WHFRP: Through the Drakwald

[Joose]

I'll give some looking a go:

Roll(1d100)+0:
70,+0
Total:70

Guys! Guys! I think there's a ruined town over there!

[Dog Pants]

You guys all suck.

Well the caravan grinds on past the ruined town. It doesn't look entirely deserted, and with the speed the refugees are going you'd have time to go down there for a little wander if you so chose, otherwise the road leads back into the forest and you can continue on your way.

[Joose]

Although we are all clearly hardened warriors with epic fighting skills, I vote we *dont* go into the creepy run down ruins.

[Dog Pants]

It's a fair call. You aren't much better than the refugees you're escorting, after all. Since nobody else has stated one way or the other I'll take that as the party decision. The rest of the second day passes without incident and the caravan makes camp in a clearing by the side of the road. The guards post themselves as per last night.

A little after dark several of Granny's orphans wander through the camp. They are crying and wailing, "Granny, Granny, where are you, Granny?" A quick scan of the camp does not turn her up. Captain Schiller frowns,

Taal's teeth! What now? Our best healer vanished. Well someone's going to have to find her...

Despite you previous record for unprompted heroics, nobody seems to be particularly looking at you. Hans steps forward with a sigh:

Bringing home lost sheep seems to be my responsibility. Anyone care to assist me?

The not-beardy proto-priest type, who has chatted to you all a little on the journey and identified himself as an initiate of Shallya (notable, as male priests of Shallya are unusual), steps forward.

I'll come. If she's hurt there's nobody else we can spare to help her.

He casts a glance Father Dietrich that's more 'I need to go' than 'you're no use', and the humourless look which is returned would suggest the priest of Sigmar agrees.

[Joose]

I'll come with. If nothing else its another pair of eyes to help with the looking.

[buzzmong]

Oh, balls. Seems my phone ate my post yesterday, I was going to suggest we explore the ruined town for funsies.
This is fine.

You're going exploring? At night? Well...better to be in a small roving band than to stay with a big Choas magnet like this group...I will join you as well.

[FatherJack]

Alice will join as she rather liked Granny as she even joined in with a few of the ruder songs she was teaching the children.

Unfortunately I'm on holiday for a week from tomorrow, so your choice as to whether you take Alice and autopilot her, leave her or wait til I get back.

I might be able to make sporadic posts, but can't promise anything, Wales isn't known for its great Internets.

[Dog Pants]

I'll tag you along on auto. I think we need all the help we can get.

You all follow Hans off into the forest. It takes less than ten minutes to find her in a clearing, some freshly dug herbs in her hand. She is staring in surprise at three cloaked elves with drawn bows.

Explain yourself, witch, or my arrow flies true.

Granny Moesher insists she's out collecting medicinal herbs, but the elves don't look to be buying it. They glance across the clearing at your group, but stay trained on Granny.

[buzzmong]

I'm going to set across the clearing towards the group of Elves and speak to them in Eltharin (Elvish) while putting my arms foward in a greeting gesture:

Greetings my sylvan brothers, I'm glad to meet kin in a place like this after the last couple of days. My group and I are also looking for this human, but probably for different reasons to you. Why do you call her a witch? Have you had previous dealings with her?

[Dog Pants]

Their leader eyes you with interest but doesn't lower his bow. Would you like to make a Charm roll? You're at half your stat for being unskilled, but +20 for being an elf.

[buzzmong]

Of course.

Fel: 34 / 2 = 17 + 20 for Elfing it up = 37
Roll(1d100)+0:
71,+0
Total:71

I am a liability.

[FatherJack]

My lore knowledge is letting me down a bit here, though it is kind of in-character as Alice's lore isn't too hot either, but she probably knows a few general things I don't.

Is a witch generally regarded as a bad thing, or are these Elves prejuducial? Magic exists in this world, but I don't know if it is the general MO to burn all practitioners at the stake - are all magi bad?

Alice gets all starry-eyed at any mention of magic (more in a fairy-tale sense than a practical level) partly as her skills explicitly prohibit her from spellcasting (though of course that won't stop her trying as I'm sure you'll witness) and she's obliquely called out Granny as a witch already. However she's also pretty saucer-eyed about seeing (more) Elves, too - and (for some reason) seems to be trying to look at their bums.

