Bison Migration

NAME: Bison Migration TYPE: Kingdom, Standard PREREQUISITE: None MISSION LEVEL: 2 SLOTS: 6 DESCRIPTION: A herd of buffalo is moving across the plain. If we could find a couple of the weaker ones that are running behind the herd we could get a lot of food for the outpost. We should move quickly before they move on.

//OOC Signing up for this with Saisei, level 1 Sorcerer.

//OOC you sign up in the VTT.  Go to Missions.

\\OOC\\ Hi Kirby, I'll be working with you as much as I can, maybe post some ahead of time. \\

Setup: Learning that the Outpost is in need of fresh meat, you meet at the Silver Harp to discuss plans for tracking the herd.  Overhearing your planning Agela walks over to offer you encouragement and support.   I'm glad to see newcomers taking initiative and an interest in the well being of the entire Outpost.  Come by my shop as you head out and I'll have a pack of supplies that might be helpful.

Sellion would nod to Agela " Thank you.. by the way. Do you know where we might be able to get a large cart.. or maybe two for the bison? We will need it to haul everything back since they are very large creatures. "

We will have some men bring a cart a couple of days behind you.  By the time you have the animals prepared for transport, they will catch up and bring them back. 

A small woman pipes up from behind Sellion. "I'm just glad I can be of help," she manages, "My specialty is plants, but If it means that we can manage a bit more comfortably, I'm all game for game." Luckily she had actually seen bison before - they were between a cow and a moose in terms of danger - but enough were present that they could take down a few calves, hopefully.

Sellion nodded and looks to the others " Shall we go pick up our packs then and head off? We want to make sure to catch the herd before their tracks start to disappear. "

Slot 2: As you step in to Benefactor Boons, you see Agela busy piling things on the counter.  She looks up as you enter and smiles.   Ahh, just in time.  I've packed a small bag with some potions and javelins.  Hopefully you won't need the first, but they are good to have on hand. //ooc: Agela has provided a pack with 4 Potions of CLW and 6 Javelins. 

She hands the pack to Sellion, and begins checking her stock against a list in her hand.   I would suggest you leave as soon as possible.  Walking at a normal pace, you will get to the plain where the bison were last seen very close to sundown.  Fate favor you all!

Sellion nods and says to the others " Pick up anything you need now before heading out.. its going to be a long trip. If you are good with a bow get arrows.. I would prefer not to use swords on the Bison as it may damage the hide to much. " With that, Sellion begins packing his things and waits for the others before heading off on the trail.

\\OOC Sorry!  Damn time zones! \\ Shinon comes into the store, sees the items on the table.   Honestly guys, I've never really trained with ranged weapons.  I've been using swords through my training.  I can try to throw but don't want to waste too many.  I'll be good to carry some of the weight though.   She said looking at the stuff.  It didn't bother her to try new things but she wasn't the best at it.   Ready when you guys are!

"Understood" Saisei confirms, adding,  "I can knock out the little ones, if we find any and I can get close enough. After that, we could just scare the rest away, no damage but to the neck or head. " The trick was to survive the second part. The first was trivial.

" If we have to use swords, then that is fine. I might be able to repair the hides if they aren't /too/ badly damaged. " With that Sellion and the others then began to head off, starting their travels to where the bison should be. If they were to come across any unknown areas, Sellion would end up taking out some of his mapping tools and start creating a map of the area.

Shinon nodded in agreement.   Understood, lets go get some extra food for everyone!   She was always happy to help.

I wonder if i should or shouldnt fire my musket at them. im not a very good thrower.

Slot 3 After a long day of hiking through a seemingly endless plain, you finally come upon an area of trampled grasses and overturned earth.  It appears a large herd moved through here, but which way did they go? //OOC Survival, Perception checks.  

Sellion leans down, looking for tracks of the animals as he noticed they weren't where they were supposed to be, searching the ground for prints and signs of direction. ( Survival: 18 , Perception: 24 )

\\OOC Perception 17, Survival 3\\ Shinon tired from the walking puts her bag down.  Not realizing she was two inches from a bison droppings.  After she dropped it she looked down and saw it.   We are on the right path and I didn't even realize it!  Look everyone, buffalo droppings!  

(Perception 14, Survival 2) Those were tracks, all right. Saisei can find lots of tracks - but they overlapped, and turned around in many places. They certainly stopped here, but picking up the trail would mean walking to either side of these huge patches. Instead, Saisei followed Sellion, who seemed to have an idea what he was about. "Any luck?"

