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You are Vlad Tepish.

Your Holdings: A renovated ancient Elven ruin. A well hidden and protected cave, now housing liberated human slaves.

Your minions: 37 normal undead (orcish, elven and human skeletons and zombies, 13 armed with bows, rest with crude melee weapons). Undead orcish shaman, 5 Undead Drow necromancers. Skeletal elk mount. You control 50/50 minions. Your control is absolute.

Your relationships: Lathrien, your apprentice (agreeable), Ragda and Gerda, liberated old ladies of your tribe (friendly(ish)). Melandie, elven huntress (ally). Bathory, your lover in an alchemically improved body (warm). Bound spirit of an elven scout (bound to an owl homonculus). Bound spirit of a gnoll pyromancer (bound). Bound spirit of an orc demonologist (Bound to a dread dog homunculus). Bound spirit of a black dragon (bound). Elven tribe (open diplomacy), Gnoll tribe (allies/treacherous bastards), Human liberated slaves (likely allies), Dwarf tribe (open trade), Drow (enemies).

Your skills, stats, traits: In the pastebin above, along with your available spells and equipment.

Your goals: Fix your relationship with Bathory, achieve immortality, grow your legacy.

For the first time in months you have allowed yourself to relax. Your holdings are secure, your power in magic is growing steadily and you have made allies and friends. Most importantly, you have given Bathory the body you promised. Life is good right now. Still, there is always work to do.

>Winter is coming. So far you have been easily able to gather food from hunting and gathering, but you are going to need a lot of supplies to last the winter. Start on that
>Your little group is getting familiar, but you could always try to improve your relations. Chat with the party.
>You still have not talked to the humans you liberated. Perhaps now is the time.
>You were considering meeting with the dwarves for trade and potential adventures underground. Do that.
>Explore
>Other

>>38542113
>>Winter is coming. So far you have been easily able to gather food from hunting and gathering, but you are going to need a lot of supplies to last the winter. Start on that

>>38542113
>>You still have not talked to the humans you liberated. Perhaps now is the time.
Bring Bathory with, she's better at talking to people.

>>38542130
Seconded, gather supplies.

>>38542113
>Winter is coming. So far you have been easily able to gather food from hunting and gathering, but you are going to need a lot of supplies to last the winter. Start on that

the humans we freed are going to die and Bathory is going to be pissed.

>>38542113
>go see the liberated humans
Yeah we need to check on them
>chat with the party
Bring them with us, we can trade stories, jokes and the such as we walk

>pastebin is updated
> Very nearly a 50/50 split to gathering supplies for yourself and helping out the humans.

You are torn. On the one hand, it is vital that you prepare for winter yourself. It is early autumn now, but as you know very well, the winter could surprise you at any moment.

On the other hand, without the support of an undead army, the coming winter is an even more dire threat to the humans you liberated from the orcs.

Oh well, you are not going to be in any state to help them, if you are starving and cold yourself. You need to help yourself, before you can help them. Now that you have learned how to bind some of your spells to a totem, you believe you could bind your Call Frost ritual to create totems of cold, not dangerous in any serious way, but they would help preserve the meat. You could hunt and gather a great amount of food and refrigerate it for the winter.

roll 1d20+3. No set DC.

>>38542113
>Winter is coming. So far you have been easily able to gather food from hunting and gathering, but you are going to need a lot of supplies to last the winter. Start on that
>Your little group is getting familiar, but you could always try to improve your relations. Chat with the party.

Rolled 14 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>38542420

Rolled 7 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>38542420

Rolled 15 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>38542420

Rolled 1 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

Emperor Guide our rolls

>>38542531
You have the emprah!

>>38542523
18! Good Success!
>>38542531
We heretics now.

You spend the next few days in hunting. Between you, your minions and Melandie you are very successful. You bag several deer, dozens of small animals, as well as a good amount of fish from a nearby stream. You even manage to kill a fairly large bear, also preparing for the winter, fat and powerful. It takes ten of your minions to take the beast down, but it shall provide nourishment for a long time to come.

You have improved in your shamanism a lot, and that has brought you closer understanding of the animal spirit. You know that you could raise the animals and control them much easier than the humanoid bodies you have under your control at the moment. They would be less intelligent, but you could bulk up your force significantly.

At Shamanism IV, animal bodies cost 1/4th of what they usually would to raise. Size is still a factor, but even the bear would only take up one full slot. It would take four wolves to fill out one slot, in comparison.

>Replace as many of your undead with animals as you can.
>Only use carnivores and the bear. This would take up 4 slots for the bear and 12 assorted predators.
>Stick to a humanoid army.

>>38542695
>Only use carnivores and the bear. This would take up 4 slots for the bear and 12 assorted predators.

>>38542695
>Only use carnivores and the bear. This would take up 4 slots for the bear and 12 assorted predators.

