Aersalus Season 1, Session 12 Hi Hi, Hi Ho, To Ironhaul We Go

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

The Traveling Court
The Magistrate Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling
The Prosecutor Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.
Court Sketch artist Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.
Bailiff Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

Murk the Lurk, spirit crab

Skeleton Man

Hi Ho Hi Ho, To Ironhaul We Go

With the bandits dealt with and much of Wolftrap repaired the team heads to the next town on the list, Ironhaul. Ironhaul is a mining town, nestled in a glacier valley and next to a large lake.

Along the road we split off with Rialto, Raum, and a few others going to evaluate a small forest.

The rest led by Listens and Trapper (only two players attended the session) continue on the way to ironhaul. We meet a traveler (Traveling Folk, tinker, peddler type) who has a broken axle on the road. Listens and Trapper fix the axle, at least temporarily. We camp for the evening and swap stories and local news. Shimmyn Begge is a widower and pleasant company.

Aftermath

A short session but we got to do a few unusual things, Listens doesn't use his Woodshaping magic much.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 11 Attacking the Bandit Camp

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

Murk the Lurk, spirit crab

Skeleton Man

Are We Ready?

After locking up the latest batch of prisoners we finish up the day doing minor odds and ends and preparing for the battle ahead. When we wake up...

Listens heads out to his morning meditations and hopes to get the spirits ok on using Snowstorm to trap the bandits. On his way out the door the impromptu mayor asks him about the bandits, concern is food is too short in supply to take care of them. Listens lets him know they are aware of that but have not had the time to do a proper trial. His team has to keep going out for supplies and to stop bandit raids, not leaving time for administrative or other work that needs to be done. However, he feels it should all be over very soon, within the next few days one way or another. He is a little light on details in case the bandits have a spy in town.

Listens then heads out to his rock to meditate.

The spirits are not happy with the snowstorm idea and as he finishes he notices the tauren Rhum waiting nearby. Rhum says its time to go after the bandits, since we discussed that the night before Listens is not sure why he felt it needed to push the issue up but guess the tauren is impatient to die. Listens almost tells him if he is impatient and unhappy with his leadership he should take over as team leader but alas the Duke assigned him to the task and yielding it would violate rules, oaths, and perhaps common sense as well as getting everyone killed. The tauren does not seem to like planning, relying instead on his considerable strength. Good for most things, but not as much when up against superior number numbers and unknown magic. (FYI Listens has spent 57 points on Rank, plus more on supporting traits like skills, Legal Enforcement Powers, Status 3, etc.).

Apparently Unit 7 has also wandered off (Player called into work) so the team goes looking for him. His trail ends at the edge of the forest, turns out he went on a spirit walk. A squirrel spirit (same one who met Trapper a few days ago) says he is there while the cog does his own thing. Down a warrior Listens asks if the team is ready to go anyhow. On the one hand we are down a valuable member, on the other the bandits will be expecting trouble if we delay another day as they would be expecting the ones we killed or captured the night before to return with the towns "tithe"

We decide to go now and the team agrees to meet at the edge of town in an hour.

Listens casts some echoes (Charms, preset saved one use spells) to help buff the group.

Trapper gets a cart and loads it with bombs.

Rhum says his good byes to the innkeeper.

The Battle!

The squirrel hauls the cart at supernatural speeds so we get there by afternoon.

Trapper has disguised his abused skeleton minion as a bandit and he takes the cart up to the gate. The guard was going to let him in but is overruled by someone else since the minion did not give the password. The guard climbs over and looks things over, getting blown up in the process.

Rhum charges the wooden gate, breaking through and scaring most of those inside (mental stun).

Trapper breaks for the nearest bush, a moment later Listens heads for the same bush. Trapper indignantly objects but Listens points out it was the only one Listens could reach and Trapper had plenty of others he could have ran to.

Trapper starts sniping the guards atop the wooden walls. Rhum and Skeleton charge inside and start dispatching guards on the walls. Rhum cleaving them with his great axe and the skeleton doing acrobatic flips and knocking them to the ground.

Listens calls for the Lady of the Silvered Lake.

Rhum is getting peppered with arrows, a minor nuisance. But also taking a lot of damage from a magical effect.

