15-Feb-2006

DM: The Doctor
PCs: Hayli, Jones, Rogdin, Tylan
Summary: first contact in this world
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The Ark hovers above a rustic scene of light woodlands and farmland. About ten
miles to the south, a large river meanders through a green valley from east to
west. Massive stone keeps and towers dot the cliffs lining the valley (which
is about 1-2 miles wide). The valley floor seems to be mostly fields and
pastures, divided by hedgerows, low stone walls, and lines of trees. Now and
then a boat is visible on the river, stopping at the clusters of wooden houses
and piers built along the banks. On the slopes of the valley, there appear to
be orchards and vineyards. The workers seem to be roughly human, mixed with
groups of what seem to be larger types...

About five miles to the south, the cultivated land gives way to light
decidious woodland, which extends all the way to the area under the Ark and a
mile to the north, where there is a visible border - it looks like trees have
been cleared, with a wooden fence running down the middle of the strip. The
forest grows thicker and darker to the north of the border, with the land
rising into hilly, rockier terrain. Snowcapped mountains are visible far to
the north.

The closest "civilized" feature is what looks like a grubby wreck of a wooden
farmstead half a mile to the east. New trees have taken over what probably
used to be fields. However, smoke still rises from the chimney.

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Hayli looks down and out over the landscape. "Well, it looks as though we got
something along the lines of what I was thinking of. How about you two?", she
asks.

Tylan glances down thoughtfully, studying their surroundings. "I think we were
thinking along the same lines. We'll need to set a scouting party up soon."

Jones shakes his head. "Not what I had in my mind. It looks peacefull...but
what are those peoples? I can not see from here.

Hayli narrows her eyes, peering out to what signs of civilization there are.
"They're too far away to see. Should we go out scouting right away, or take a
short time to rest, first, recover from the battle in the Engine?"

Tylan squints, but can't make anything out either. So much for elven eyesight.
"If we don't go to them, they'll come to us, and I think the former might be
the more sound strategy for trying to forge decent relations."

Others of the Ark are also gathered, hugging the walls and peering around
uncertainly. "At least it's warm!" says one. "Aye, and sunlight, bless Pelor!"
says another.

Hayli nods. "Well, that farm that's nearby looks tenanted. Shall we go there
and see what's what?", she suggests, pointing.

Tylan nods firmly. "A good idea. That should give us a sense of the locals.
And perhaps we can find something small to offer by way of a good faith
gesture?"

Jones nods slowly. "A wise move. Yet I am unsure if I should be one to go. My
metal form may spook them. Perhaps not."

"An excellent suggestion, that. What have we that we can offer?", Hayli
wonders. "And you should come, Jones. You're a priest, and we that carries
weight with most folks."

Tylan ponders a moment. "I would recommend a small group go... strong enough
to defend ourselves, but not enough to look threatening. If Jones does not
come along, I think he might serve well as a visible guard here? And let's
leave Rogdin here this time."

Hayli nods. "Honestly? I think taking Jones would be a good idea. He's
'strange' enough to make them realize we're outside the norm, and normal
enough to be acceptable just the same -- better than taking along that gnoll
that runs around here. Also, if anyone's hurt at all, his priestly magics can
be displayed -- and good deeds go a long way to earning trust."

Jones says "I will come then. I will carry no weapon..my body is weapon
enough."

Tylan nods once. "Good then, let's not take too many, and leave before we
gather too large a party. Do we have any hides, or a few coin we might barter
or give away as a good gesture?"

Jones says "Let us just go and meet. Speak of trade but offer none until it is
time."

Hayli nods again. "The three of us, then. Shall we go?"

Tylan nods, making sure he has everything he needs... easy enough, then he
speaks the vow and waits for the scout to lead.

Hayli takes a short while to go back to her quarters -- when she returns,
she's gotten out of her cold-weather clothing and is wearing clothing more
appropriate to the climate of this world. She is, clearly, bringing her bow
along with her.

No one else seems to be jumping up to volunteer. There are a few sheepish
glances your way, but...they seem to feel it's one of those natural elven
things to do. Elves and that metal priest. Yeah.