>>38542695
>Only use carnivores and the bear. This would take up 4 slots for the bear and 12 assorted predators

>>38542695
>raise the bear
See if we can also get some fat dear raised as well and being them with us when we visit the tribe

The deer and the smaller creatures of the forest are simply too docile for your liking. You need predators. You need creatures with strong natural weapons, if they are not going to be able to wield artificial ones. After skinning and butchering the bear and the assorted wolves, wolverines and other predators, you raise them in mostly skeletal form. You leave some flesh on the bear, as you have quite a bit of food gathered for now, and a lot of the use of the bear comes from its great mass. You destroy some of the more worn out skeletons and replace them with your new animal minions.

There is always more you can do to prepare for winter. It is never an easy time. For now, however, you feel confident that you would at the least survive it on what food you have.

>Practice swordplay with Bathory
>Talk to someone (who?)
>Go visit the humans
>Go visit the dwarves
>Other

>>38542917
>>Go visit the humans

>>38542917
>Practice swordplay with Bathory
Time to spend time with out Waifu

>>38542917
>Practice swordplay with Bathory

>>38542917
>Go visit the humans

>>38542917
>practice and talk with waifu
then
>other
we are a necromancer for God's sake! We will not just survive but thrive! We will hunt until we get enough food for a massive dinner in which we invite EVERYONE. Improve the relations with the elves, dwarves, and humans in one fell swoop. All in the dead of winter

>>38542917
>Go visit the humans

>>Go visit the humans

>>38542917
>>Practice swordplay with Bathory
After,
> Go visit the Humans.

Survival cannot be your only goal. You will do more than that. Much more. Fear of winter is for simple mortals. You shall have enough to share with every humanoid within a week's travel. You shall have a winter feast such as none have seen before. You will hunt and gather more to achieve this, and set some of your undead to do just that. It is not difficult to make wolves hunt. Your cellars fill with food at a steady rate.

That settled, you look for Bathory. You feel like spending every waking moment with her, but you have made certain to give her space and as much time to herself as she likes. You did, however promise to teach her swordplay, and it has been a few days since your last bout.

You find her in the library, as you often do. At this rate she will read the whole room before you even make a dent in it. She does seem to prefer fictions to the more practical books of skill, as befits her previous occupation, but by sheer quantity she has picked up some of the skill books already.

'Bathory, would you like to practice with swords now?' you say.
'Oh, Vlad, I did not see you come in,' Bathory says.
'It is a good book then?' you say.
'It is splendid. I believe it is the memoirs of the man who owned this ruin before you,' Bathory says.
'Fascinating,' you say

>'Tell me more, what kind of a man was he?'
>'I shall have to read that sometime. Let us go practice now.'
>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Practice can wait.'
>'Let's not get distracted. We both need the practice at swordplay right now.'
>Other

>>38543336
>Tell me more, what kind of a man was he?'
>>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Practice can wait.'

>>38543336
>>'Tell me more, what kind of a man was he?'
>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Practice can wait.'

>>38543336
>'Tell me more, what kind of a man was he?'
>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Practice can wait.'

>>38543336
>'Tell me more, what kind of a man was
>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Practice can wait.' he?'

>>38543336
>>'Tell me more, what kind of a man was he?'
>>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Practice can wait

>>38543336
>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Practice can wait.
>'Tell me more, what kind of a man was he?'

>'Tell me more, what kind of a man was he?'
>'Would you like to visit the humans in my old cave now? Or would you prefer to practice? The choice is yours'

'Fascinating, what kind of a man was he?' you say.

'I think he was a noble man, although he would disagree. He learned an art that he thought would doom his soul to help and protect his people,' Bathory says.

'But in the end something happened to the elves,' you say.

'Yes, although it is strange that he would not mention the fall of his race, the memoir ends when he is still properly alive, with no clue of what happened to the elves,' Bathory says.

'Strange. I should have asked him when I had the chance,' you say.

'Yes, now it is unlikely we will ever know what happened,' Bathory says.

'Of course, he was alone with the dead. It is likely he had withdrawn from elven society before their fall,' you say.

'Perhaps. Still, it is fascinating. Many of the words, I understand them, but they talk of such impossible things. Cities of hundreds of thousands, great buildings reaching a hundred meters in the air, such wonder,' Bathory says.

'It must have been impressive,' you say.

'Do you think you will bring some of it back? Do you think you can create a world where those things are possible?' Bathory says.

'I do not know the future. I do hope to do great things. I just need the time to do them,' you say.

'So, about sword practice,' Bathory says.

'Perhaps we should visit the human tribe first. Winter is coming and they might need help,' you say.

'Perhaps. It would be nice to see more people,' Bathory says.

>Go now.
>Stay, do other stuff.

>>38543560
>Go now.

>>38543560
>>Go now.
inb4 we get wreckt on the way there by elves

>>38543560
>Go now.
What she wants she gets, within reason.

>>38543560
>go
Bring any comforts we have. Prehaps a couple blankets or furs so they see we care for em.

It is long overdue. You take an honour guard with you, only around twenty undead. You do not expect any trouble, and in any case you could easily call the minions to you if anything dangerous happened. You leave most of them to keep hunting and gathering for the winter. You have found some lovely starchy tubers that will go well with the meat, and will certainly last for a long time.