Listens Casts his elemental blast spell and knocks a guy back a few yards but the bandit stays on his feet.

Listens tries two more spells but is pretty much useless, Rhum, Trapper, and his skeleton are however easily wiping out the bandits.

Then the boss shows up. Dogskull appears next to Rhum and takes him out with a single spell.

Trapper hits him with two bolts, minimal effect. Listens goes all out, this was what he was saving his energy for and casts as big a chill spell as he can. Crit fails.

Luckily the GM had apparently used all his Doom points earlier in the fight and Listens still had several Impulse points left, goes for the reroll and it succeeds doing 50 FP damage to the bandit leader - Dogskull. He drops like a rock.

A spirit claws its way out of the bandit, looks around and then flees north. Listens quickly goes to Rhum, checking for life. He casts a big healing spell (75 HP) with the help of the squirrel and Trapper.

Rhum is alive but spirit barely attached.

The spirit lady returns, saying she had done her part in rescuing the women and children. She wants her tithe of a child. The kid does not want to go. Listens takes her aside to see if he can explain things to her but the Spirit insists on payment. Listens points out the the agreement required consent and the chosen child appears too young to consent. Give him a minute to see what can be worked out. Trapper kind of goes off and is upset Listens would trade a child to a spirit and Listens tells him to just wait a few.

Meantime the GM is surprised at my characters actions as well. 

I, whose name on the groups Discord is "The Logically Evil One" which I think was given me by the GM replacing the Insanely Evil One or some such am both pleased and slightly offended at the same time.

Listens talks to the girl, who appears to be about 2 and explains how these spirit fostering's usually work. She as an aura indicating magical talent and most spirits would teach her great things, though this one does not seem like the usual nice spirit Listens is used to. Its her choice and she declines so Listens goes back tot he spirit and informs her of the childs choice and ask if another volunteer would be acceptable. She declines, getting angry and demands the girl and says Listens cant stop her. Listen calmly explains that a deal is a deal and she is breaking it, she should just keep his eye.

Th spirit wants to fight over it so Listens calls in his spirit father (A high ranking water spirit and ambassador to the Draculari Empire). This is a Patron with costs Impulse Points and I had been saving my last one for just this eventuality.

An argument ensues, the lady departs, turning Listens eye into dust. The nearby spirits do a bit of talking, Murk is surprised whom Listens father was, the squirrel and him have a past, and the skeleton does as well. We get some name dropping, Trapper now knows the name of his skeleton, and father lets us in on a few clues and events. GM was extra talkative and in an exposition mood (Possibly from over tiredness as the game had gone on much longer than usual).

The crystal sphere of clairvoyance is something more than we thought (not a surprise) and is apparently a highly desired item and bad luck to possess.  We go over who touched it first and its Trappers. Trapper tries to give it away or bury it but is advised that anyone who finds it will know its belongs to Trapper and come looking to force him to give it to them. So he hides it in his "Personal Pocket".

The bandits are all shrunk and put in a little wood box, kind of mini-statues.

Everyone else is packed up and taken to a kind of spirit road for a fast trip back home.

Father creates a new building next to the constabulary to make room for everyone, they have a chat about things and Listens learns more about the spirit fish, Misha. Its a local spirit of place for the shoreline.

We let the town know the bandit probelm is solved. Father spirit departs from the mediation rock Listens uses just on the edge and above the town and summons/creates a huge Kani crystal at the site.

Listens had already planned a shrine and this indicates the best place for it and strengthens it as well.

The kani crystal will attract attention, its incredibly valuable and people will want to carve it up and steal it. Likely even the Duke.

Aftermath

The game ended there and its our season 1 break, after this we head to another town.

I need to talk with the GM about some rules changes he is making and get him some paperwork. He mentioned changing some spells, the Spirit Bank, and who knows what else. Plus of course I may spend some saved CP.

Background stuff Listens is going to work with a stoneshaper and build that shrine so the towns people can make offerings to it. Likely in return for some protection and great fishing. Also clearly designating it as a shrine will deter some bandits and the Duke from messing with it. Listens will be sure to point out that it was made by a spirit powerful enough to create or conjure such a large crystal and that irritating such a spirit is a bad idea. Get some Kani crystal, in return for pissing off two powerful spirits.

