Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=217#2165 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 8/15/2021 at 3:57 PM Dawn -- "Murva and I are the only dwarves here who know how to fight. Properly, at least," Aegis sighs. "We had been trying to give the other dwarves basic training after we realised the orcs wanted us all dead. But they just aren't fighters - I don't think we could train them if we had months, let alone days at best." Daavun's face looks stormy, but a retort dies on his lips and he nods sombrely. "Yep... you're right. We just ain't fighters. Really, the traps you suggested are the best way we've been able to combat the orcs yet." Aegis walks back and forth as he thinks. "How does this change your plans?" he asks. His brow is furrowed with concern. At your last question Murva nods. "I saw them sleeping under a supply tent earlier, nearby where Numbat is working. They looked like they needed the rest." As do you - You feel hungry. You feel tired.

*It just means we have less people to surprise the orcs if the traps dont work. Daavun could I have all your broken tools? We could sharpen them into spikes and lay another trap if we have anything that could work as a trip wire. We need to figure out more traps or at least ways to dissuade the orcs from attacking. We need to get the others who cant fight to a safe place does anyone know of one? Thank you Murva now I dont have to worry about them as much. Why dont we all get some food and rest,* Asteria suggests not wanting to be rude enough to eat in front of them.

(If you dont mind my asking what triggered the second world event?)

Dawn
--
Your party keeps up the pace, the fear of being caught drowning out any feelings of tiring. They don't have the breath to respond.

Your pursuers stay on your tail for a long while; eventually you outrun them, and in the remaining hours until the sun rises your group makes sure they don't make a reappearance.

Your reserves run out not long after sunrise, and at the same time you reach the border - you have been running and jogging since the sun set, and haven't rested. Your party isn't doing much better.

Do you want to stop for a short break, or push on at a slower pace? Jogging, you'll reach the Crossroads soon after midday, but you'll be exhausted. Walking, you'll reach the Crossroads by the evening, but your party may be caught.

You feel twice as hungry as normal. You feel tired.

(Sure - Orcastration being involved in a ransomer plot triggered the 2nd stage. Don't worry though, the stages are kind of standalone quests roughly following the same overall plot, so you shouldn't be affected)

Dawn
--
"So far as I can recollect, we maintain our tools thoroughly and don't 'ave any broken ones right now," Daavun answers. "But if it's spikes you need, we could chop wood and sharpen them into wooden ones if that would work. Tell me what it is and I'll get it built.
"As for more trip wire, we only have so many supplies. We probably 'ave enough to make one more set of traps involving trip wire, unless you can think of another source."

"More traps are a good defence," Aegis muses. "But how far do we go? If we entrench ourselves too much, then the orcs will just wait for our supplies to run out. If we move everyone out of the camp, who is there to defend? What is the overall goal here?"

Murva shakes her head. "No place for so many. We can't go south, because we haven't cleared the snow yet. North and the orcs are sure to intercept us. Any paths to the east lead to wilderness and wild animals."

You feel hungry. You feel tired.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=218#2173 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 8/16/2021 at 9:40 AM (Sure - Orcastration being involved in a ransomer plot triggered the 2nd stage. Don't worry though, the stages are kind of standalone quests roughly following the same overall plot, so you shouldn't be affected) Dawn -- "So far as I can recollect, we maintain our tools thoroughly and don't 'ave any broken ones right now," Daavun answers. "But if it's spikes you need, we could chop wood and sharpen them into wooden ones if that would work. Tell me what it is and I'll get it built. "As for more trip wire, we only have so many supplies. We probably 'ave enough to make one more set of traps involving trip wire, unless you can think of another source." "More traps are a good defence," Aegis muses. "But how far do we go? If we entrench ourselves too much, then the orcs will just wait for our supplies to run out. If we move everyone out of the camp, who is there to defend? What is the overall goal here?" Murva shakes her head. "No place for so many. We can't go south, because we haven't cleared the snow yet. North and the orcs are sure to intercept us. Any paths to the east lead to wilderness and wild animals." You feel hungry. You feel tired.