Bathory does not feel very comfortable riding your skeletal mount, and she does not really get tired nowadays. You elect to walk alongside her, rather than riding the elk without her. It is slower travelling, but you still reach the cave before nightfall.

Strange, you would have expected more of a commotion here. There were a good dozen people, and the cave would be barely large enough for all of them to sleep in. Yet, you see no one outside.

>Approach the cave, knock.
>Call out.
>Something is wrong here. Call all of your undead
>Something is wrong here. Investigate.
>It's probably fine. They are likely hunting to prepare for the winter. See if anyone's home, if not, wait for them to get back.

>>38543731
>Call out.
>Something is wrong here. Call all of your undead

>>38543731
>>Something is wrong here. Investigate.
>Call out.

>>38543731
>Call out.
>Something is wrong here. Call all of your undead
Bathory, get ready to run.

>>38543731
>call out
>bring out your undead
While we are at look around for anything out of the ordinary. Any signs of a struggle
>capicha froc
Yeah this is not frocin good

>>38543731
>Something is wrong here. Investigate.
>Call out.

>>38543731
>>Call out.
>Something is wrong here. Call some of your undead, have the rest split and wait off to side hidden

I should note that the orc dog is absolutely with you, as is the owl scout.

'Hello! Is anybody home?' you call out.
'Vlad, is everything alright?' Bathory says.
'I am not certain. They should be outside. Maybe they're just hunting,' you say.
'But you do not think so,' Bathory says.
'No, I do not,' you say.

You hear no answers from the humans that are supposed to be here. You wait for a good five minutes, before deciding to call your army here. It would be foolish not to play this safe. Once they get there you move to investigate.

Roll 1d20+2 awareness DC 16

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>38543871

Rolled 15 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>38543871
Should owl, Bathory and dog roll too?

Rolled 5 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>38543871

>>38543879
bless anon. unnatural 20 a best.

>>38543887
Hey, why are you doing that? Giving QMs ideas and stuff

>>38543887
Probably should have, doesn't really matter, since...

Unnatural 20! Great Success.

You approach the cave cautiously. You go into high alertness, as soon as you sense a smell all too familiar to you, that of death. Your cave was secure, and well hidden, but someone must have found it. You draw your weapon.

As you enter the cave you immediately see the body. One of the liberated slaves has been tied to a post by his hands, high enough that just his toes were touching the ground. His death must have been pure torture. You quickly try to sense his spirit, but as you expected it has long since departed. You hope it has departed to a better place.

On his chest there is writing, in brown, dried blood. You read it and are surprised to find it says 'Traitor' in an ancient human tongue. You had only picked up a few words, as you were convinced that none knew how to write in it any more. Perhaps you are not the only one to uncover a cache of ancient knowledge.

You look around a little more and you see clear evidence of weapon use, and not just clubs and simple spears, but swords and axes. This confirms your theory. Someone else has uncovered ancient knowledge, and what is more, that someone has a cruel bent. You suspect it is another human, but you cannot be certain.

Curiously, there is no evidence of further struggle. Aside from this one unfortunate man, you feel that all the others left willingly.

>Gather everyone inside. You need more heads to think on this.
>Look for tracks.
>You know that most human tribes are in the plains to the east. Try to figure out what's going on.
>Other

>>38544156
>>Look for tracks.
>Gather everyone inside. You need more heads to think on this.

>>38544156
>Look for tracks
>Other
Can we use our shamanism to ask the spirits?

>>38544156
>>Gather everyone inside. You need more heads to think on this.
>>Look for tracks

>>38544156
>>Look for tracks.
>>You know that most human tribes are in the plains to the east. Try to figure out what's going on.
>>38544221
Bitch, do you see a spell that lets us do that? No? Okay then.

>>38544156
>Look for tracks.
>You know that most human tribes are in the plains to the east. Try to figure out what's going on.

>>38544295
okay chill man don't be so salty, I got it figured out anyways

>>38544156
>other
Explore the cave more. If I recall correctly there was more to the cave, and we have no idea what lies beyond they could have disturbed, perhaps a ancient cache of weapons guarded by skeletons? But would not explain the "traitor" unless they where semi intelligent

>>38544221
The spirit of the man has departed, and the spirits of the land rarely concern themselves with mortal matters. You could try, but it is unlikely to give much more information

You need to plan more. You call for Bathory and your bound spirits. While disconcerting, you need to have everyone on board for this.

'Oh gods, Vlad. That must have been so horrible,' Bathory says, as soon as she sees the dead man.
'Indeed. But look, do you see the writing? It is in an ancient human tongue,' you say.
'It is! 'Traitor'. But no one speaks the language anymore,' Bathory says.
'Clearly, someone has learned it,' you say.
'Indeed. But that would mean someone has weapons, tools. Whoever it is, they're a danger to everyone,' Bathory says.
'Orc, do you smell anything?' you say.
'Fear. His fear. Filth of living. Strangers. All human,' the dog growls. You preferred when it didn't try to speak.
'I suspected as much,' you say.
'Do you think the boy that's leading our tribe might be involved?' Bathory says.
'No way to tell. We should probably check, however,' you say, 'Elf, can you find any tracks?'