Rhum is still unconscious but he appeared to be leaning towards becoming another shenin or a spirit warrior. So being on the edge of death for a bit is a good way to resolve that issue and further connect with the spirit world.

Unit 7 has been wanting to be come "a real boy" and seems set for that too.

Trapper has his own rules that are being changed to cope with, Quick Aim and Disappear at the least. But is well suited to expand with a variety of options.

A long ending but I think the funniest one I have had in awhile, that moment when everyone thought Listens was going to force the child into slavery was delightful. Listens had a privalged childhood and with his traits easily gets along with most spirits and even people (even if that hasn't recently seemed to be the case), grew up in a society that respected spirits, and has a father that is a spirit. Thus spirit fostering seems to him to be a wonderful thing, it can be lonely but you learn unique things and have unusual opportunities. He was very naive, but it made sense to me and got those still at the table involved.

Not sure what will happen to the girl, orphans in a TL3 society usually have it rather hard. But taking her with us? Not likely a good idea.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 10 The Battle of the Pigs

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

Murk the Lurk, spirit crab

Skeleton Man

Back at WolfTrap

Listens arrives at his body to find Unit 7 and Murk playing a game of Lejune over his body. He wakes up and gets a little info but is interrupted by screaming. The group run towards the yelling, sounds like some townsfolk in trouble.

A cart of people headed into town were attacked by bandits and giant porcupine pigs, affectionately called porkypines. The others who were in town head over to deal with this too.

Turns out to be a trap, as Listens quickly finds out by getting peppered with crossbow bolts. Something that is turning into a very bad habit.

The bandits appear to have some good leadership and planned to lure the group into a fight and then ambush them with bandits hiding in the trees. Luckily this time was wearing his armor, its very expensive silk armor enhanced to fight spirits so he has been leaving it packed for routine travel. It helps a little, though he still gets hurt.

Trapper dashes for a tree and uses the cover to snipe the bandits.

Raum tosses an axe at a bandit but its reflected back at him, hitting him in the shoulder.

The bandits then toss a fireball at us, Listens probably would have died but Raum covers him with his own body, 

Unit 7 charges a porkypine that charges the group.

 There are three of the porkypines, one fire mage (Listens thinks its a witch since he didn't sing), and several bandits, most of whom are hidden in the trees sniping at us.

Unit 7 works hard at one of the porkypines, they seem to be very resistant to injury. A skeleton ally of Trapper tries to help but breaks his sword and gets rather frustrated. turns out to be quite the acrobat though!

Two others charge Raum and he has some issue killing them but keeps them busy, especially since one charged the other by accident.

Trapper pretty much takes out the bandits.

Listens gets a lucky crit on a chill spell and takes out both the pigs.

Aftermath

Overall a tough fight but one we won pretty handily, though some of that was luck.

The warriors perform their role very well.

Listens was not built as a fighter and I chose poor songs (paths) for fighting, mostly being a support character with excellent healing and some light buffing spells.

Trouble is the group really has little need of most of his buffs, the skill levels are so high that an extra +1 or 2 just is not significant. He can't add DR or direct damage buffs and has limited direct offense himself.

Talked with the other players after the game and he has one buff that can help Trapper do more damage against heavy armored types. Listens is not a bad character or design, just fragile and easily hurt while being a priority target (since he's a mage most sapient's think he's the dangerous one). However, he is good at a lot of noncombat activites.  The lot we picked up included a magic boomerang he might try out. His Wood singing might help him hit better with it. He really needs to figure out better buffing or defensive spells though. Maybe a Parry Missile Weapons spell for all those crossbows and bows being used.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 9 Recon and a bargain

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

Murk the Lurk, spirit crab

Bandit Camp

Listens is taken to the bandit camp by Snaffles. It is surrounded by a magical barrier and they seem to be using dark magic. There are a lot of different ways to use magic in Aersalus, Listens being a spellsinger and a shenin (shaman) and a bit of so called low magic is is mostly inborn gifts or those granted by spirits.

He is also familiar with several other types and it appears these guys are using witchcraft, in the setting this is dark magic and might explain a connection to the spirit Mama Blood, though she did kill some bandits in a prior session.