(Thank you. Time for plan B)

*Okay so we need an escape route or maybe a few in case things go wrong. Save the tripwire for now we might need it for something else later. Yes can you please get some wood just be careful about doing so and try to be as quiet as possible doing so. The goal is to save as many lives as possible weve all lost too many already. Find as many small stones as you can and see if anyone knows how to sling stones or if not Ill turn them into arrowheads and try to make some arrows. When you go to get wood would you please look for some pieces of wood like this,* Asteria pulls an arrow out of her quiver and points at the shaft of the arrow, *They dont have to be perfect. Murva you seem to know the area would you try and help some of the others make some escape routes in case we need them, please? Aegis would you mind going with the woodcutters to protect them please? In the meantime while its calm I suggest we all get some food and rest before we go out that way in case something happens we arent fatigued.*

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=218#2172 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 8/16/2021 at 9:16 AM Dawn -- Your party keeps up the pace, the fear of being caught drowning out any feelings of tiring. They don't have the breath to respond. Your pursuers stay on your tail for a long while; eventually you outrun them, and in the remaining hours until the sun rises your group makes sure they don't make a reappearance. Your reserves run out not long after sunrise, and at the same time you reach the border - you have been running and jogging since the sun set, and haven't rested. Your party isn't doing much better. Do you want to stop for a short break, or push on at a slower pace? Jogging, you'll reach the Crossroads soon after midday, but you'll be exhausted. Walking, you'll reach the Crossroads by the evening, but your party may be caught. You feel twice as hungry as normal. You feel tired.

"Walk and eat, then keep pushing for the Crossroad? They won't let us go a second time but we can rest as long as we need to once we get ther." Nicote gasps out. "There's more of them, but they probably have more stamina then us so they'll catch us if we slow down too much for too long." He figures if they do a half-nad-half approach they might not colapse entirely. He'd like to have a little energy to get into the Adventurer's Crossroads properly before he or his party tires entirely.

Dawn
--
The other three take it all in, nodding.

"Sounds like a plan," Daavun agrees. "We're fine, and it's best we get as much as we can done while we can. You rest - I'll keep things running and let you know if anything comes up."

The two mercenaries move to get groups of the snow-clearers for their respective tasks, Daavun following after. Quest log updated.

You're left alone at the edge of the camp, a moment of calm after all of the chaos. Now all that's left is for you to find somewhere to sleep and take something from your pack to eat.

Tired, hungry

Dawn
--
"...plan..." Balthur wheezes, giving up talking and just giving you a thumbs-up.

Slowing to walk for a while allows your group to get their breaths back. Spork pulls an apple from his pack and stuffs the entire thing in his mouth in one go. He reaches for another before looking at Balthur, whose belongings were lost to the ransomers, and offers it to the centaur.

He regards it warily. "...thanks." He accepts the food.

Knight looks at you with very impressive puppy-dog eyes, for a wyvern. "Can I get something to eat, please?"

Which food items would you like to consume?

Hungry x2. Tired.

(Not the first? Okay, now I'm intrigued.
No worries - I think sometimes I need to get my act together and give you lot a defined storyline to keep you going. I just need to figure out the genre)

Evening
--
As you lean in for a better look, you can see cobwebs and dirt collecting on the box. Whoever it belongs to, they clearly haven't touched it in some time.

The box is about the size of a large loaf of bread - the cavity isn't big enough for a corpse.

You have to reach your whole forearm into the gap to ease the box out. You feel something with too many legs scuttle over your hand and get covered in cobwebs for your efforts. Once you remove it, you can see that it is a simple wooden case - nothing sinister on first glance. A couple of letters are engraved on its lid: 'GS' alongside a depiction of a sun cut in half by a line; if they are initials, neither hint at it belonging to Rythia. A sturdy lock shuts the casket fast.