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Author Topic: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice  (Read 10536 times)

Araph

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[ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« on: November 24, 2015, 12:39:25 am »


You are Finn of Rosach, apprentice druid. Though you hail from the western shores, you have come to live in the southeast of the great forest, amidst idyllic fields and peaceful woodlands - and it is here that you began learning the druidic arts.

Unfortunately, being an apprentice druid turned out to have a whole lot more studying and writing than you anticipated.


You see, druids are the protectors of the forest’s people. With ancient rituals and potent concoctions, they ward off dangerous spirits and maintain order, and, correspondingly, they command a great deal of respect. It’s a noble and prestigious line of work, one that only the fearless and cunning can succeed at.

Being an apprentice druid, on the other hand, involves taking absurd quantities of notes, assisting a master, and suffering through long-winded lectures on the more esoteric aspects of the trade. The adventure you were promised is, unfortunately, in very short supply.

However, that may very well be changing for you! Your master has sent you to the town of Abhach to resolve an unexpected problem while the settlement’s guardian druid is indisposed - your first foray into proper solo druid-ing. You can hardly wait!

You stride down the dirt highway as the afternoon wears on, rowan staff in hand. Despite the short travel distance, it still takes nearly a full day of trudging along to reach Abhach - not that you’re complaining. It’s a pleasant place to walk.

Okay, you’re complaining at least a little bit. Walking is boring.


Eventually you pass the town’s outlying buildings. You don’t see any people, though, which strikes you as rather odd. By the time you reach the village’s walls, you are slightly more unnerved. Where is everybody?

The gates swing open and you are ushered through by a guard, past a small crowd gathered just inside, down the main road, and into a rather important-looking building, where you are greeted by an elderly man with a concerned expression. He explains that the village has been terrorized by a thing from the woods. Come eventide, it haunts the roads beyond the walls, attacking his people, killing livestock, and destroying property. For safety’s sake, all civilians retreat to within the town’s walls well before the spirit returns.

Can you protect us, druid?

You tactfully refrain from commenting that this suddenly seems way above your pay grade and also that you fell asleep multiple time while studying. Of course you can handle this spirit! Definitely. Right.

You check your notebook.


You’re doomed.

Time Until Sunset: 2 Hours






You have two hours until sundown. Large actions (such as moving to different locations, preparing potions, etc.) will take time. As such, you must carefully manage your remaining time, lest you be caught unprepared!

You do not have complete knowledge of the situation. You do not have complete knowledge of spirits. You do not have complete knowledge of rituals. To survive, you will need to investigate and improvise! At times, you will be able to add to your notebook, building upon your existing knowledge base.

Despite his sloppy note-taking, Finn can create a dazzling array of potions and elixirs, both researched and improvised. You’ll need to collect ingredients (Some of which may not be in the notebook! Please try to avoid poisoning our intrepid protagonist.) from different locations in order to brew them, but a good druid always carries the implements needed to create such concoctions with him (we’re being lenient with our definition of ‘good’ here).

Finn can also conduct rituals, both researched and improvised (but let’s be honest: mostly improvised). These can be as complex as burning herbs and scrawling esoteric symbols on a silver disc with the ashes while reciting incantations or as simple as hitting something with a particular type of stick. You’ll need to experiment to discover what works and what doesn’t - but try to avoid getting him killed.

(Hint: You won't know for sure what kind of spirit you're up against until you're almost face-to-face, but there are always general preparations a druid can take. Take your best guess and get ready!)



Spoiler: Finn's Notebook (click to show/hide)


« Last Edit: November 24, 2015, 01:08:52 am by Araph »
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PrivateNomad

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2015, 12:48:18 am »

holy shit
ptw

Nunzillor

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2015, 02:37:45 am »

What do we know about warding?  We could start minimizing property damage by warding off the field, perhaps with silver from the mine?

Dunno, really.  I just like the artwork.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2015, 02:44:35 am by Nunzillor »
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andrea

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2015, 03:08:26 am »

it could be useful to know if it has a physical form or not. For the sake of banishing ( if it has one, no banishing).

but if we have to witness it first hand first, I would prepare a warding and a binding. ard self, bind spirit, then study it safely.

as for how? no idea. maybe try to improvise a warding ritual with a oak staff with shrine lotus tied to it, warding a small circle around where the staff is planted? not sure what kind of freedom we have.( if shrine lotus is unavailable, jaderoot. can't go wrong with that. or a silver bracelet/ring made to fit the staff.)



IronyOwl

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2015, 03:58:19 am »

holy shit

I say we desperately scrounge up some jaderoot and/or rowan and brew ourselves a warding potion or two. Then we show up where it's been attacking, poke it with a stick, and chug potion and pray if it turns on us. Maybe scream 'Not the face!' while cowering.