Listens walks around the barrier, avoiding getting to close as it will likely alert them and is probably harmful as well. He estimates 20 to 30 bandits plus support people, including children.

Snaffles suggests a deal with a local lake spirit may be possible though he seems uncomfortable dealing with her. They go to this spirit, Akachakh, the Lady of Silvered Waters and talk. She seems largely unconcerned with the bandits but offers to help in exchange for one of the children. Listens considers everything and makes the deal, losing his eye as collateral, to get it back if he gets a child to be a fosterling of the spirits.

These arrangements are rare but not unheard of and the child will lose time among humans but likely gain powerful spirit gifts in return for their service. Since the children will likely soon be orphans and fostering them off to a friendly family a difficult if not impossible task Listens feel that at least one will be interested. The spirits help may not be required but the presence of witches is concerning.

Akachakh seems to have no interest in Mama Blood at all, despite the majority of the local spirits being terrified or at least wary. This loses her points in Listens book, but many spirits are hyper focused on their own domains and not interested in what happens outside of that.

Listens then heads back to his boy and finds Seven has joined Murk to guard it. They have had some interesting if somewhat personal and private conversations.

Back in Town

Rhum has been talking to Rhiato and Meri and paints a picture of Wolftrap in its prime, or at least what he thinks it might have looked like. He gives it to the innkeeper Meri who is touched by it.

Trapper unhappily and rather begrudgingly finishes the task of counting and sorting the found loot. He also does some coordinating with the locals and our healer Tesseikai.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 8 Logistics is a Pain

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

Murk the Lurk, spirit crab

We make it back to town and put the loot in the cellar. The team is entitled to 10%, the town another 10%, and the Duke gets the majority 80% as it was found on his lands.

Listens delegates handling the chests to Trapper as he has the most delicate touch and some of those locks look complicated and the contents may be fragile. Altan is likely the best choice for a proper evaluation but Listens does not fully trust him yet. Best to get a list then go into details later.

After morning meditations and appeasement rituals to the spirits Listens heads to the constabulary and checks in on the days plans. He figures the bandits are consuming vital resources and a trial should be done so, both for morale and possibly to reduce their drain on town resources. So sends Unit 7 to go measure them for disposal. Trapper has plenty to do and Rhum has his own things going on as well.

Unit 7 reports back that the quartermaster is short on supplies, a few weeks or a month is all. Doesn't sound urgent but it will take time to gather supplies so Listens goes to get the details. Turns out that the town is getting a large influx of people from those leaving their farms and such and will run out of food in a few days, not weeks.

Immediate threats are the bandits, the powerful spirit Mama Blood, and starvation.

The bandits are probably doable but will take some time to find.

The spirit is likely far too dangerous for us to address directly.

Supplying the town is the easiest and safest option, but only a temporary one as we need to concern ourselves with over foraging.

Listens then talks to Kohana (head town merchant) to check some details and figure out options. Hunters are scared to go out due to the spirit, this is a big contributor to the food shortage. Buying supplies is about a month out due to travel time.

Listens thinks the incoming tribe of water folk may be able to help, give them some money in return for food and supplies but that's still about a week out.

He considers organizing a mass fishing event, at least for a day or two. Some concerns over sea monsters if going too far out. Listens decides to see if he can find the bandits.

Utility of a Shen

Listens casts a spell to summon a local spirit for directions to the bandit camp, going for the leader as he seems well known and distinctive "Dogskull" A spirit possum appears "Snaffles", riddled with fleas and attitude. He knows where Dogskull is but needs something in return. Listens bargains ineffectively then comes up with the idea of ridding Snaffles fleas with a spell. It works and Snuffles offers to show Listens ot the camp but Listens is too slow in physical form so takes his spirit and drags it along for the ride.  Listens asks Murk to watch over the body while he travels and seals the deal for him to become a spirit companion.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 7 Bargains Made

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

Murk the Lurk, spirit crab

Relic Recovery

(Day after the bandit fight)

The group heads out in the late morning after doing some local and personal errands. Rhum struck a deal with a young bandit to get a crystal stolen by them from a farmers widow and a shrine on her farm. It is a good cause, though one that may complicate things legally. Listens wants Trapper to scout ahead but Rhum is impatient to recover the artifact as the deal he struck with the spirit gives him a lingering wound until he returns the crystal.