The owl homunculus flies off and returns in some five minutes.

>>38544456
There are some small passages in the cave, but none are wide enough to go through, without chipping away at the wall some. You can do it if you'd like, but it is fairly clear no one has come through the walls.

'They're old, but there is some. Going East. At least twenty men,' the scout says.

>Go East. Something is clearly rotten among humans.
>Go back to the ruin, prepare.
>They are not an immediate threat. Return to the ruin and focus your attentions elsewhere.
>Other

>>38544546
>>Go back to the ruin, prepare.

>>38544546
>>Go East. Something is clearly rotten among humans.

>>38544546
>Go East. Something is clearly rotten among humans.

>>38544546
>go back to the ruins and prepare.
Let's ask our elders their thoughts on the matter. Always helpful to ask our elders

>>38544546
>Go back to the ruin, prepare.

>>38544546
>Go East. Something is clearly rotten among humans.
This was clearly a message. Perhaps even a message to us.
I can't think of anything we could prepare at our hideout, and there is no telling how cold the trail is already

>>38544546
let's go east

I think we can take them. Does setting up/preparing a totem take any time?

>>38544546
>>Go East. Something is clearly rotten among human

>>38544546
>>Go East. Something is clearly rotten among humans.

>>38544751
The spell is straightforward, but crafting the totem takes some time, think ~15 minutes, if you have the materials at hand. Materials are simple, wood, bone, that sort of thing.

There is no time to waste. There is no telling how cold the trail is already, and it is only going to get colder. Besides, you feel that you can take them on, should they prove aggressive, and Bathory is a great diplomat, should they prove cooperative, or at least reasonable.

'We set out now. We need to know what is going on with humans as soon as possible,' you say.
'I agree. Whoever did this has to be punished,' Bathory says.
'Perhaps they can be reasoned with,' you say.
'No. We can talk to the tribes, but I will not accept someone who would do this as an elder. Even if we are with no tribe anymore,' Bathory says.
'As you say,' you say.

There seems to have been no effort put in hiding the tracks. Even days later you see broken twigs, flattened moss and footsteps in the mud around rivers. It takes you the rest of the day to reach the edge of the plains.

'We should camp for the night. It would be foolish to be tired when we find the tribes,' Bathory says.
'I was just going to say the same thing,' you say.
'Shouldn't Lathrien and Melandie come with us? Maybe even Ragda and Gerda,' Bathory says.

>'No. There is no telling how the humans would react to the elves, and the ladies are old to travel for little reason.'
>'Lathrien and Melandie could use the exercise. We'll let the old ladies stay behind.'
>'This is a human matter. I will send the scout to call for Ragda and Gerda, but the elves have to stay behind.'
>'That's a good idea. We should bring everyone.'
>Other

>>38544978
>No. There is no telling how the humans would react to the elves, and the ladies are old to travel for little reason.'

>>38544978
>>'Lathrien and Melandie could use the exercise. We'll let the old ladies stay behind.'

>>38544978
>>'No. There is no telling how the humans would react to the elves, and the ladies are old to travel for little reason.'

>>38544978
>'That's a good idea. We should bring everyone.'
Melandie has skills neither of us has, Lathrien is our apprentice, he could learn a thing or two, and the old cronies; we can't keep them always jarred up, and they might give us some advantage dealing with the humans, perhaps the imprisoned ones as well

>>38544978
>'Lathrien and Melandie could use the exercise. We'll let the old ladies stay behind.'

>>38545015
>>38545086
We can just leave them behind if the situation demands, like we did when meeting the dwarves

>>38544978
>'Lathrien and Melandie could use the exercise. We'll let the old ladies stay behind.'

>>38544978
>'Lathrien and Melandie could use the exercise. We'll let the old ladies stay behind.'

'Ragda and Gerda are old. The travel would be dangerous for them, even if nothing went wrong. Lathrien and Melandie should come along, I agree,' you say.
'That makes sense. Also, as I understand it, you should not keep watch, lest we want to be robbed blind,' Bathory says.
'That was one time! I was tired!' you say.
Bathory laughs.

You call the scout.

'Fly back to the ruin. Lead Lathrien and Melandie back to us,' you say.
'Yes, Vlad Tepish,' the scout says.

>Go to sleep, leave the dog on watch, he should notice any danger.
>Start a fire, cook some food, chat with Bathory (what about?)
>Wander about a little before turning in.
>Prepare some totems (specify)
>Other

>>38544978
>>'This is a human matter. I will send the scout to call for Ragda and Gerda, but the elves have to stay behind.'

>>38545240
>Prepare some totems (Alarm)
>Start a fire, cook some food, chat with Bathory (Our dreams, aspirations, ambitions.

>>38545240
>Prepare some alarm totems
>Chat with Bathory, dicuss what might have happened with the liberated slaves, and what will we do with them if they are alive, or if we find even more

>>38545240
>>Start a fire, cook some food, chat with Bathory (what about?)
> Prepare some Totems. (Drain Life, Alarm)
At least, assuming there's a way to craft them without activating them immediately.