Tylan seems pretty happy with that result. A small group might be less
threatening, and can move quicker. Besides, after the chosen, he's wary of too
much 'help' at times. As soon as Hayli is ready, he moves to follow close
after.

"Gods be with you!" says the Akadazian expatriate leading the elevator crew.

Jones speaks the vow and waits to be lowered.

"Thank you. We'll return in due course", replies Hayli before reciting the vow
to return. On the way down, she comments, "My only qualm with this area -- it
looks like claimed land. While raw materials may be available, hunting may not
be feasible."

Down you go. You can see as you go down, that there is a path of sorts leading
from the farm through the woods south towards the river valley.

Tylan studies the terrain, but sticks close to the scout. "We'll need to
explore, but if there's farms here, its likely relatively safe, unless the
locals don't like us. And if we need to travel a little further to hunt, so be
it. We'll talk to the locals."

Jones nods once. "We will have to barter well. Maybe even offer services as
hunters or mercenaries. I fear only our reception and the reaction of those in
charge of the area."

Hayli leads the way, as she seems to be expected to do, heading towards the
farm with the smoke curling out of the chimney. "I'll want to stop by and
check the trees, too, for wood appropriate to bowmaking -- I have a design in
mind for a new bow for myself... and Tylan needs a bow, too."

Hayli leads the Arkites to the path and follows it to the farm -- she's not
trying to be sneaky.

Tylan nods. "We can discuss that once we know what kind of reception we're
going to get here..."

Hayli stops after a short time on the path, kneeling to look at some tracks
there...

The path is a dirt path, muddy in spots, with marks where a wheeled thing went
along it, accompanied by big boot prints.

Tylan pauses. He's no scout, and knows his role well enough to not rush Hayli.
Her bringing the tracks to attention gets him to note the size of the tracks,
but that's about it. Whatever she comes up with, he'll go with and just stays
close to defend her if needed.

Hayli says "There's four-legged animals here, aplenty. And it looks like an
ogre's been taking a wheelbarrow up and down this path -- the tracks of such
go in both directions."

Jones says "We should assume then that they will not look like us?"

Tylan frowns. "An ogre? That isn't promising. But we should be fine, even so,
so long as we're on our guard."

Hayli rises from her knee. "Well, I know generally what ogres look like -- and
they're humanoid, although generally uglier and smellier, as well as much
larger, than a human. I'm wondering if the resident of that farm, ahead, is
the ogre who uses the wheelbarrow", she says.

Tylan glances ahead, still frowning. "We'll know soon enough. At least its not
a troll."

Hayli can't help but frown at that. "Yes... at least these aren't
troll-tracks", she agrees.

Tylan starts towards the farm again, waiting on the other two just a few feet
ahead of them in case there's any more detail to add. This could be bad, but
since he knows where they're going, and know there's an ogre here, he figures
he may as well lead now.

Hayli starts to the farm again, quiet. She does glance around a little more
often than usual, having spotted ogre-sign.

You paged (Hayli, Tylan) with 'As you get closer you hear something...lots
of...chickens? Something like chickens, but not quite.'.
You paged Hayli with 'It smells bad as you get closer, too...lots of poopy
chickens or something.'.

Tylan raises a brow, glancing at Hayli to see if she hears the same thing.
Then he shrugs, and continues on his way towards the farm.

There is a big wooden pole ahead, with a wooden sign affixed to it, and a
skull (human?) on the pole.

Hayli nods when she catches Tylan's glance. "I'd wager the ogre lives here",
she whispers. "and that he's not very friendly."

Hayli points at the skull. "Human", she adds, still whispering. Now, she pulls
an arrow from her quiver to nock it to the string of her bow.

As you get closer, you see that the sign says something in two languages. In
Common, it reads in black letters: "Oerdrik's Steading. No solicitors!"

Tylan studies that a moment, and rests his hands nearer his blades. Skulls are
meant as warnings, not a good sign at all. "I'd say you're right. Be on your
guard. We still need to try and talk to them, they may just have some kind of
specific rivalry... but I'd be careful about Oerdrik here." he whispers back
in sylvan.

Jones says "I disagree. This sign states plainly that we are not to come near.
I say we allow them to come to us now."