Listens talked with Murk earlier, who seemingly feels almost rejected that Listens didn't immediately agree to a partnership. Listens is a little surprised given the power of the spirit and that since it is a land crab it would typically be more averse to traveling. Hence the getting to know each other stage. Murk really does seem bored here though and looking for some excitement and new sights.

He invites Murk along, given they are looking for a spirit crystal and he knows the area his advice may be helpful. At the least its more time getting to know each other and they engage in minor chitchat along the way.

Pretty Snake

Near the cave entrance we encounter the bandits guardian, a giant 5 headed snake.

Trapper and Listens are still wounded from the previous days fight. Trapper is off in the thickets scouting the cave so feels safe in sniping the besatie but it can see him and tries to kill him with laser beam eyes! Thankfully the thicket provides a lot of cover. Listens calls up his now signature mist as a defensive measure and the two bruisers go up to the snake. Rhum pretty much decapitates 4 out of 5 heads, the other killed by Unit 7 with two spears stabbed through the eyes.

We head into the cave and find loot hidden by the bandits. The kid does not find what he was seeking, wont tell anyone what it was though. We do get the crystal so our primary goal was met.

Trapper finds a secret door and asks Rhum to open it, pretty much breaking the stone door in the process. We explore a winding staircase down deep and find another door, this one with a combination puzzle lock which Listens figures out. (its related to the theology of spirits, his bailiwick).

.Inside are 3 large treasure chests, 3 smaller ones, misc scattered and mostly rotten items, and a central pedestal with a glowing crystal.

Listens cautiously examines it and with the help of Murk figures its a spirit related relic and the room is shielded from prying eyes. Carefully checking it out it appears to be a scrying device that can look anywhere (at least within the ranges checked) the user can clearly visualize and has seen. It wont see areas described by distance.

Listens is trying to decide if it should remain and is tied to the room or spirits here when Rhum picks it up and runs his own tests. Not having shattered or depowered we decide to leave with it as we cant re-secure the room.

Bargain Complete

We head back to town but stop at the farmhouse as its almost on the way. Listens holds onto the crystal for safekeeping in case we encounter more combat along the way.

We meet the widow and Rhum and Listens approach the shrine, Listens a pace behind Rhum as he is the one who made the deal but he wants to witness the completion in case anything comes up. He hands the crystal to Rhum who places it into he tree (shrine) and the local forest and farm suddenly come alive with new growth.

The grateful widow thanks us and offers shelter and food for the night. Listens pays her even though she tries to refuse. He tells her that she is going to need money to quickly get back on her feet, even with the spirits blessing. The group spends the night and everyone awakes healthy and refreshed, even the wounded.

We head back to town, putting the chests into our celler and leaving the rest for the next session.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 5 & 6

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

Murk the Lurk, spirit crab

Two short sessions combined.

Marching Home

On our way back from the farm the group is ambushed by bandits. They start off by almost killing Listens with a crossbow bolt (Major Wound). Listens managed to recover enough to call a protective mist to make the group harder to hit. Trapper moves to the edge and snipes a few, Unit 7 goes to the edge and tanks the incoming fire, and Rhum goes out and starts cutting bandits into pieces.

We grab some prisoners and continue on to town.

Next session we get to town, lock the prisoners in our half rebuilt jailhouse.

Rhum scares most of them unconscious in an effort to question them and takes one kid downstairs to make a deal with.

Unit 7 takes a well deserved nap (Player gone)

Listens communes with the spirits, meets a new one

It whispers something into Listens ear that he almost understands but sounds familiar.

Listens goes back to base campo, finds out about the deal and is displeased with the minotaur who seems keen on doing his own thing, even when it may interfere with others or the mission.

The real center of attention though was Trapper who brokered a deal over some eggs he found and makes a fair amount of coin and a crystal knife.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 4 The Bloodbath

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

In Memorium Christian

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Raito

Tesseikai Watersinger, healer

The Blood Filled Dawn

Tesseikai appears to have been the only survivor of the group that was at the farmhouse tending to people. Listens spends most of the night watching over her, waiting for her to be able to give a report on what happened and making sure her spirit is not damaged as well as tending to her physical wounds.

