[pnpgm] Game Update #32 - File #195 - A Rite of Passage

[Scott Adams]

Sex.....Character Name...Player..................Type....Not    es.....
Male...Klorgar..........Tobie.Bonahoom...Tracker...Human,..........
Female.Varo Mineholder..Bess.Hadley......Merchant..Human...........
Male...Razgor...........Wout.Broere......Guard.....Human...........
Male...Rocky............Alex.Koponen.....Hunter....Dwarf...........
Male...Mournath.........Gilbert.Isla...............................
Male...Veren.Nor.Tarek..Npc..............Employer..Human...........
Male...Jaren............Npc..............Bodyguard.Human...........
Male...Marusk...........Npc..............Guide.....Human...........
Male...Juno.Solace......Ford.............Tracker...Human...........



         Game Web Site – http:/nrgcomputers.com/RQ/rq.htm (case matters)
         Public posts/actions to pnpgm at list.powersandperils.org (mailing list)
         Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm at comcast.net

         Game Update #32 sequence (file #195)
         ----------------------------------------------------------------

         Admin: None.
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         [Recap]

            From Varo: [Re: Actions]
                 (Varo pulls her horse to a stop 
with the others upon being stopped 


                 (Varo is meanwhile dismounting, 
helping down whoever is mounted with her, & 
hanging onto Snowdust's reins, wrapping them 
around her forearm for the moment. She readies 
her bow & nods to the elves, then moves her horse 
at a trot into the border of the forest. She 
plans to tie her horse to a heavy shrub or small 
tree a bit back from the edge & start firing at 
the tuskers. If given a target, or if she sees 
something among the tuskers closest to the party 
that will ignite handily, she will cast that 
spell, hoping to cause maximum confusion & fear 
among the tusker mounts.  She does NOT want to 
risk starting a forest fire & will desist, if 
warned not to cast the spell, and also wants to 
help cover the party & Varen so they can reach the forest.)
            GM: Ack.

            From Rocky: [Re: Actions]
                 "We cun at lest kip frum bean 
surrounded by keeping ur backs ta 


                 [Had a dead router and ISP was 
overly optimistic about when the replacement would arrive.]
            GM: Ack.

            From Juno: [Re: Actions]
                 Juno dismounts and readies his shield and javelin and aligns 

            GM: Ack.

            From Juno; [Re: OOC]
                 Ooc: [ Alex I just got a new 
Xfinity router when mine died at my new place and 
two years upgrade for 80$ a month was 100$ a 
month for a slower one but Since I moved and they 
gave me a better deal. Xfinity Comcast is king in my little home town.

                 So how it does it feel to be in 
on offline like a rolling stone! , I was for a few days it is kinda nice. ]
            GM: Ack. Alex is in Alaska so have a 
different ISP.  You should NOT have to pay for a 
upgrade.  Here in FL we get free upgrades every 3 
years.  In fact I'm overdue mine.  But since I 
don’t do much downloading on comcast my current 
router is fine. Odd you had to pay. :<

         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         [New Stuff]

         [Fireday        , Fertility week, Storm 
Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]

         [Time: 9:54 pm]

            Varo pulls her horse to a stop with 
the others upon being stopped by the elves. She 
doesn't understand what's being said until they 
switch to Tradetalk, then she, too can help translate what's being said.

            As to what's happening, Varo totally 
understands the elves' concern about the tuskers. She speaks in Tradetalk.

            “Please, Sir, we were too outnumbered 
to do anything but flee. I will be extremely glad 
to help you stop these invaders. I offer you my 
bow, spears & rapier in your service to help 
accomplish this. I believe my companions will 
agree, but at the moment, we need the shelter of 
the trees to avoid being trampled.

            “I do have an Ignite Spell & Healing 
Spell to help out. Is here any target you see 
that I could ignite to cause them to retreat?”

            Though Varo can't see the Elf's 
facial expression, the Elf shifts from foot to 
foot side to side.  Clearly reacting to the 
Ignite word.  Fire and forest tend not to fare well.

            The Elf raises a hand to stop the 
party's movement as well not to come close to the forest.

            "We cun at lest kip frum bean 
surrounded by keeping ur backs ta da ferrest. Let 
dem elfen folk deal wid anytuskers thet try ta 
flank us by going inta der woods." Rockay says, 
suiting action to words and he gets off the horse 
and sets up with his arbalest at the edge of the forest.

            Juno dismounts and readies his shield 
and javelin and aligns himself on the edge of the 
forest using his horse as cover.

            “Quite the pickle we are in!”, Mutters Juno.

            The visible Elf does a few hand 
gestures and speaks in elf.  Then he moves 
forward.  As he does two tall Elves holding short 
swords at their sides catch up and walk to the side of him.