Hayli arches a brow. "... an ogre who can /write/?", she asks of no one in
particular, in a surprised tone of voice, looking ahead to study the farm.

Tylan shakes his head. "We aren't solicitors, and I think better to try and
find out the situation now instead of waiting for them to gather a militia."

A broken old fence, wood, |====|====|====|, straggles around from the point of
the sign, enclosing new forest and such, though the area closer in is somewhat
cleared. (But it's obvious that no crops have been planted for at least a
decade, maybe two.)

You seem to be unnoticed for the moment.

Hayli says "Not to mention, if this ogre's unlike the ones Tylan and I knew
back home -- if he's ... civilized... he's our closest neighbor." She puts
away the arrow. "Let's go on ahead... cautiously."

Jones shrugs with a metalic creaking sound and moves with them.

Tylan makes no efforts at stealth, but keeps an eye out, and just heads for
the gate, figuring best to let someone notice them there before actually
trespassing. "At least we know they speak common.

As the farmhouse comes into view, you can see it that it is NOT built to ogre
scale. It looks more like a typical human house, the stereotypical big wooden
one-roomed farmhouse, with smaller outbuildings. The chicken noise is louder,
and you can see big wooden cages resting here and there in the yard. At least
half a dozen of them, with the creatures inside pecking at the ground.

Hayli nods and stops at the gate. There, she calls out, in common. "Hail, the
farm!" Then, in a quieter voice for herself and her companions, adds, "From
here we can see who or what is coming to us..."

Jones says "The animals in the crates..they seem to have reptilian features.
Like chickens..but with scales and bat wings..and tails."

You hear a clatter as one of the shuttered windows is opened halfway. Someone
peers out, and shouts, "Who's there!? Can't you READ? NO SOLICITORS!"

Tylan makes a point of not looking at the creatures once they're identified,
suddenly fairly sure this was a bad idea. He does respond, "We are not selling
anything. We come from the citadel that just arrived, and sought to learn the
lay of the land."

Hayli arches a brow. "Cockatrice...", she says to Jones' description. Then she
calls out again, to add to what Tylan said, "We come to meet and greet, in the
hopes of making friendly contact with you."

The voice snarls, "Seek some'ere else! Now GIT!" A large hairy arm flings a
javelin out at the group, especially that nasty sleazy elf dude.

The javelin spears harmlessly into the ground a few feet short of Tylan.

Jones pauses to look at the weapon. "You misunderstand us. Have you yet seen
the flying castle that is now a short distance from here? We come from it and
we come in peace."

Tylan backs off a little, glancing further down the road. "I think we best see
if any of the other locals are more friendly... perhaps. And I think I should
let you two talk." he offers, as he glances at the javelin. "Cockatrice
rancher.. hmm."

The voice sounds suspicious. "Flyin' wha!? Yer shittin' me!"

Hayli jumps back a step or two when the javelin is thrown and lands. "Yes,
perhaps", she says. At Jones having gotten a better response, she grins and
looks to him to say, "Another reason I wanted to bring you along... please,
continue."

Hayli calls out, "We shit you not! You need merely look to the sky to your
<insert proper direction> to see!"

Jones says "I am not...as you say...shitting you. Please..We will move away
and you can come see for yourself. If you find us to be lying I will stand
where you can put a javalin in me. With a view clear of trees you should be
able to see it."

Rogdin walks in from the direction of the Ark. Seeing the group there, he
gives a wave. "Hello there. Did I miss anything?" Nodding at the sign, he says
"The natives don't seem to pleasant."

Hayli looks back at Rogdin and makes a 'hang back' motion, indicating a
javelin that's stuck in the ground a short ways in front of Tylan -- it looks
to have been thrown from the direction of the farm.

Tylan glances back at Rogdin, then nods. "They raise cockatrices and throw
javelins at solicitors." he offers quietly, otherwise staying well back, and
letting the others handle talking to the man.

There's a very large someone mostly hidden, standing inside the house at a
half-opened window. A loud, deep voice yells out, "And whossat? If I wanted
company, 'd open a bloody inn!"

Rogdin blinks. "Oh?" He pauses. "He doesn't sound too nice. Want me to talk to
him persuasively?"

Jones says "Then we'll leave you alone if only you could tell us who is in
charge of these lands and who we should talk too in the town on the river."