>>38545359

this is ok

Shit, BRB

>>38545240
>Start a fire, cook some food, chat with Bathory, ask her thoughts on our current holdings. Let's tell her some stories of all we have been through so far (can't remember if we have) and just try to raise our relationship.

>>38545240
>>Prepare some totems (specify)
Alarm , dead land

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194 KB JPG

You set up a proper camp. Fire, food and moss, fir branch and fur bedding. The land is soft here, but it is always nice to sleep in a little more comfort. You set up the bedding for you and Bathory in a single pile, and she does not seem to mind.

That done, you start working on some totems. You are not going to be surprised in your sleep again, so you create a totem of alarm and bury it near the camp. You make sure to exempt yourself, Bathory and the elves from its detection.

'Vlad, what do you think really happened to the people in that cave?' Bathory says.
'It is hard to say. If I had to guess, I would think that the man that took over our tribe is trying to bring all tribes together,' you say.
'And kill anyone who refuses. Yes, I think so too. If that is the case though, he would not be welcoming of you,' Bathory says.
'Unless I joined him,' you say.
'You would not do that, Vlad. I know you,' Bathory says.
'No, probably not,' you say.

Some time passes in comfortable chatter. You talk about simpler times, when your duties were limited to calling the rain, and telling fortunes to your tribesmen. When Bathory traveled and you kept home.

'What of the future, Vlad? What do you want to do now?' Bathory says.
'Well, we really need to deal with this situation right now,' you say.
'Yes, but what do you hope to achieve in the long term,' Bathory says.

>'Finding that library has shown me how much has been lost since t he ancient times. I would like to bring these wonders back to the world.'
>'I have made some allies. It is madness that the tribes are scattered. If we all lived together, as friends and allies, as a single tribe, we could achieve so much.'
>'I almost lost you once, because my magic was not strong enough. I need to learn, I need to reach such heights of magical knowledge as none have known before.'
>'I do not know. I shall take the problems as they come. This is enough for me. We are together, and we have friends and home. cont.

>>38545783
Cont
>'Power. I need more power to protect those I love. I need to raise my armies until nothing can threaten you.'
>'Knowledge. I have learned much from the library, but I still do not know so much. I need to know what this dark figure in my dreams is. I need to know everything.
>Other.

>>38545783
>>'Finding that library has shown me how much has been lost since t he ancient times. I would like to bring these wonders back to the world.'
>>'I have made some allies. It is madness that the tribes are scattered. If we all lived together, as friends and allies, as a single tribe, we could achieve so much.'
>>'I almost lost you once, because my magic was not strong enough. I need to learn, I need to reach such heights of magical knowledge as none have known before.'

>>38545783

>'Finding that library has shown me how much has been lost since t he ancient times. I would like to bring these wonders back to the world.'
>'I have made some allies. It is madness that the tribes are scattered. If we all lived together, as friends and allies, as a single tribe, we could achieve so much.'
>'I almost lost you once, because my magic was not strong enough. I need to learn, I need to reach such heights of magical knowledge as none have known before.'

>>38545783
>>'Finding that library has shown me how much has been lost since t he ancient times. I would like to bring these wonders back to the world.'
>'I almost lost you once, because my magic was not strong enough. I need to learn, I need to reach such heights of magical knowledge as none have known before.'
>'Power. I need more power to protect those I love. I need to raise my armies until nothing can threaten you.'
>'Knowledge. I have learned much from the library, but I still do not know so much. I need to know what this dark figure in my dreams is. I need to know everything.

>>38545783
>unity
>knowledge
>protecting you and everyone

>>38545783
>>'I almost lost you once, because my magic was not strong enough. I need to learn, I need to reach such heights of magical knowledge as none have known before.'
>'Finding that library has shown me how much has been lost since t he ancient times. I would like to bring these wonders back to the world.'
>'Knowledge. I have learned much from the library, but I still do not know so much. I need to know what this dark figure in my dreams is. I need to know everything.

>>38545783
>'I have made some allies. It is madness that the tribes are scattered. If we all lived together, as friends and allies, as a single tribe, we could achieve so much.'

'There is much I want to achieve. That is a part of why I seek immortality,' you say.
'Such as?' Bathory says.
'Well, first of all, finding that library has shown me how much has been lost. Architecture, engineering, alchemy, all of those wondrous trades, lost to time. I would bring all of it back, if I can,' you say.
'Good. I have been thinking much the same. And you would need to live a long life indeed to achieve that,' Bathory says.
'That is not all, of course. I almost lost you once. If my magic had been stronger then I could have kept you safe. I could have avoided hurting you. I need to learn as much magic as possible,' you say.
'I see. I am not sure. Perhaps it would have been best if you had let nature take its course. Perhaps I can never die properly anymore,' Bathory says.
'I do not know. I know I have you back, and that we are together. To me that is worth any price. And I intend to keep you safe. To raise my armies until nothing can threaten us,' you say.
'By killing people, and bringing them back to life?' Bathory says.
'In part. But also, I think it is madness that all the tribes that I have befriended are scattered. If we could only all work together, we could achieve great things,' you say.
'The man leading the human tribes would say much the same,' Bathory says.
'Yes. I never said I was against his plans. Indeed, I had not moved against him earlier because I could understand him somewhat. But torture, murder, fear are not the way to do it,' you say.
'I hope you're right. I hope you do not have to become a tyrant to unite the tribes,' Bathory says.
'In any case, that is a long ways off. I can just about manage to convince them not to kill me at this moment. But if I lived long, well, there is a chance,' you say
'Oh, Vlad. It is strange. We were together, and you were content with a simple life. I go away for a while and suddenly you want to change the world,' Bathory says
'Almost losing you changed everything. I was truly happy with you [cont]