            The Elf approaches the party and 
Varen whispers, “stay steady don't raise arms.” In a non tradetalk low murmur.

            The Elf walks past Rocky and 
Varo.  The three elves get to the center of the 
party with confidence and bearing.  The two 
bodyguard keep looking south toward the 
approaching tusks while the leader scans the party.

            Then the elf stops, “I am 
Leorik.”  Then he stands tall and faces the tusks 
now about 60 feet away.  He raises his voice, 
“there will be no parlay! WE warned you last year 
not to come this way.  You are free to use the 
hills and go that way next to the forest.  But you will not enter the forest.”

             The tusk riders slow down and stop 
about 50 feet away. Now the party is maybe 30 
feet from the forest and the tusks about 80 
feet.  It is hard to tell who is the leader as 
the half troll half human whatever they are look 
all the same.  But a older looking one with gray 
beard grunts and snorts.  Though that may be 
their language.  Then one to his right 
dismounts.  He stomps his large feet a couple 
steps and flexes his fingers and his tusks twitch Ike a bull does in anger.

            The tusks speaks in tradetalk, “what makes you say we no go!”

            The elf replies, “the gods that can 
strike you down and we live and take care of this 
forest.  Last year you downed many trees with 
your rude beasts and set a large fire.  You left 
the forest a week later blighted and damaged.  We 
vow you will not do this again.”

            The Tusks snorts, “you and what 
army!  These weak humans? They flee on seeing us!  The might of our group!”

            The elf raises a hand and another set 
of 2 dozen arrows fly over the party's heads and 
lands only feet away from the tusk riders.  The 
tusks only grunt. Then seems to laugh?

            Then a lone arrow flies and flies 
only a couple inches over the tusk leader and 
lands behind him. The tusk ducks his head instinctively.

            “You refuse to leave?” the Elf asks.

            “I claim right of sovereign habitation by combat!” The tusks yells.

            The elf stares for a full minute then 
turns to the party.  “A very ancient rite by 
ancient cults.  We have the right to deny his 
claim.  But clearly one of you will need to use 
the forest and one the other.  I sorely hope they 
will lose this contest.  I will wage this fight 
with my best warrior.  But should he fail is 
there a person here that can second him in this 
fight?  A simple duel of might.”

            The party glances over at Rocky who strokes his beard.

            One of the elf bodyguards sheathes 
his weapon and bows to the leader. Clearly he was 
selected or volunteered to be the Elves fighter.

            The tusks leader who seems older than 
most in his line grunts and nods. 
'Acceptable.  But if you do lose we enter forest and not be attacked.”

            The Elf stares for a few seconds, 
“you have the stones of a giant it seems.  We 
already told you to go that way to the 
hills.  But this ancient practice you chose to 
use can't be ignored.  The gods would not honor 
us.  So yes if you win then you will fight their 
best.” He points to the party.  “If you win that 
fight you may enter the forest.”  He turns to the 
group.  “You do not have to accept this 
ritual.  But if you intend to cross the forest it 
might be advantageous to do so.”

            The tusk rider leader waves a fellow 
younger tusks forward who dismounts his tusks 
beast.  HE flexes his hands and snorts as he smoothed his armor over.

            Verne considers this, glancing at the 
party to see if they agree.  “Is this to the 
death?”  He wonders who will fight a second if 
the Elf loses if the party agrees.

            The elf steps back closer to the 
party, “usually if knocked out or disabled.  But 
these foul creatures fight to death.”

            Marusks, “this is insane.  Why don't we just take the hills?”

            Jaren shakes his head, “then be 
chased by them? Our best bet is to go into the 
forest with the elves permission.”

            Marusk scratches his chin, “the elves 
could probably slaughter them.  But I have heard 
of this rite.  A lot of merc companies and their 
cults used it in major battles.  Figuring this 
duel is better than losing many.”


         GM: Actions? Comments?

             Next Update: Monday....

         GM: A short update but a semi 
continuation from plans made earlier. :) To be 
honest I had planned on the elves creeping up 
behind party at the camp as the riders approached 
the camp.  Then fire and probably take out most 
of them of the 20 or wait to see if tide 
changed.  This is how I was going to balance it 
out rather than a possible TPK.  So Monday I will 
do the elf vs tusks battle.  100% fair and legit 
so I have no clue who will win.  If he does lose 
(elf) will a person step up as second?Majority 
still applies party can still flee.  If this is 
Rocky as planned before and he wants the support 
outlined by Juno let me know.  But there is a chance Elf can win this fight.





-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.powersandperils.org/pipermail/pnpgm/attachments/20220923/92ed217b/attachment.htm>