Tylan shakes his head to Rogdin. "We're trying to establish good relations
this time. If we wanted them angry at us, I'd have kept speaking. Let them
handle it."

Rogdin chuckles, but nods, and remains quiet for now.

The voice replies, "Go see Baron Haldre!" And he mutters something after that,
in another language.

Hayli frowns, hearing the language of giants -- a language she's heard before,
but never really finished learning. Glancing at Tylan, she shakes her head to
indicate she doesn't have a clue.

Jones nods once.."Thank you. Could you tell us what we might expect of this
baron Haldre?"

Rogdin says "And in fact, it would be very pleasant of you to tell us what we
can expect of this world in general? We got here by accident, and we do not
wish to impinge on your time... yet information is vital to us." That was
directed to the man in the house.

Hayli leans over towards Rogdin to quietly say, so that those in the house
might not hear, "He's an ogre named Oerdrik, if that's his name on the sign."

The voice, presumably Oerdrik, answers Jones shortly, "Find out for yourself!"
But then at Rogdin's words, he seems to soften. "Graaah! Haldre's better'n
what ya get north of the fence. Mind Gart's Truce!"

Rogdin rubs his temple. "Gart's Truce? Should we be careful of it? What is it?"

You paged Jones with 'He seems to be honest enough, or at least not trying to
lie to you. But some amount of sadistic relish as if he hopes you ignore him
and come to a bad end.'.

Hayli arches a brow and, whispering to Tylan in the sylvan tongue, comments,
<<At least he's not tripping over his tongue this time...>>

Ogrish laughter roars out. "Two-legs stay south! Gart says so, barons say so.
Best for all, eh?"

Rogdin nods slowly. "I think he's referring to some truce between two
populaces. If this one is an ogre..." he pauses. "Then maybe something between
an ogre chieftain and another humanoid baron?"

Jones speaks softly to the group. "I would thing that he means the other group
has four or more legs.

Hayli's eyebrow stays up. "'Two-legs', he said... even ogres have two legs. I
have to agree with Jones."

Rogdin gives a shrug. "Okay, then centaurs maybe."

Hayli says "Perhaps."

The voice calls out irritably, "Cut the chit-chat! Now git before I sic the
chickens on ya!"

Jones says "I think we've taken enough of the ogre's time. We should leave now
before things get rough."

Hayli says, quickly, "he raises cockatrices. I totally agree... let's go", she
says. Calling out to the farm, she says, "Thank you for your time, and our
apologies for bothering you."

More irritated grumbles in Giantish from the house, but Oerdrik doesn't seem
to want to come out right now, nor does he make any immediate moves to throw
cockatrices at the group.

Rogdin nods. "Let us go, then. To the Baron, then I take it?"

Tylan glances at the javelin again, then nods, turning to follow the others.
"We should seek out this leader. The people here are at least not overtly
hostile... we might be able to find some trade here, if we can talk to their
leaders."

Hayli shrugs. "I suppose so. We can do that another time, however -- this was
just scouting to get a lay of the land. I'd like to check the trees there,
too... see if there's good wood for bowyery."

Rogdin nods. "Indeed. Actually, I would like to test whether this world has
any sort of strange magics affecting it. Once we step away from the house of
course."

Game: Rogdin casts the level 0 wizard spell Light. Base DC for saving throws:
13.

Rogdin picks up a pebble from the ground, and makes it glow. However, he can't
really determine the magical properties of this world. Perhaps later.

Tylan points out to the north. "Some type of green... bird?" he questions,
squinting to try and make more out. "Very large, whatever it is."

Hayli looks around and over to where Tylan's pointing, trying to get a look at
whatever it is...

Jones says "My eyes seem to funtion differently then flesh eyes."

As you get onto the Ark, the 'bird' becomes clearer. It's still at least a
mile away to the north, but the technical term is Huge. And, Green. And,
Dragon.

Hayli studies the flying bird-thing for a while, then her eyes widen.
"Tylan...", she says. "... a /dragon/?!"

Tylan nods once. "It seems so... I guessing that's the other side of the
truce... who wants two-legs to stay elsewhere."

Hayli nods... "I guess we'll avoid /that/ side...", she says.