We can worry about how we're actually going to solve the problem when we have a vague idea of what it is.
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Iituem

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2015, 04:05:21 am »

holy shit

I say we desperately scrounge up some jaderoot and/or rowan and brew ourselves a warding potion or two. Then we show up where it's been attacking, poke it with a stick, and chug potion and pray if it turns on us. Maybe scream 'Not the face!' while cowering.

We can worry about how we're actually going to solve the problem when we have a vague idea of what it is.

+1, also this is amazing!
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TheBiggerFish

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2015, 06:23:26 am »

PTW.
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InZane

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2015, 07:59:57 am »

ptw
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I PTW anything that seems interesting

Araph

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2015, 01:22:33 pm »

holy shit
ptw

You have no idea how gratifying it is to see this as the first response.

not sure what kind of freedom we have.

The kind of freedom you have: that kind.

as for how? no idea. maybe try to improvise a warding ritual with a oak staff with shrine lotus tied to it, warding a small circle around where the staff is planted?

Now the question is where you're going to find oak and where you're going to find shrine lotus.

I say we desperately scrounge up some jaderoot and/or rowan and brew ourselves a warding potion or two.

You have a rowan staff, but where would you find jaderoot?
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TheBiggerFish

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2015, 01:24:08 pm »

We should find out more about this haunt.
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andrea

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2015, 01:28:29 pm »

we should have taken more notes on the habitats of all those herbs and plants.

I say we ask briefly to determine physicality of the haunt, then get quickly to the forest to try to find something before sun falls.
What kind of druid doesn't bring at least some basic herbs with him all the time?

That depends on how much time it takes to get there. if more than 15 minutes, ask the people of the town. Some of those herbs might be found in kitchens, or by some old wise man/woman.

Wait. the local druid is  indisposed. Does that mean he is not here, or that he is here but, for example, ill? if the latter, we can ask for his stockpile.

TheBiggerFish

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2015, 01:29:33 pm »

we should have taken more notes on the habitats of all those herbs and plants.

I say we ask briefly to determine physicality of the haunt, then get quickly to the forest to try to find something before sun falls.
What kind of druid doesn't bring at least some basic herbs with him all the time?

That depends on how much time it takes to get there. if more than 15 minutes, ask the people of the town. Some of those herbs might be found in kitchens, or by some old wise man/woman.

Wait. the local druid is  indisposed. Does that mean he is not here, or that he is here but, for example, ill? if the latter, we can ask for his stockpile.
+++++++
And for advice, too!
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Digital Hellhound

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2015, 01:54:39 pm »

This is some really lovely art and lore!

What andrea said, plus snap off some oak branches/bits if we happen upon any. They... might help! I'd ask the villagers for silver, too, but they might not be so keen to hand over their valuables.
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The Froggy Ninja

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2015, 02:24:25 pm »

holy shit

I say we desperately scrounge up some jaderoot and/or rowan and brew ourselves a warding potion or two. Then we show up where it's been attacking, poke it with a stick, and chug potion and pray if it turns on us. Maybe scream 'Not the face!' while cowering.

We can worry about how we're actually going to solve the problem when we have a vague idea of what it is.

+1, also this is amazing!
+1 Also if it keeps after us hit it with our staff. Rowan is almost as good as cold iron against supernatural and/or intangible creatures.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2015, 02:26:29 pm by The Froggy Ninja »
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IronyOwl

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Re: [ISG] The Druid's Apprentice
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2015, 05:08:30 pm »

as for how? no idea. maybe try to improvise a warding ritual with a oak staff with shrine lotus tied to it, warding a small circle around where the staff is planted?

Now the question is where you're going to find oak and where you're going to find shrine lotus.

I say we desperately scrounge up some jaderoot and/or rowan and brew ourselves a warding potion or two.

You have a rowan staff, but where would you find jaderoot?
"The forest?" Jaderoot's a "gnarled, woody shrub," so it's probably either hardy undergrowth or scrubland scrubbery; though come to think of it, sickly roots might imply that it's not used to nice forest soil. Maybe checking the area around the mine would be better...

Oak and rowan are both trees, so the odds of them being in a forest can't be that terrible (ohgodwhydidwefallasleepduringthelectureonbiomes).

Shrine lotus sounds rare, but will obviously be in bountiful supply at that pond. Because if it's not we ain't gettin none.


Speaking of which, I'm not sure I want to start shaving down our staff. I feel like that's the sort of thing that just sort of keeps going until you don't have a staff any more. Plus maybe its warding properties work if you just hit things with it...?

damn it Finn
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Quote from: Radio Controlled (Discord)
A hand, a hand, my kingdom for a hot hand!
The kitchenette mold free, you move on to the pantry. it's nasty in there. The bacon is grazing on the lettuce. The ham is having an illicit affair with the prime rib, The potatoes see all, know all. A rat in boxer shorts smoking a foul smelling cigar is banging on a cabinet shouting about rent money.
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