jj@rabbit.UUCP (01/31/84)
We left the (?intrepid?) explorers last week about one half hour after being attacked. They were arguing (without any apparant loss of temper) about who should lead the party. ========= The argument continues for a while, with Ayudante and Bjarney bringing order to the debate (after a fashion). Several speeches are made: Bjarney: [with gusto] ``Since when do people become leaders by `being willing'??? Did Agamemnon and Menelaus (sp?) get the Greeks to Troy by `being willing' to take them there? Did Hannibal get the Carthagineans over the Alps by `being willing' to go on the scenic trip to Rome? Did Genghis Khan get the horde on the march by `being willing' to sunbathe on Mediterranean beaches? Leaders distinguish themselves by their vision and their ability to impart the desire to accomplish onto those they purport to lead.'' Trylla: "I agree that we should have a leader to coordinate things. I think, however, that it is equally important to give the individuals within the party the freedom (and the responsibility) to do their jobs without too much interference. I see the leader's role to be that of a coordinator, not a dictator; outside of melee (and other extreme emergency) situations, I see the leader as issuing recommendations, not giving orders. The leader should know about everyone's skills and abilities, and be given all information collected by party members. Because of this, the leader must be willing to keep some information confidential if asked to, and to reveal confidential information only in the most extreme emergency. As to the choice of leader, I believe the leader should not be a fighter, since fighters tend to be occupied during melee. The leader should not be a scout, since scouts tend to be separated from the party more often than other people. Ayudante should probably not be the lader, since I see his role during critical situations to be one of gathering information and transmitting that information to the leader. This leaves Izugami, Lendell, and myself as possible choices." Slider: I vote for trylla for leader (for now at least). Bjarney: Bjarney proposes that Trylla be appointed leader by acclamation. Enough blathering, lets get this show on the road! Izugami: Well, OK. I think I should get a better feel for what's going on here before I stick my nose into things that others know more about. We'll see what happens when we get to the herbs. After discussion, Gavalin, Lendell, and Ayudante agree that Trylla would indeed be OK for a leader. Balinor says that Trylla's ok with him, after all, she just helped him out a LOT. (At this point, Balinor is able to sit up carefully without starting to bleed severely from his back wound again. Trylla thinks that he'll be able to ride in the morning.) Gavalin hobbles out on a VERY sprained ankle, and, taking a small piece of decorative stone on a chain <he borrowed it from the innkeeper's wife) goes through a ritual of holding the stone in his hand, and concentrating. He explains that he is trying, using an ledgendary technique, to dowse out the direction that the missing stranger left in, and where ?he? went. The results of his effort leave him a bit tired, and with no better idea than before. Ayudante watches for a while, with apparant interest. The party posts a sentry, and goes back to sleep. The sentrys are changed several times, with the party getting the rest of a good night's sleep. In the morning, Balinor is able to move fairly well, although he is still in some danger of bleeding from his wounds. Gavalin can walk at about 30% of his normal pace, but his ankle has healed enough that he thinks that he can ride reasonably well, as long as things don't get too rough. Ayndante and Trylla find that Fjosjne has woken up sometime during the night, and, along with Bjarney, starts to question him. Izugami looks on for a while, and then suggests that the party give him something to drink. Fjosjne refuses to drink, but is eventually forced (with much spluttering, choking, etc) to drink a bit of Izugami's preparation. <Izugami is heard to mutter at this point that that's all there was of that particular herb...> After Fjosjne has has a while to digest his situation, so to speak, Ayudante hauls out the corpse of the bow-shot Dokkalfar and threatens to kill it with his dagger if Fjosjne doesn't talk. It's clear from Fjosjne's attitude that he doesn't care about the life of his comrade at all. <It's not clear whether or not he realized that his compatriot was dead, though.> The party spends about an hour questioning Fjosjne, with the following results: a) Who are you? Fjosjne... What are you? One of the faithful. b) How do you know my name and my whereabouts? <Ayudante speaking> It was told to me. c) What is it that you think I want to know? I do not know. d) What is it that you came to tell me? That you should come to me. e) Why are you telling me this? I was told to bring you. f) Why should we believe you? Because I was told to make you believe. i. What do you want from me/the party/whomever else? Follow me. ii. If we are asked to do something, what will happen if we don't? How will you (or others) help accomplish the task? What might impede us in accomplishing the task? If you don't follow me, we will kill you. I can show you what is happening in the North Quarter. You will die, my brothers will kill you if you try to complete your task. a) What are you? One of the faithful. b) Whom do you serve? The leader. c) Why did you try to ambush us? I was told to kill you if you did not come with me. d) What is your skill and the skills of your associates? How proficient are you? (Note I use present tense for all questioning). I am a mentalist. I know spells of the third difficulty. My brothers are a rogue, a thief, and a clerical type. e) Where are your headquarters? I do not know. Huh? I have never been there. f) How many others like you are in this area? Where? Doing what? We are here to stop you if you do not follow us to the great leader. He is the supreme leader. You cannot prevail. I do not know how many of us there are. I was not told. g) What is your name? Fjosjne, you know that. h) What is your quest? To bring you to the leader. i) What's your favorite color? Black. The party, mostly Slider and Gavalin, searches the various "guests", as Ayudante calls them, and finds little but a dagger, a piece of blank rune paper, and a small pendant with a black, very shiny stone at the end. After asking a few more questions, and getting an almost mesmerized set of "I don't know. I don't know." replies, the party gives up, tosses him on a horse, and sets out, after talking the somewhat terrified innkeeper out of about 15 torches, two lamps, and 20 bottles of oil. The innkeeper says that he will bill the King, and that that will be OK. The party sets out to the north, heading for the Landward gate. Almost immedately, Ayudante notices that Fjonjne's horse is acting very strangely. Upon closer investigation, it is discovered that Fjosyne's body has been somehow transformed (by the LIGHT, exclaims a surprised Gavalin) and that the horse is now staggering under a very heavy load. The weather is partially overcast, with dark clouds to the north and west, and clear sky mostly to the east and south. The clouds seem to be moving in a southwest-northeast direction, with the edge of the clouds some distance in front of the party. ================ The next move is due this Friday. It should include the plans for all of this day's travelling. <The party will reach the landward gate at about 2pm at their present rate.> It should also include some information on what sort of campsite, etc, they are looking for tonight, as the map shows that there will be no more real civilization until they return through the landward gate. There are several stone travellers huts indicated on the Map. Trylla. Could you coordinate the main activities of the party, i.e. tell me what sort of campsite, what sort of organization there will be AT the campsite, etc. Each of the players should tell me their level of preparedness and what they intend to do in any situations that they anticipate. -- TEDDY BEARS ARE PEOPLE, TOO! (allegra,harpo,ulysses)!rabbit!jj