His Restoration spell fails to restore her finger and he thinks the magic of Blood Mama is the cause.

She does not want to stay but Listens orders her to stay, citing medical authority. Rhum seems to feel she should be allowed to do what she wants, leading to some tension but Rhum backs down as Listens asserts his rank and position to back up what Rhum seems to feel is minimal healing skill or status. He seems convinced she is the better healer, ignoring the the wisdom that healers make lousy patients.

Listens talks to  Raito and informs him that he intends to investigate the farm and would like additional backup. Raito has been moving people closer to town for increased safety, again impressing Listens with his leadership.

Come the dawn they for a small group of soldiers and the magisters team to investigate. Trapper seems to have spent much of the night making a clockwork prosthetic finger for Tesseikai, which she appreciatively takes.

Trapper is tasked to scout just ahead as the best tracker, Listens feels that others walking through first may erase some valuable clue that Trapper is best equipped to find. However, Rhum tries to rush ahead and go his own way. Listens notes the unwillingness to follow orders or perhaps work with the team and ponders solutions when things are not quite so urgent.

Blood, Lots of Blood

The group travels through an eerily quiet forest and reaches the farmstead.  They see lots of blood, everywhere but no bodies.  Trapper scouts the place around while Listens takes overwatch and switches his perception between the material and spirit worlds in hopes of spotting something, anything useful and keeping the group from being surprised.

It appears bandits raided the farmstead and likely the fighting attracted Blood Mama who then killed almost everyone.  Far as Listens and Trapper can tell a few bandits (likely 4) made it out alive. Trapper follows tracks and will come back to them later. Listens, not much of a tracker saw spiritual markers that helped him see more than most. Also the crops and plants in thee area are withered, as well as stuff in the root cellar which rapidly rotted.

Aftermath

We called it there, short game. good one overall but the group needs to develop more cohesiveness and desire to work together. Our background is that were new to each other, so that's ok but my job as character and player is to make that happen.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 3

 

The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

In Memorium Christian

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

Wolftrap, Day 3 and 4

We continue to wander around fixing what is needed and seeing to supplies.

Listens heads to the cliffs, finding a good place for his morning meditations. Its high up, about a 100 yards above the water, he considers jumping but decides its too risky, it would likely not kill him but would be embarrassing and a waste of resources as he heals himself. Still he considers it a minor goal to work towards if this becomes main base.

He spends the predawn and after dawn time listening to the spirits, they are definitely around but seem very quiet for some reason. He also looks for the waterfolk, though its far too early for them to arrive if they choose to act on the captains message.

After awhile just listening and enjoying the fresh air and feel of the wind and sea air he heads to town to get started on the days work. 

On the way he stops by the hut of the town wise woman and healer. Jyrki iul Heino

They chat for awhile as she is cleaning bandages, he uses his magic to speed things up and dry them, she has skill but no apparent ability with songshaping. She mentions the plague that wiped out a town about 8 months ago, and children who broke their legs helping the foresters yesterday. She is quite wiling to share local news and advise Listens on what the town needs. He knows most of it already but the research is still good. She does not really believe him when he says they intend to take care of the bandits but is glad for the supplies and the work done so far. The town is very wary of promises and not trusting of the new duke. Not a surprise after the last one and it will take time to earn their trust.

He heads into town.

The rest of the team is up and about as he arrives, most having already headed out. Rhaum spends the day escorting Altan, not a fun duty but a needful one. Altan can be quite irritating and disrespectful and Rhaum tries to learn him some manners. They start at the Inn before heading out to the farms.

Trapper continues learning the lay of the land and hunting for food for the Inn. The innkeeper Meiri and him are building a good relationship. He brings her a rare bird (super large bird of prey, nearly the size of an adult human) and she asks him to find its nest and bring her the contents.