Jones says "A wise choice. A good thing we did not 'land' on that side. Still
our presence here could cause friction between rulers."

Tylan considers, then nods. "We may get a visitor. I have heard tales
suggesting many things of dragons... including curiosity and greed. We best be
cautious in our dealings. And keep our weapons close at hand."

The dragon rises higher. It seems to be flying towards the Ark now...

Hayli nods. "Definitely", she says, agreeing with Tylan... "Oh dear..." Then,
she turns to run towards the square, shouting out, "Dragon inbound! To arms!
To arms!"

The words cause an immediate uproar. People race around, seeking cover, bows,
javelins, and answers.

Jones snags up his weapon and runs for the castle. He has little hope of the
Ark surviving a dragon attack.

Tylan gets out his bow and studies the area for decent cover. No faulting his
courage, anyway. "It may just want a look... it won't know what resources we
have yet. Be cautious, do not fire first... and do not let Rogdin speak!"

Hayli calls out, as the people of the Ark arm themselves or take cover,
speaking to those preparing to defend. "Don't fire unless it actually attacks!
We don't want to /start/ the fight!"

The dragon takes about three minutes to reach the floating rock. On the first
pass, it is some 300 feet overhead. It circles, circles... seeming to look
down at the Ark.

Tylan keeps his bow in hand, the other hand on an arrow, but does not draw it,
waiting as patiently as he's able, trying to steel himself for what is likely
to be a last fight if it comes to that.

Hayli steps out into the open, tossing down her everburning gem. An arrow
nocked to the string of her bow, she pointedly and so as to be easily seen
removes the arrow and puts it away to hold up the bow so that it's seen she
isn't ready to fire.

Jones stands apart from the others as to provide less of a group target. He
watches with interest but doesn't raise his weapon.

Then it swoops down low, lower, to 90', and its vast wingspan is apparent, its
mere shadow evoking a primordial terror! Eyes glitter, the mouth gapes, but no
deadly breath erupts...yet.

Game: <OPEN ROLL> Hayli rolls a will save at a base mod of +1: 8 (7).
Game: <OPEN ROLL> Tylan rolls a will save at a base mod of -1: 4 (5).
Game: <OPEN ROLL> Jones rolls a will save at a base mod of +4: 13 (9).
Game: <OPEN ROLL> Rogdin rolls a will save at a base mod of +5: 12 (7).

Jones drops his weapon and runs as fast as he can for the cover of the forge
area..the only safe place he can think of at the moment.

The Ark is filled with shrieks of terror, as everyone runs for their lives.
Mostly this means down the well or into the keep...

<OOC> The Doctor says, "All the PCs failed."
<OOC> The Doctor says, "4 HD or less, panicked. 5+ HD, shaken"

Tylan goes diving for the cover he found when looking about earlier, taking it
as being as safe as anywhere here could be, overcome with the rush of
dragonfear. He keeps his hand on his bow, but thoughts of firing are long past.

Rogdin runs in the direction of the well, figuring green dragons don't live
underground.

Even at the distance she might be from everyone else, Hayli's knees visible go
weak ... forcing her to drop to a knee as the wave of fear washes over her.
Then, staggering back up to her feet, she does her best to flee towards the
well.

Hayli doesn't even begin to try to scoop up the everburning crystal she
dropped to get the dragon's attention on /her/ and away from everyone else as
she flees...

The dragon continues to circle, going lower with each pass, until it clears
the rooftops by only 10' or so. Most are likely in no state to notice. Even
the ones not panicked by the dragon's frightful presence are sensibly running
away.

It seems a long time, but a minute or so later, the dragon is off again,
flying north, never having deigned to speak to the inhabitants.

Hayli eventually goes back out to collect her magical trinket, once the
dragon's left.

Tylan wanders out only once the dragon is well gone, trying to recover
himself, and clearly chiding himself for his reaction, not the way of the
warrior at all. Still, at least he wasn't the only one, and perhaps after some
rest, he'll be able to consider the dragon a little more rationally.

Jones moves only to go get his weaon and then returns to the forge.

<OOC> The Doctor says, "All right, there you go. New plane, met the neighbors.
Cheers!"
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