>>38546177
[cont] but now, without a tribe, well, we have to change the world if we want to thrive in it,' you say.
'I was not thinking it is a bad thing. It is good to see you so motivated,' Bathory says.
'And I need to learn more. More about this world and its gods. More about the old world. More about everything,' you say.
'Yes. I should like to learn more as well. It will be a good life, I know it,' Bathory says.
'If nothing else, I want to make a good life for you,' you say.
'Thank you. The body is wonderful. And you should know I understand now. If you had died, well, I suppose I would try anything to bring you back. I forgive you.'

>Go to sleep
>Wait for Lathrien and Melandie. They should be only an hour away or so
>Walk around a bit, hunt, gather.
>Talk to Bathory (write-in)
>Other

>>38546297
>Talk to Bathory (Thank her for forgiving us.)
>Wait for Lathrien and Melandie. They should be only an hour away or so

>>38546297
>Talk to Bathory (If you want I could teach you some magic later?)

>>38546297
I'll back this >>38546328

>>38546297
>>Wait for Lathrien and Melandie. They should be only an hour away or so
>Talk to Bathory (If you want I could teach you some magic later?)
>Talk to Bathory (Thank her for forgiving us.)

>>38546333
>>38546328

this talks with Bathory and then go to sleep, long day tomorrow

>>38546377
Second

>>38546297
>hunt and gather
Look for some grapes with bathory and such. Let's make a stiff drink and drink with her

>>38546408
Alcohol is actually incredibly rare. Outside the wine you had with the elven tribe, it is largely confined to whatever fermented fruit you find in the wild. You know how to brew simple wine now, but the process would take at least a month.

'Thank you. I was not sure if you could ever...' you say.
'Forget about it. I understand,' Bathory says.
'Well, I think we should get some sleep. It is a long day tomorrow,' you say.
'Shouldn't we wait for Lathrien and Melandie?' you say.
'They can wake us up if they want to talk. I'll set up bedding for them too. One pile should do fine,' you say with a smile.

You go to sleep. As it turns out, the elves do not bother you in the night. You awake first. You open your eyes and the sleeping face of Bathory is the first thing you see. The camp has not been disturbed. You look over the faces of your sleeping companions. They all look very peaceful.

You notice that the Melandie and Lathrien did end up sharing the bed. You smile. They were probably just too tired to split it up, but, hey, baby steps.

>Cook breakfast, let everyone wake up on their own time.
>Wake everyone up.
>Walk off, do a little exploring before everyone wakes up.
>[s]Mess with Melandie and Lathrien by arranging them so that they're holding each others hand when they wake up. [/s]

>>38546636
>>Cook breakfast, let everyone wake up on their own time.
>[s]Mess with Melandie and Lathrien by arranging them so that they're holding each others hand when they wake up. [/s]

>>38546636
>Cook breakfast, let everyone wake up on their own time.
>[s]Mess with Melandie and Lathrien by arranging them so that they're holding each others hand when they wake up. [/s]

>>38546636
>Cook breakfast, let everyone wake up on their own time.
>[s]Mess with Melandie and Lathrien by arranging them so that they're holding each others hand when they wake up. [/s]

>>38546636
>>Walk off, do a little exploring before everyone wakes up.
>>[s]Mess with Melandie and Lathrien by arranging them so that they're holding each others hand when they wake up. [/s]

>>38546636
>Cook breakfast, let everyone wake up on their own time
>[s]Mess with Melandie and Lathrien by arranging them so that they're holding each others hand when they wake up. [/s]
>explore

It is somewhat chilly. You put some wood on the fire and make everyone is nice and warm when they wake up. You also put some venison on the fire.

You look at the elves. You feel just a little mischievous. The conversation with Bathory last night has left you in a good mood. You figure you should share the good feelings.

Roll 1d20+2 hand-holding check. Kinda want to write the crit fail for this one. DC 12

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>38546791
If we don't critfail, can we see what would have happened if we did?

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>38546791

Rolled 2 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>38546791

>>38546816
They wake up holding our hand

>>38546816
>>38546791

now that we didn't got it.....can you tell us how the crit fail would go?

>>38546844
So close.

14! Success.