After talking with the quartermaster to make sure Jyrki gets her supplies Listens looks for the forester. He is curious about what is going on in the area, the spirits are too quiet and of course he has to talk about the injured kids. He expects Riato has already worked to prevent more accidents but still Listens should offer his help. Listens casts a spell and asks the spirits for directions, they should easily find a group of wood cutters chopping down trees after all. The spell works, but at first he does not see the spirit that arrived. Eventually it gets his attention, a land crab. They introduce themselves, the crab is named Myrk the Lurk, though he prefers Myrk.

Murk leads him to the foresters and they have a shirt discussion. Apparently the children were overly excited and trying to be helpful. Getting too close to falling trees.

Riato points out something odd about a stand of dead tress. As a woodsinger, any tree he considers odd is worth paying attention too. The trees have had all the moisture drained out of them and then just broke off. Also moisture has not returned, even though its been months and the rains should have affected the wood. Myrk thinks it reminds him of something and he agrees to ask around. He vanishes into the ground.

Listens wanders around a bit before heading back to town and Myrk pops out of the ground with news.  They head to the inn for beer and mutton (two things Myrk expressed love for) and talk. Meiri is still less than thrilled to see Listens but is at least polite and welcomes his coin. Listens finds a table at the back and sets the land crab on the table, ordering meals for them both. Meiri is rather surprised to hear a talking crab and quickly fetches their food. Listens was expecting her to tell him he could not sit on the table, but supposes she was unwilling to insult a talking crab. Others in the inn take notice as ell and the table remains theirs till Raum and Altan come in.

Raum and Altan had a good day collecting taxes, though some of it was in barter rather than coin. Raum appears to have made a deal with a local spirit, return a kana crystal to it that as stolen by bandits. Listens anticipates a problem from Altan over the matter but will address it then.

They all head back to the constable station. 

Unit 7 is back after scouting unsuccessfully for the bandit camp but found a bonecarver. The bone carver and the corpse appear to not be getting along. Listens looks at the corpse, politely asking if it wants to talk but is ignored and so lets it be. Not really his area as much as nature spirits and even those he tends to leave be if they so desire.

The corpse does however seem to have taken a definite shining to Trapper. It turns its head to look at him periodically.

Raito calls listens outside for a chat. He explains to Listens that his hand is turning blue, a sign of big trouble. Listens bandages it to cover up indication and offer some pain relief. They hear a scream form the wilderness and run to investigate. 

Tesseikai come stumbling into town, gravely wounded.  Listens shouts for help, using his best sailor voice and tends to her wounds with a quick Lesser Succor spell.

Earlier Myrk had warned him about Blood Mama a vampire like spirit that drains blood form groups of people and was imprisioned but somehow released and its making all the spirits nervous. They are not her favorite prey but hungry enough she will go after anything. Listens is worried as the group goes into the forest to see who attacked Tesseikai but they need to check for other survivors as she was not alone.

She is missing a finger but likely she can repair that herself, if not Listens has a Restoration spell.

Aftermath

A few other things happened but Listens is unlikely to know about them so you'll have to read about them in the GMs recap. Myrk expressed an interest in becoming a companion and Listens said to wait a week, make sure he is making a good choice as Listens lives a dangerous life and will be traveling.

A land crab is not my first idea of an allied spirit but its a cool direction and I like Myrks personality.

Aersalus Season 1, Session 1&2

 The Cast of B-Team (Aersalus)

Listens to Ocean aka Osprey (Rory) Halfling Magistrate, mage, healer, priest, historian.

Rhum Kaldalsson (Curtis) Minotaur artist.

Trapper (Chris D) Gremian, artificer, hunter, Armsmaster.

Unit 7 (Brice) A Cog, magical construct golem.

In Memorium Christian

NPC's

Altan ru Chuulaii the tax collector

The Trek Begins

Duke Tellengeri has decided to fix up his territory. By beating his brothers, the duke (Tellengeri) gained legitimacy and additional funds and prestige. He leveraged the newfound wealth to create a merchant empire which he then used around 1/3 of to purchase the land from Duke Jutaharro who had no heirs after the Second War of the Ashen killed them all. The old Duke was more into graft than his people and there is a lot of poor sentiment among the citizenry. He has embarked upon a big renewal and rebuilding project.

Along with almost a hundred others the team is dropped off near Wolftrap which is the largest town in the area. This will make several teams

Forestry Team, led by Riato a woodsinger and forester

They will go off to check on the wilderness, primarily the huge forest called "The Great Green" which is an unusually temperate and warm forest for this near arctic area.

