Saturday, February 02, 2019

Blossom Fall, Episode 3

Colonial Caerdia: Blossom Fall is a story being told through a 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons campaign I'm running at a local hobby shop called the Devil's Bench. If you aren't already familiar with this series, you can find the beginning over here.

You can find the previous episode here.

7th of Waning Winter, 2158 AE - 3rd of Waxing Spring, 0 AL

Having just driven off a sea monster from the Spring Blossom, our heroes - or, at least some of them - decide it is the perfect time to make some money. Vala and Jojen quickly hatch a plan to sell I'Un's autographs, pitching the monk as Punch Drunk, the champion of the fighting ring, the amazing man who survived a 100ft fall from the mast, and the warrior who had kicked the sea serpent from the side of the ship. I'Un hesitantly agrees - not really wanting the attention, but knowing he's running short on money. Besides, Vala makes a wonderful argument that these people could use a hero to look up to.

So John climbs up on a barrel and shouts out to the crowd, drawing them in. Conrad steps up to act as bodyguard, while Jojen prepares the paper, then begins playing a some music, and Vala collects the eight copper pieces per signature. By the time they run out of paper, they've made a little coin, and I'Un is starting to like the idea of being a hero. He offers an open challenge to a game of darts with his portion of the take as a bet, but instantly regrets it when a young noblewoman comes forward to accept his challenge - not looking like the type to win at darts, and making him instantly suspicious that she's some sort of hustler. However, he wins - barely - and she accepts the defeat graciously. What's more, the crowd loves it.

With their money made, the group settles back down to continue their journey. Days turn into tendays, and there's still no sign of land. Rations are growing thin, and everyone is growing tired of the unending sway of the ship. When the first of Waxing Spring arrives, there's hardly any celebration of the New Year.

On the night of the 2nd of Waxing spring - so late that it would be more appropriate to call it the morning of the 3rd, Jojen wakes up. He's spent some time on a ship before, and he can tell something is wrong - though he doesn't know what. He quickly wakes the others, wishing to ensure that whatever is happening, they are prepared.

Conrad immediately heads out into the hall, where a couple sailors are moving with a quiet urgency. He accosts one, trying to discover what is happening, but she assures him there's nothing for him to worry about and continues waking up all the off-duty sailors.

Jojen makes his way up to the deck and finds his eyes drawn to roiling clouds on the horizon, dead ahead of the ship. Captain Opal is at the helm with the half-orc sailor, Skaal, and he makes his way up to them. The captain confirms his fear that they're headed into a really bad storm, and there's no way to avoid it - he offers to be on hand to help, and she says she welcomes anyone who is willing to lend a hand to help the ship make it through the storm. He rejoins his companions, who are just arriving on deck - I'Un and Vala with their escape-barrels in tow.

After hearing Jojen describe the storm as a ship killer, Vala ties the two escape barrels together, then to the mast, and climbs in while the others brace for the storm. It hits them, with rain and waves washing over the deck, making it hard to keep their feet. Jojen, John, I'Un, and Conrad begin running around, solving what problems they can quickly. Conrad is nearly swept from the deck, but I'Un catches him. When a huge gust of wind blows the ship off course, John rushes to the helm to help the captain and Skall, earning a nod of respect from Opal.

A line snaps, and Conrad deftly snatches it before it whips away. Things have been going as well as they can, but they see a massive tidal wave rearing and bearing down on the ship. John braces himself at the helm, hoping to keep the captain safe. I'Un, worried about what this wave might do, knocks the line out of Conrad's hands and drags the big man over to the mast, telling him to hold onto the barrels while climbing into his escape barrel. Knowing that the line was important, Jojen grabs it as the wave crashes down on the ship. Unfortunately, he's unable to keep hold of it and he's swept away towards the side of the ship. With Conrad also knocked from his feet, John at the helm and too far away, and Vala and I'Un huddling in their barrels, there is no one to save Jojen from being swept overboard.

The situation begins turning worse. I'Un does get out of his barrel, but only long enough to get to the side of the ship and see that Jojen is nowhere in sight before returning to his barrel. Conrad continues trying to put out fires - sometimes literally, after lightning strikes the deck. John stays at the helm, helping keep the ship on course and hoping to make an impression on the captain by helping to keep her safe - even though it means no one is able to respond to the report of animals breaking free of their pens below decks, likely to stampede. In spite of his best efforts, however, he isn't able to save her when a wave washes her overboard. He considers abandoning the helm for long enough to tie himself to a mast, but another gust of wind sweeps in and he decides it's more important to stay at the helm and keep the ship on course.

The Spring Blossom is in rough shape when it breaks free of the storm, but it's still afloat - if barely. With the captain missing, Skaal takes command, though John stays to help him with the helm. Reports start floating in - the hold is taking on water at a rapid pace, and the ship is barely limping along. Even with repairs underway, it seems like only a matter of time before the ship sinks. Then, in the afternoon, a cry comes down from the crow's nest: Land ho! People flood to the deck to get their first look at land in over three months. I'Un, in particular, is looking for a city on the horizon, but they're still too far to see anything - and nothing shows up as they draw nearer.

Skall leaves the helm long enough to climb up to the nest, and returns with a decision on where they are going. He steers them towards a small bay, making straight for land - the ship is riding low in the water and it has been decided that the best course of action is to run aground. However, before they reach the beach, the Spring Bottom grinds to a halt on a sand bar.

Everyone is eager to make for the longboats, and our remaining heroes are at the forefront. As soon as they hit land, they split into groups - with John taking Will out to hunt in the woods beyond the narrow beach - and perhaps find some sign of civilization - while I'Un searches the beach to the south, and Conrad and Vala search the beach to the north. How close they were to shore when the storm hit has given them hope that maybe - just maybe - Jojen survived.

John finds some food, but nothing denoting anything but animals in the area. He does come across a river emptying out into the bay, and decides that this source of fresh water is as good a place as any to build a new home. He plants his staff, tying a make-shift banner to it, and claims the land in the name of his tribe, White Wolf - of which he and his cousin will are the only remaining survivors. It is debatable how much sway his claim will hold, as others also start gathering around the river.

To the north, Vala and Conrad come across Captain Opal, limping her way down the beach. They help her back to the growing gathering at the river. Vala says that if they end up building a settlement here, they should name it Spring Blossom. Opal thinks it is a vary fitting name.

To the south, I'Un comes across Jojen lying on the beach. He is in very poor condition, but at least he's alive. They also make their way back to the river, and reunite with the others - who are all delighted to find that their friend has survived. However, they also want to learn more about this new land, and contact any civilization there may be.

Though it is late in the day, they follow the river into the forest - rich with new growth. They travel for about an hour, keeping an eye on the sun so they can head home before dark. Having still seen no signs of anything other than animal life, John climbs a tree to see if the height can tell them anything. All he can see is trees in every direction.

Still, they continue on a little further. After another half hour of walking, they spot a cave opening not fat from the river - however, it's getting close to dusk. They mark its location, and turn back for the shore - but Conrad and I'Un stay behind, curious to explore just a little. They promise to leave at the first sign of trouble.

They light a torch and throw it into the cave - and catch a very brief glimpse of a large form moving away from the light with a skittering sound. Conrad throws a second torch, but his nerves cause him to fumble it and it doesn't even make it as far as the first. The two decide they've pushed their luck far enough and run to catch up with the others before it's dark enough for the whatever-it-is that's avoiding the light to come out after them.



And that's where this week's game session comes to an end. Come back later to find out what happens next week in Episode 4.

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