Ever so gently you lock the hands of the two elves. You barely suppress a laugh as you realize you're getting away with it. You turn away back to your cooking and try your hardest to look like you had nothing to do with it.

You are a grown man of thirty winters and master of life and death. You are having trouble not giggling like a little girl as you hear the shocked exclamations and recoiling of the two elves. You turn to look to them, and both of their faces are just about as red as they can get.

'Ah, Melandie, Lathrien, you're awake. Did you get here fine?' you say.
'Y-y...' Lathrien says.
'Yes, Vlad. No issues.' Melandie says curtly.
'Hmm? Do I smell meat cooking?' Bathory says as she wakes up.
'It is a lovely morning, is it not?' you say.

>>38546929
Both of them wake up with you trying to connect their hands. Shit gets awkward yo.

>Eat and get moving. There is no time to waste.
>Take it slow. The humans are not going anywhere. Have a nice breakfast.
>Other

[s]test[/s]

>>38546816
Accidentally hold her foot.

>>38547009
>>Eat and get moving. There is no time to waste.
goota right our spoiler not just s

>>38547009
>Eat and get moving. There is no time to waste.

>Eat and get moving. There is no time to waste.

>>38547009
>>Eat and get moving. There is no time to waste.

>>38547009
>other
Let's let them wake up. We should take 2 of our minions and scout ahead. We have no idea if we are time sensitive right now, would be good to find out

>>38547036
Trying to get strikethrough, actually. Whatever, probably not going to be using it again.

'Well, in either case, we should get an early start. Let us finish our food and get moving,' you say.
'Yes, Vlad Tepish,' Lathrien says.
'So what is going on, anyways?' Melandie says.
'I believe a human is trying to unite the tribes, and he is being an asshole about it. I'll tell you more as we walk,' you say.

You get walking. All the tribes would have moved from where you last saw them by now, but you can make a guess as to their likely migrations. With the help of the owl scout you are quite confident you can find them today.

It is not even noon when you get back the report of a small group of humans travelling East.

>Follow them, see where they are going.
>Catch up to them, talk. (specify who and what minions you're bringing along)
>You are looking for a settlement, not travelers. Leave them be.

>>38547161
>>Follow them, see where they are going.

>>38547161
>>Follow them, see where they are going.

>>38547161
>>Follow them, see where they are going.

>>38547009
>>Eat and get moving. There is no time to waste.
Pip pip

>>38547161
sneaky time

File: mmt4.jpg (43 KB, 459x344)

43 KB JPG

You keep out of sight of the travelling party. There is only six of them, so you are quite certain they are going to be joining a larger group sooner or later. None of the tribes are quite that small and everyone would be preparing for the winter. That means that small groups of hunters are out and about every day.

Unfortunately you seem to have caught them at the beginning of the hunt, so it takes a long while for them to find animals and do the actual hunting. They are using bows, further proof that their leader has learned of ancient crafts. It is possible that forest dwelling folk would figure bows out, but you cannot imagine the tribes of the plains thinking of it. You certainly had not considered the possibility before you saw the elves using such weapons.

All in all you track them for about three hours. They manage to bring down a bison. Dangerous game for most hunters, but the rewards are massive. One beast has enough food to feed even the largest tribe for days, and the bones and hide are very useful as well.

You are surprised to see, that after killing the adult they also catch some of the calves and bring them along, still alive. Some tribes would keep dogs as pets, your own old tribe included, but it is well known that it is impossible to train most other beasts. Perhaps they want to keep the calves around to keep the meat fresh for longer. Quite clever, really.

Eventually they do end up going back to a tribe. And what a tribe it is. There must be more than a hundred people there, and what's more they have built tents. It is not unheard of, but most tribes would only build perhaps one to huddle up in during the coldest days of winter. There are twenty hide tents all told, scattered about in a loose formation.

>Approach in force. Show clearly who they are dealing with.
>Approach with Bathory. You want to know what is going on, and Bathory can talk to them if finesse is called for.
>Approach with Bathory and the elves. You don't want to involve undead

>>38547521
>>Approach with Bathory. You want to know what is going on, and Bathory can talk to them if finesse is called for.
Keep the undead at the ready. Let Lathrein and Melandie know that should the undead begin to make way to the camp, to immediately begin attacking.

>>38547521
As always let's start with diplomacy, and this time we have someone more skilled than us to help. Just us and Bathory.

>>38547521
>Approach with Bathory. You want to know what is going on, and Bathory can talk to them if finesse is called for.
Bathory if you sense anything wrong, run.

'Shall we, Bathory?' you say.
'Just the two of us for now, right?' Bathory says.
'Yes. Lathrien, Melandie, stay within earshot. If the undead start moving towards me, follow them. Stay out of sight otherwise,' you say.
'Yes, Vlad Tepish,' they say.

You approach the camp openly. You attract some attention from the tribe. It is quite unusual for such small groups to travel alone. You do not see anyone of your old tribe, although you are not looking hard.

You find a random person, someone that doesn't seem to be doing anything important.