Mining Resources Team led by Jarrah?

The goal is to see how the known mines are doing, what needs to be done to get them back to full production, and possibly find new mines.

Mappers#1

Goal is to survey and map the area.

Mappers#2

Goal is to survey and map the area

Aid Team #1 (Us) led by Listens to Ocean

Our team is going to be based in Wolftrap but will circumnavigate the area. We are to bring justice to the towns, collect taxes, and increase prosperity and well being of the regions citizens. Listens is an accomplished spellsinger, Ministry trained healer, Shen (shaman), and magistrate so is leading the team. He also has good experience with working people, being a long time fisherman and sailor. The team also includes a taxman (Altan ru Chuulaii) to collect the taxes. Since dispensing justice and collecting taxes are not too popular we also have three capable bodyguard's and security people who are also good at other things, helping the teams versatility and overall mission.

Rhum and Unit 7 are both very strong and Trapper provides ranged support.

Aid Team #2

This team will head in the opposite direction as Aid Team #1. It includes one magical healer and several Ministry Trained healers as well as a couple of other spellsingers.

We know they have Water, Wind, Stone, and Wood covered.

 Wolftrap

We all roll into town after being dropped by airship a day or so away. Wolftrap has seen better days, it is a port town with a nice freshwater lake nearby. Fed by two aqueducts, one from the lake and another from the mountains. Listens spends the most of the second day checking the first one out and cleaning it.

We meet Meiri the innkeeper who promptly decides to price gouge us for rooms. Listens does not like that kind of corruption and mentions how if she is charging that much for her rooms she must be doing very well indeed - and our tax collector will be glad to hear of her prosperity.

Altan's ears perk up and he is quite pleased to have a conversation with her, she of course is less so.

(Tried to pull an Eastwood here, letting the towns people know we are not to be cheated or trifled with as a strong first impression. Eastwood would have done it better).

Much of the town is in ruins or burned out and we head over to the remains of the Constables station. It has most of the stone walls, a basement, and a few cells.  Trapper investigates the basement, bringing up a corpse and a couch for it to lie on. The corpse appears appreciative. Trapper also fixes the boiler and we get heated floors for the evening.

Next day Trapper does more work on the building, as well as some others from the large group and then goes hunting for food and supplies for the inn. He also meets Toragana, the local tanner and exchanges hides and such. He also makes friends with Tessikai, a young healer and water singer (probably part of Aid Team #2).

Unit 7 is unhappy at waking up to find Listens had already left and is talked into helping out on repairs.

Rhum makes friends, he talks Trapper into getting food for Meiri and the inn and visits the blacksmith Jetei iul to get supplies for hauling wood he cuts down from the forest for rebuilding. Also meets the local miller Molomo.

Listens has a chat with Kohana an Kekkonen about the town. Kohana advises that annoying Meiri was not wise as she is an important town figure. Listens explains what happened, letting him know he will not tolerate corruption but understands his advice and will see what he can do. While they are talking a ship sails into port and having a plan (GM coached) Listens excuses himself during a lull in the conversation saying as an old sailor he wants to meet the ship.

Turns out the ship is run by an old friend, Captain Junras who gives Listens the lay of the local ocean and mentions a community of waterfolk nearby. Listens appreciates that and hopes to get them trading with the town. Listens also buys the entire ships worth of grain for the town. It will help the largest town in the area get on its feet faster, especially with winter coming and helps out his friend who would have to sail it the rest of the way up the coast, trying to sell it as much as he could and possibly not selling it all. This also gets him back to main port faster for another run. he offers Listens an investment opportunity in a ship which Listens takes him up on. Ideally hoping to encourage more shipping to the area.

Player Summary

A good first two session, its been several months since we last played. One of our players who was supposed to rejoin us died recently and it would have been nice to see him again. The rest of us were dealing with personal issues as well, everything from losing a beloved pet, to surgery, pinched nerves (or minor stroke), to the normal maladies we seem to have. It was good ot get together, both sessions were short but we got a lot done and got to start digging into this world that Christopher has rebuilt.