Muleboy, scene 6

Scene, main

Southern Borderlands, Febrar the 3rd
A cool, snowy day

What's that? It looks like a caravan moving slowly through the valley. From this distance I cant make if they're goblins or what? I'm still half a week away from human lands... I'm guessing on what it took Old Grump to take me to the place he died. But I took another route. These might be human lands.

I have to be careful either way. I need a story... OK, dad's a peddler but he got sick and died. Simple enough, right? Only what was he doing around these parts? Wait... we're picking stuff from the ruins to sell back home. Because we're poor. Just look how I'm dressed up. And yes, we found that copper in a... in that paladin castle!... hmmm St Konan wouldn't like me lying, I guess, but this is what we slaves do! To survive! It's not fair!... I'll try not to lie.

Besides... I'm getting out of the way... see if those people don't get to me. They could be orcs for what I know.

Do the strange group sees Kj and mule? Likely 4- on 1d6 1. Oh well.

They are coming at me. The whole of them, humans! OK, I'm not running, they'll think I'm a bandit or something. Yeah bandits have kids too, to watch for them. Perhaps I'm too wary... I don't want to get into trouble. I'm smiling, waving, and moving on. That will do, simple!

...

Almost there! Like fourty people, kids and all. Kids? Now, that's funny. And I mean girls, boys and children of goats, and goats too! And everybody is tired, sad, afraid. Oh, my... I have food, I should share...

---Greetings good master... sir! ---Oh man, am I stupid?!

---Hi boy ---It's a bearded man that greets me. A free peasant by the looks, a large crossbow in his hands. Nice weapon? ---Is there good land around these parts?

---I don't kno' mas... sir. I'm a peddler, going back home.

---Alone?

---Dad died.

---I see. You can go with us if you want.

I don't think that's a good idea. These are dangerous lands. ---I have stuff to sell back home. We need the money.

---Don't you know boy? The Empire of the Golden Sword is raiding our lands. Burning everything.

---I can share a little food with the kids. ---I say. I don't want to go with them. St Konan will guard my soul until I meet the paladins, I'm sure.

---Thank you. ---He smiles, thinking I'm staying with them. I won't. Well, maybe for the night, but I'm called from Heavens. That I know. It's my hope, the only thing I have.

----------------------------------------

Scene prep

Merlin's Oracle

A plain text file with hundreds of "verses". My oracle script chooses one at random. Add or edit at your pleasure.

Thus said the Great Merlin:

a Boar shall arise and rend them, and trample their necks beneath his feet

Comment: OK, this one looks scary

Q1: Who are them? 1d6 1 Goblins 2 Other monsters 3 Slavers 4 PC + mule 5 Bandits 6 Human kingdom. Got a 2 "Other monsters"-
Q2: Are the big meany orcs on the war path again? 3- on 1d6. Rolled a 5 No.
Q3: Monsters: 1-3. Humanoid 4 Beast 5 Dragon 6 Evil humans. Rolled a 6. This must be a new enemy, an invasion force even the orcs fear... Who's the boar? We shall see in its good time.

Weather Table for the month of Febrar

---------------------------------
 1d6 - Temp - Precipit - Wind
=================================
  1. - Cool - Overcast - Calm
  2. - Cold - Overcast - Breezy
  3. - Cool - Rain     - Breezy
  4. - Cold - Rain     - Breezy
  5. - Cold - Snow     - Strong
  6. - Cold - Snow     - Strong
---------------------------------

(Roll three d6, once on each column).

Rolling 3 6 4 Cool, snow, breezy

Dramatis Personæ

Player Character: Kj

NPC: The mule, Old-Grump (dead) former Kj's masters, un-named goblins, un-named slaver, the Empire of the Golden Sword (those evil humans)