'Son, could we talk to your elder?' you say.
'What about?' the young man says.
'We have been away from this area for a while. Much seems changed, we'd just like to know what has been going on,' you say.
'Sure, whatever. The elder is in that tent,' he says, pointing at a tent near the middle of the settlement.

You walk up to it, and are surprised to see an armed man, wielding a spear, guarding the entrance to the tent.

'We would speak to your elder,' you say.
'What is your business,' the guard says.
'We are travelers looking for news,' you say.
'I guess. I'll be watching you,' the guard says, 'go right inside.'

You enter. It is strange, you were expecting one of the young men of your old tribe, but this elder certainly lives up to his name. As old as men get, he is sitting with a bent back, eating roast meat. He has long, grey hair and he is wearing thick, warm furs. You see a walking stick not far away. He has the tent all to himself.

'Visitors? Who is it? My eyes are not what they used to be?'
'I am Vlad Tepish, and this is Bathory Tepish,' you say.

>Get straight to the point. Ask about the killing of the man in your forest.
>Ask about the technological advancements.
>Ask about the new leader of your old tribe
>Ask about how this tribe got so large.
>Ask to see their shaman
>Other

>>38547817
>Ask about how this tribe got so large.
>Ask to see their shaman

>>38547817
>>Ask about how this tribe got so large.
>>Ask to see their shaman
>>Other
Ask to see their lore keeper for Bathory

>>38547817
Pleasantries, ask about this tribe, how the hunting's been, if he thinks it will be an early snow, etc. Let Bathory do the actual questioning.

>>38547817
>>Ask about how this tribe got so large.
>Ask about the technological advancements.

>>38547899
>>38547903
these

>>38548015
Agreed with this.

'Your tribe has been blessed with good fortune, elder. How has it grown so large?' Bathory says.
'Well, the man, Karrim, he has been uniting us humans. It is not truly my tribe, but we are not quite ready to all live together yet. He has gathered two more tribes like this, as large as we can support. We will unite in the winter,' the elder says.
'Fascinating. I am a shaman in my tribe. Might I meet yours and exchange tales and perhaps learn or teach?' you say.
'We don't have a shaman as such. Karrim didn't much like the old one, so one night he run off. We have a young man trying to learn the old magic, if you might be interested in that,' the elder says.
'Old magic?' you say.
'Yes, has something to do with the gods the ancients worshiped. I don't much care for it, but I've got to admit it works,' the elder says.
'Your people are using many tools, such as I have never seen before. Where did you come by them?' Bathory says.
'Karrim again. He came with much knowledge, that is why most follow him. We hunt better, we are even growing our own bison and pheasants. He talked of 'planting', but we cannot spare the seed. Still, many good ideas that boy,' the elder says.
'Elder, who is the lorekeeper of the tribe? I would love to exchange tales,' Bathory says.
'We have many now. Each tribe has at least one, and we are five tribes come together. Look for a fire, you will find someone telling tales,' the elder says.
'Thank you, elder. Is there any way we could meet this Karrim?' you say.
'He comes and goes. I do not know where he is now,' the elder says.

That name does ring a bell. An insignificant man from your tribe. A scout. But if he has found the knowledge, well, anyone with that kind of knowledge would soon have power, especially if he can hide it.

>Talk to this wizard
>Talk more to the elder
>Ask around about the shaman
>Talk to some random, miserable looking person.
>Ask about the dead man in the woods.
>Other

>>38548215
To the wizard! I'm concerned that he might have something to do with that old god that's trying to screw us over.

>>38548215
>>Talk to some random, miserable looking person.

>>38548215
>Talk to this wizard

>>38548215
>>Talk to this wizard

>>38548215
>Talk to this wizard

>>38548215
>>Talk to this wizard

>>Ask about the dead man in the woods.

'The new mage, the one learning old magic, where might I find him?' you say.
'Oh, the white tent. Can't miss it,' the elder says.
'Thank you for your hospitality. We will not be here long,' Bathory says.
'Stay as long as you like. We could always use a young couple, if you would like to join,' the elder says.
'We shall consider it,' Bathory says.

You leave the elder's tent. True to her word, Bathory walks over to a storyteller and starts talking. You look for the white tent. You notice there is thick smoke coming out of it, and you smell a strange, yet pleasant odor coming from inside.

As you enter, you see a man, younger than you, but with a long beard and hair. He is wearing white fabric, extremely rare and difficult to make. He is sitting on his knees, hands raised high and he is chanting in a strange tongue.

The interior of the tent is full of strange plants and crafted symbols. You do not recognize any of them, but you think they are of religious significance. They are mostly bone and wood, but there are some made from metal. In the middle of the tent, there is a pile of herbs, smoldering and giving off the white smoke.

This is absolute extravagance by the standards of the tribes of the plains.

>Interrupt the man's chanting and get to asking questions
>Wait and see if he gets done soon

>>38548686
>Wait and see if he gets done soon

>>38548686
>>Wait and see if he gets done soon

>>38548686
>>Wait and see if he gets done soon

>>38548686
>>Wait and see if he gets done soon

Test

>>38548686
We back now...everything was down for a long time.

QM shut it down for tonight.