(069) Pilgrims & Practicalities

[sully]

Much obliged, Miss!

[waysoftheearth]

With the main part of the company departed on their mission, the abbey seems strangely quiet.

Dorgan, Hiridhren, and Morgan remain in the refectory as evening approaches. A handful of pilgrims move about, occupied with tidying and other tasks Josiane has set them.

Evening will be coming soon...

Any further orders for tonight, or straight to bed for an early start?

[Fatal T]

Morgan will turn in to rest, unless he is needed for guard duty.

[sully]

I would suggest a watch. There's still a doppleganger in the abbey somewhere, unless it turned tail and ran. Now that Ulric is gone, there's nothing left to scare it... except us.

Of course, once we leave tomorrow, it's going to eat all the pilgrims but such is life.

Dorgan will take middle watch.

[Fatal T]

Morgan will take the last watch.

[waysoftheearth]

A light evening meal is taken in the refectory with the full gathering of a dozen anxious pilgrims. It is clear they are nervous about the sudden disappearance of the larger part of their protection, and particularly Josiane who has been their carrot and Ulric their stick...

"What are we to do, Milords?" asks the eldest among them once Dorgan, Hiridhren and Morgan have finished eating. "We have tilled the gardens but they will take weeks to yield anything we can eat, and we have here victuals enough to last us a few days, at most. Surely Milords must have a righteous plan?"

Hiridhren the Elf looks at Dorgan and Morgan with a barely perceptible shrug seeming to imply I'm a swordsman, not a logistician.

"I'll take the first watch this night," says the Elf as he sweeps off.

[sully]

Dorgan addresses the pilgrims.

I go ta retrieve more food from the elves. There'll be enough fer all of us. The few days of food you have will last 'til my return. Do not lose faith.

[Fatal T]

"We will not be long, I assure you. As he says, keep faith and we will return shortly with more supplies," Morgan offers, then goes to bed down prior to assuming final watch.

[waysoftheearth]

The pilgrims seem anxious, but satisfied with Dorgan's explanation for now. They conduct their evening prayers in the dormatory--none have yet dared to enter the ruined chapel for rumour already has it a fell shadow haunts that place--and prepare to bed down as the sun sets.

Hiridhren has the first watch, while Dorgan and Morgan get some shut-eye...

Dorgan has 13 charisma and Morgan 7, neither of which is quite high or low enough to adjust the pilgrims' reaction check to these new, and dubious circumstances. 2d6=8, an uncertain result, which implies they will wait anxiously until further developments next turn.

The ref checks for mishaps during the night...

[waysoftheearth]

Hiridhren passes his watch without incident before waking Dorgan, who sits grumpily through the dead of the night feeling altogether green at the gills. There is a discontented wind huffing through the Hinterlands this night, and distant howls of wolves and screeches of night owls carry intermittently. Eventually his watch passes and Dorgan wakes Morgan before thankfully turning in.

Morgan finds himself struggling to shake off an uneasy dream of being pursued out of Ket, and eventually decides that the blissful breathing of the whole company at rest in the dormitory is lulling him into a half-wakefulness. This won't do he mutters to himself, and decides to get some fresh air in the courtyard...

He wraps his blanket around his shoulders and creeps out of the dorm, into the empty, blue-dark refectory and to the courtyard door. He's about to put his hand on the doorknob to pull the door open when it pushes nearly into him instead!

Morgan almost jumps out of his skin; but so does the other guy recoil with a gasp. There's a dark cloaked thief crouched right there in front of Morgan; and a bunch more of 'em sneakin' through the courtyard!

1d6=6! So there is mischief afoot this night, but at what hour? 1d6=5, so it's the third part of the night, during Morgan's watch.

The ref dices for an encounter type; 1d20=? then (knowing that this roll could be fateful) to determine whether the third party will surprise Morgan, and whether Morgan will surprise them... 1d6 for Morgan=6! for Them=5. Both parties have surprised one another!

The immediately following turn (or, more precisely, the following turn segment) is lost to both parties due to surprise. What does Morgan intent to do for his next turn?