Wild:46 It's Called A River

Starring: Bo, Fuelwen, Brilla, and TskTsk
Guest Starring:
Challenge: Sand Giant and villagers who want the sand giant killed
Location: Giant island, Greentop village
Date Played: 22 Sept 2010

The Wilderness

Fuelwen: We left the village with the elder in tow, and carted him overland to the elven retirement home. Full of old, frail squeakies, we left as quickly as we arrived.

It's worth noting, however, that as we explored, I studied the lay of the land. This giant continent is much like the wilding, in that distinct climate zones exist around geographic centers. There's no wilding effect, but it is very much like many islands had been rammed together to make this large island.

TskTsk: As we traveled, the geography of the land appeared to be like a patchwork quilt of islands. Not long into our journey Killabron magically communicates with Brilla, conveying a request from the island of Giselle for our vessel to become a privateer for their navy. Brilla approves with a few reasonable stipulations.

We rest at another village, this one having a hostile reaction but fortunately there was no violence. To pay for our overnight stay we entertain they with our stories. While there, Fuelwen and Brilla (who has a knack for languages) try to relearn the lost language and find themselves unable to retain it. Magic at work?

Brilla: I really don't like bringing Fuelwen here. It is basically a buffet of "squeakies." Perhaps if I had a way to warn the elves to express a want to be eaten they would be safe from him. Alas, we will do what we can to make this go as quickly as possible.

On our way to Greentop we came upon a small village. They we a bit more wary of us, but did not take our weapons either. They also had little need for coin. In exchange for a well rested night and safe passage we had to use our ability to entertain and perform. Bo was difficult as always, but no harm was done.

The "City" of Greentop

Fuelwen: The city was small- a large town, really. The local authorities were concerned about us, but we passed into it without any real problems. The local police seem cowardly, but harmless. I took some time to explore the local library- a library that has more than one copy of many of their texts! What good could that possibly be? It seems to be a waste of shelf-space. They don't even have any full-time scribes. It's bizarre.

While there, I acquired copies of some text in common, as well as local star charts. I want to compare them with what we see in the Wilding.

TskTsk: A small bit of ocean separates Greentop from another island, equally as big. Fuelwen attempts to tell me that it is a "river" and not the ocean but since I see no where that land connects he is wrong. We ask about and the river is named the "Do Good River" and it leads to the capital, where it meets "the ocean". The source of the "river" is unknown and the king, an elf, seeks adventurers to seek it out. Apparently few return. Sounds like fun.

We're told that the missing language, common, is a gift from the gods and perhaps they have taken the gift back? If so, the gods are pretty shitty gift-givers.

We're told that this elvish king is in charge of the "All's Well Empire".

Brilla: I wouldn't exactly call this a city, but with the current state of my island I'm not one to talk. Through all this time I've also received some information that Deenar is having some trouble now that the Fan empire is in the mix. I gave orders to stay away from heavy action and try to undermine Fan and Drn'Tg by gathering any enemies they may have. Internal struggle will prevent them from doing much harm to each other.

The huge river next to this town appears to be the key to reaching the heart of the empire. We take note to build a small craft to travel down the river once we are finished with the old man we previously dropped off.

Sidequests!

Fuelwen: Speaking of cowardly, we were enlisted by the local authorities to track down a missing child. Thinking there might be some sport in it, we went along. Sure enough, there was some- it had been trampled by a herd of ankylosaurs.

We tracked these ankylosaurs back to their field. The large wolf acting as a sheepdog led us back to their owner- a sand giant cleric. We discussed events, and felt that we had discharged our duty- there was little reason to make this contentious.

Well, there wasn't until the local authorities requested that we "deal" with the giant, like it was some monster to be slaughtered. Of course, they hadn't the teeth to do it themselves, so they cried to us. Instead, I offered to present the giant with a tax bill. If it resisted, then we'd deal with it, but if it paid- then it was a citizen and guaranteed the same protections.

We trooped back, presented the bill, negotiated with the giant, and it agreed to pay. Problem solved, as far as I'm concerned. I do need to explain to Tsk'Tsk the value of taxes in maintaining a society.

TskTsk: As we're about to head off to save a missing child, Brilla receives another message from Killabron. Apparently a giant war is brewing, as Giselle is fighting Drn Tg and they both are fighting the Fan empire.

So back to the missing girl. We follow her tracks and discover that she has been trampled by ankylosaurs. The mammals like to waste food, so we bury her. Seeking to get a complete story we follow the dinosaur tracks and find a Sand Giant cleric of some god of hunting females. (Females as hunters, not as prey.)

The town wants us to slay her outright but Fuelwen argues that she could become a taxpayer and asset to the community. This saddens me that we don't have a fight, but makes a lot of sense.

Brilla: The gnoll head of the guard appears to be quite sociable with us. He takes a liking to the more martial of the group and a relationship blessed by booze soon forms. He has some work to offer us and we feel obliged to help as Fuelwen is getting good sources of information from the library.

We go to a farmstead run by a halfling. She had a complaint that her child ran away. This isn't quite something that calls for a group of adventurers but my heart goes out to her and I agree to help. The others agree to also, with no reward to boot. I was QUITE surprised.

We found that the child was trampled by what appeared to be a dinosaur and was led there by a bear. It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke... but there it was. With more investigation we found that the bear was some form of companion of a creature and ran off to its owner once we approached. We soon found that it was a sand giant, and an ill tempered woman of one at that. She took claim to her land and told us to leave.

Choosing not to start a fight where one was not needed, we reported back to the gnoll. He broke the news to the halfling and we returned to town. While walking, we discussed what to do with the giant. At first there were talks about killing the giant, though my compassion came through (actually, fiscal responsibility came through) and they decided to tax the giant and integrate her into the village instead.

When we went back to inform the giant she was a bit more angry than before but was accepting of the proposition on the fact that the town would provide protection to her and her flock of dinosaurs. It appears she fled south from tyrannical giants that live further north. Also more alarming, she came with children. We left wishing her good health as we had to now return to the elven elder and help him find his vault. I feel as though we will be "crawling through a dungeon" for the next few days.

In the Navy

Splat: Okay, so, I was really bored, right? And then these polar bears show up and we were all, "Whoa, we're gonna have to fight polar bears," but then it was all, "No, we're from the icicle. Hey, where's all our friends that went with you?" And Deenar was, "Well, they left, and stuff." "Really?" "Yeah." "Really?" "Yeah." "Because, like, we were hoping to see them." "Hey, it's totally dangerous and stuff, so they totally got dangered out."

Okay, so anyway, the bears were all, "Ack, the ninjas are killing us!" so Deenar said, "Hey, we could maybe help, let me check." And we did, and we could, and then I was all "PEW PEW PEW" on the boats and they burn real nice, so it was totally awesome, but then the short hairy guys were, "Wait, no, we totally want a bunch of snow to make snowmen with, and we can totally pay you to help us because it'll piss off the ninjas", but we went PEW PEW and ran away and then we had to fight hairy short guys and Fan, and then I was PEW PEW PEWing all over the place but then, it was all, "Wait, why fight them both? They can fight each other!" and I didn't PEW PEW for awhile. But then I did, and it was awesome.