So, she likely has the knowledge I don't as to whether saying Granny is a witch (if only in Alice's mind) would put Granny in peril. Compare Margaret Thatcher with Ginny Weasley for the definition - clearly in Alice's thinking, Granny'd be the latter.

Is 'witch' the perjorative term used in historic ages, or simply a female mage? Are 'magicians' purely chaotic, with scholars the 'good' equivalent?

I'll try and read up more on the setting while I'm away and Alice will keep her mouth shut (for once [silent cheers from the party]) for the time being.


Sorry if I'm causing headaches by making up stuff which your references from the source material don't cater for, but I'm having a lot of fun with Alice kind of testing the boundaries and filling in the gaps, and hope she's at least half as fun to read as I'm having here writing her.

[Dog Pants]

No need to apologise, I don't expect anyone to be immediately familiar with the lore. I'm not a geek on it myself.

Burning at the stake is exactly what they do to unsanctioned spellcasters. Magic is the easiest way to be corrupted by Chaos, since even 'good' magic comes from the chaos winds, so untrained and unregistered magic users are easy pickings for demonic possession. The Empire has witch hunters who track down such people and very literally burn them. It's horrible, and often completely necessary for the safety of the people in the area and the Empire at large. Even being from The Moot, where magic is pretty much unheard of, you'll know about the witch hunters, who are the fighters of the Inquisition. Whether you agree with what they do or not is entirely up to you.

So these elves are quite right to be wary of ley magic users, especially given the recent chaos incursions.

[Dog Pants]

Sorry, was interrupted by Sprog.

Alice is great fun, please carry on. These things are about entertainment, not sticking rigidly to a story (at least they are when I GM).

Buzz, the elves look unimpressed.

Hm, city dweller. Sensible fellow. Who are you to know a witch?

Anyone else can try to step in and interject to plea Granny's innocence, with the +20 (just having an elf with you is a good indication that you're on the level, probably since elves tainted by Chaos tend to wear bondage gear).

[buzzmong]

This "witch" as you call her, healed the wounds that my colleauges and I sustained when defending Untergard from a number of mutants who'd managed to get inside with the intent of killing the townsfolk.

While I do not know more of her than that, the townsfolk hold her in high regard and she seems to run an ophanage as well. Hardly the actions of an evil witch now are they?

[Dog Pants]

Chaos takes many forms. Some hide in plain sight, and some live unaware that they court corruption. This woman collects plants to use in spells, yet she is not of the human colleges.

These elves are clearly on edge, and their resolve doesn't seem to have softened. The initiate of Shallya slowly steps up behind Larandar and addresses them with his calm, earnest tone.

The plants are for healing salves. I use them myself. Perhaps they are used in spells too, but I doubt any of us are in a position to say one way or the other. Granny Moesher is a village elder and she is needed by her people who flee the Beastman horde who approach from the south. This is why we travel in the forest in such numbers, and you should prepare yourselves too.

The elf looks alarmed at the mention of the beastmen. He mutters something to one of the others in Eltharin and they silently fall back into the greenery. The leader pauses briefly;

If this is true then you are welcome to her, for better or worse.

And with that he melts away. Granny Moescher looks a little shaken but visibly relieved, and thanks you all for your help. Unless anyone has anything else to do, you head back to the caravan to see out the remains of the night.

[buzzmong]

Is what they said in Eltharin of consequence?

[Dog Pants]

He said it in the ear of his comrade, but you can make a perception roll to overhear or lip-read.

[buzzmong]

Might as well try the perception test, probably be completely inconsequential though.

Int: 32
Roll(1d100)+0:
63,+0
Total:63

Ah well. ONWARDS.

[Dog Pants]

The next morning passes without incident. The forest is dark and oppressive, but quiet, like a calm before a storm. Mid afternoon the scouts return to the caravan with grim tidings. At a crossroads up ahead there is the remains of an ambush and the road is choked with bodies. The corpses and wreckage will have to be cleared before the caravan can continue on its way. Captain Schiller orders a rest break and takes a dozen men ahead to clear the way, along with several guards, Father Dietrich, and Granny Moescher. Capt Schiller asks you, as having proven yourselves to be reliable and of (slightly) above average ability, to accompany them in case of trouble.