off her shawl and begins to sway her hips and dance along the road towards you.
(From Romerich Jaeger): guessing she’s blocking the road...
It's obvious she knows Rom. and seems pleased to see him.
Felix shrugs "Not unless they also happen to have been poaching chickens, no"
(To Romerich Jaeger): Ballard stops unable to squeeze past the girl or the caravans beyond. The girl continues to dance along the road towards you apparently oblivious to the cold. Rom looks uncomfortable with the situation “Is something wrong...” Rom calls down to the girl gesturing at the caravan.
Fortunately for Rom at this point, three men emerge from the lead wagon. No doubt curious about the delay in their progress. The first is a tall proud-looking man with a mass of curly hair dressed in the flamboyant style common amongst the Strigany. He appears to be the leader of the group the other two hanging back behind him. He does not look particularly intelligent, but he seems self-assured. He shouts at the girl in a strange tongue and rushing forward shooes her off the road. The other two men follow but let him deal with it.
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Rom looks mildly relieved as the complaining girl is eventually shooed away and finally wanders off behind the wagon, where Rom can still see her peeking at him.
The man now turns to speak to Rom and Felix giving them both a rather flamboyant bow and an apologetic smile. “My sorry, she is foolish. My nam eez Zakarriya. I am Dominar of theez caravan. he says in a rather thick Strigany accent. Zakarriyya goes on to gesture at the two other men behind him "Diz eez Sirhan and Gabriel two off my men. He looks from Felix to Rom as if unsure who he should address. There is an awkward pause, and when nobody speaks he decides to ask his burning question anyway. “Whay arre you here?” He asks pointedly.
Rom who was just about to answer looks confused at why he is being questioned. “I was about to ask you the same thing...I'd have thought you wouldn't want to move from your camps during this weather.”
Now Zak Looks confused. "We are gohing haway." He answers then ponders as if unsure what else to say. Zak stares up at the clouds trying to formulate an answer. Finally, he replies "Der ees bad thinges coming har. You must go back." It is clear that Zak recognises how unsatisfactory his reply must sound, but it appears to be the best he can articulate, and he looks at the two strangers hoping they understand.
Rom looks over at Felix again not sure what to think.
Felix gives Rom a withering look in return. This is the second time today he has heard the same news and seems to not put much stock in it.
“Bad things....like the weather getting worse?” says Rom unsure what the man is going on about.
Zak looks crestfallen and shakes his head vigorously, “Dark things Petra Sara has seen zem. Sara says we leev, we go.”
Rom sees how panicked the man is and his brow furrows before doing his best to make room for the caravan to pass. As the men step back from the cart to let you pass another figure emerges from the column dressed in an even more outlandish costume than the men.
Rom looks over at Felix exasperated.
Eventually, the woman turns to Rom and Felix and rather annoyingly asks them exactly the same question as Zak. Although in slightly better Reikspeil. “Why are you here?” “We are on our way to Hugeldal.” Rom answers more bluntly than the first time. Thinking it should be obvious given that the road goes nowhere else.
She looks confused as though something doesn’t make sense to her. Rom points down the road assuming she didn’t understand where he meant.
The woman ignores his gesture “I am Petra Sara, who are you?” she asks rather abruptly. Rom taps himself “Romerich Jaeger...and this is Herr Schwarzdorn...” he says before leaning closer to Felix and saying “:...right..?”. (Rom was obviously not sure he'd remembered his companion's name correctly.) Sara frowns “You are not what I expected.” she mutters looking somewhat disappointed. Rom looks confused at what that even means. Felix nods at Rom, looking just about as exasperated. “Well you didn't expect anyone by the looks of things...” replies Rom “neither did we...” Sara pouts, clearly insulted by Rom's suggestion ” Sometimes da vision is not clear.” Apparently as much to explain the situation to herself as to Rom. Finally, she looks up “I was hex-pecting someone ..." she pauses searching for a word "....beeg-ga..." she adds not really sure if what she found was truly the right word. Rom frowns “I'm not sure what you've been told...” he replies gesturing to the young girl still hiding behind the wagons.
@Rom's Naughty Little Secret“Are you heroes?” Sara finally asks screwing up her nose as if not really sure about the statement. “Are you here to save the town?”
Rom looks at Felix for any kind of help with this question. Felix shrugs, looking just as bemused. "If we are, then perhaps we had best get a move on?" he says rather pointedly. Rom nods at that thinking it was a fairly good way of getting these crazy people off their back.
Not sure about the answer Sara tries to explain “The Dominar of the town, He send for help. Are you dat help?” she asks urgently. “Have you seen the darkness. do you know what it is?” she adds “If you are the ones, then your destiny may provide the answer.”
Rom by this point has mostly had enough “We really ought to be moving on...or the darkness will be upon us before we even reach Hugeldal” he says trying to play along with the woman’s theme.
Sara Looks frustrated. "The darkness is already here." she says forlornly "But I cannot see it. Because it isn't human. If you must face it then you must know what it is."
“Either way we need to be at Hugeldal right...?” says Rom dismissively.
“It will not stop at Hugeldal. It will keep looking till it finds what it is looking for.” Snaps Sara clearly annoyed and frustrated at not being able to make her point.
“And what’s that...” asks Rom glibly just to appease the crazy woman.
“Something which was lost.” Sara answers then corrects herself “No something that was taken. Something that belongs to it.”
Felix gives Rom a sideways glance, surprised he is going along with this foolishness, rather than just moving the cart along. Rom shrugs at Felix unable to move because they are blocking the path.
Zak can see that the two men on the cart are not interested in the Petra’s warnings and are getting annoyed. He speaks quietly to Sara in their native tongue. Sara Looks annoyed and snaps at him. But seems to accept whatever he said and flounces off towards her caravan. Zak Smiles at you apologetically and waves at the column of wagons to pull to one side and lets you pass.
Rom waits patiently and then passes nodding a thank you to Zak.
“Didn't expect that when we set off this morning...” Rom mutters under his breath once they are clear of them.
Zak bows again briefly and watches the wagon pull away.
Felix breathes a deep sigh of relief as they are finally moving along again. "Quite so. If I knew we would have suffered this many delays, it may have been quicker to just set out last night on foot" He says, only half-joking.
Zak Waits for the cart to get clear of the column and then claps his hands and they move off again towards Messingen.
“The roads should have been quiet...” Rom replies The final stage of the journey passes without further incident and by late morning Rom and Felix are approaching the gates of Hugeldal. As you approach the gate the two guards rouse themselves from their shelter under the arch and step out to meet you.
Rom waves at them as they approach. He recognises them as a Alwin and Werner two of the ten or so members of the Hugeldal Town Watch in their grubby white uniforms.
“Mornin Herr Jaeger. Wasn't sure if we'd see you today, weather an all.” Says Alwyn once they are within speaking distance. Werner just grins. He's a bit dim and Alwyn tends to boss him about a lot.
“Yeah...you'd be surprised everyone and their dog is out on the roads today.” Replies Rom.
Alwyn Looks surprised "Really? You're the first we've seen through the gate this mornin," he says.
“Yeah...big caravan heading the opposite way...it was them....Striganies...” explains Rom.
“Oh! Aye! They left first thing. Just packed up and left. Gonna be pretty quiet around here with them gone." Notes Alywyn. “Mind you they ain't been much fun to 'ave around lately. All that doom and gloom they bin spouting.”
Rom nods “We got our fair share of that...wouldn't let us past until they warned us of some 'darkness' or something eh...” says Rom nudging Felix.
Alwyn Laughs "Bin 'avin a go at you too 'ave they. Got the miners really spooked they 'ave. Lord Matthias ain't happy at all"
“Well he’d be even more mad if they'd scared me back to the village then. You wouldn't even get your shipment here...” Rom gestures to the back.
This is a slight misunderstanding as Rom is not making a delivery to Hugeldal, but is actually here to collect a shipment from the mine. However, I didn't correct Simon (the player in question) as it was a minor issue, though it did confirm that the players were having trouble remembering the plot history.
Alwin grins " Well if they 'ad their way there would be nobody 'ere to worry. Reckoned we all needed to 'ed north to escape and leave the town abandoned. Tween you 'an me I reckon that's where the missing miners went. Reckon they just scarpered."
Rom shrugs at that.
Alwyn 'coughs' officiously. “Anyways Herr Jaeger I notice you have an extra pair 'o legs wiv you today. So, that'll be eight shilling's toll I'm afraid. Bit more 'an usual.”
(From Romerich Jaeger): Do I know who Felix is going to see? (To Romerich Jaeger): Didn't he say he had a note to deliver to Lord Matthias? (From Romerich Jaeger): Don't remember
Rom turns to Felix “Haven't you got official business here...”
Felix nods. "Official business on behalf of Graf von Jungfreud" he says matter of factly.
Alwyn is still standing expectantly waiting to be paid.
Rom sighs exaggeratedly. He was hoping the guards would just let them pass since he had an important guest. But he hands over the extra coin. “You owe me a drink Herr Schwarzdorn.” Rom says as he parts with his money.
This issue has since been raised by both players as a point of contention, as they both felt that because Felix was on 'official' business for the Graf, they should have been granted free admission to the town. However, as I pointed out neither of them actually put this argument to Alwyn at the time, and ultimately as the GM, I didn't really think it was up to me to do their thinking for them. Had either Rom or Felix made the argument to Alwyn that he ought to waive the toll then I would have allowed it and rolled a suitable social test to determine if Alwyn was persuaded. But in fact, neither of them said anything to Alwyn directly at all.Alwyn takes the coins and nods at Werner to clear the way.
End of Session 2
Missions/Quests Completed
Successfully reached Hugeldal.
Character(s) interacted with
Met Erich and Werner Hoger. Felix recognising Erich as a former chicken thief from Ubersreik called Voss.
They also met the Strigany caravan which was fleeing from the impending threat to Hugeldal and spoke with Petra Sara the Strigany mystic who has foreseen the approaching danger. However, they were not interested in what she had to say, dismissing her as nothing more than a crazy woman, and so they are no wiser as to the nature of the threat or their destiny in dealing with it.
Notes
A somewhat frustrating session for everyone I think.
I found it impossible to interest the players in exploring what Petra Sara the Strigany mystic knew about the impending threat to Black Rock and their destiny in thwarting it, and in trying to do so I think I bored the players who really just wanted to get on a reach Hugeldal and weren't interested in the encounter with the Strigany.
Roll20 was not helping. For some reason, the audio was only working intermittently and reducing the ambience of the game rather than enhancing it, and I found that the character images I had prepared to enhance the encounters would not display on the VTT. In fact, after the session both players said they had seen none of them.
Felix Schwarzdorn
Romerich Jaeger
Report Date
06 Sep 2019
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