Sellion would seem to nod and call out " Yes, I have the trail.. I know where they are headed and where we can find them.. follow me. "

Shinon grabbed her gear again and started to suit up to go with them.   Okay ready when you are Sellion!

You follow the bison tracks until it is too dark to see.  As you setup camp for the night, everyone is in a good mood.  There is laughter and singing.  After a hearty meal, you are all ready to turn in and get some rest so you can continue your trek tomorrow.   //ooc Please tell me what arrangements you would make for the camp and sleep.

Sellion would collect some of the bison dung for a campfire, collecting food if need be, and supplying anyone with water who needs it. Once he collects enough of the dung for a campfire, he would cast spark to get the campfire going as he now began setting up his Medium sized tent with bedroll and blankets as he got setup for the night. " It won't be the most pleasing smell.. but the best we can do since there aren't many trees for wood nearby. "

Frerin approaches the camp, after doggedly following the party the whole day. Ha, caught you! Agela told me it might be too late, but it ain't, is it? Survival 22 [foraging for food] Frerin drops two hares he hunted during the way near the fire, to be their meal. We should post guards. A herd always atracts predators, and they may think us a good meal. I can be first guard, and later I wake up another, yea? Frerin also checks the surroundings for tracks and other signals of animal activities. His past Hyena experiences made him wary of the island's wilderness. Survival 27 [ooc]  Sorry for the delay guys, I couldnt access any technology since yesterday that was more advanced than a stove. I hope I'm not too late to join the fun. [ooc]

\\OOC welcome to the party!!!  \\ Shinon arrives with the group and puts down her bag.  She had meat with her for the night but saw the rabbits, decided to share some with everyone anyways.   Here is some food if you guys need some!   She said with a big smile.  She had her bedroll but held the cursing in becasue she never purchased a tent.   How did I forget something so basic.... hope it doesn't rain.   She unrolled the pack and the blanket for the night.

//ooc Watch order?  

With Freerin speaking up about the watch, Saisei offers her services. "I will watch last," she declares to the others. "My night vision's not bad, and I at least have experience with wolves and bears. I can be the dawn guard." After she finishes eating, she stows her camping gear and lays but a blanket on the ground as she gets ready for sleep. Too bad that the fauna in this area haven't learned to grow alongside humanoids. I'd hate to kill anything in defence.

After eating the rabbit meat, Kid sleeps soundly with his trusty musket at his side. 

I'll take the second watch it's not a problem.   She said after finishing the food for the day.

Slot 3 The night passes quietly as both Frerin and Shinon take their watch.  Saisei is roused by Shinon with an "All's well" and rolls out of her blankets to keep the morning watch.  She struggles to stay awake after the long days march, fighting fits of dozing.  Just before first light, she wakes from a very short nap, thinking she heard something.  Rustling?  Is something there, or is it the wind? //ooc Saisei needs to make a DC 19 Perception check.  All other characters can attempt a DC 29 Perception check.

\\OOC Perception 12 \\ Shinon slept after standing the watch.  She was tired from standing watch with nothing happening.

//perception 24// Kid hears something while he's asleep, but he thinks it's just a dream.

(Perception 6) The morning came somewhat easy to Saisei. When Shinon prodded her awake, Saisei took her time patrolling around the camp at a small distance, hoping not to be blinded by the sun when it comes. The wind through the reeds seems awfully loud for its relative strength, but there are no trees out here to block it. She guessed that made sense?

Perception 27 Frerin dreamt of wolves howling, prompted by the strong wind. His sleep was agitated, but he didn't wake up.

Slot 1 The morning sunlight streaming over the horizon wakens Saisei from her fitful dozing watch, the first thing she noticed was the beauty of a sunrise on an open prairie.  The second thing she noticed was that the camp was a mess!  Packs were open and items were haphazardly strewn on the ground!  Quickly waking the others, they set about to assess the damage. //ooc Perception checks, all.  DC 15 to notice tiny tracks all through the camp.  Survival or Know(Nature) DC 10 to recognize them as Monkey tracks.

Perception 23 Survival 15 Bah, monkeys! A mess they made! Why didn't anyone notice this? Were you all sleeping? *grumble grumble* Frerin complains loudly while checking to see the damage done by the nightly intruders. Also, he tried to estimate the number of monkeys that came into the camp, roughly. Survival /10 for 21

(Taking 10 on Knowledge Nature, for 16) Saisei had been patroling along the perimeter of the bison-trampled area, fifty or sixty feet out from the camp. She hadn't expected something so small to be a nuisance. And to think, monkeys? Out here? It is beyond belief. She immediately starts un-rummaging the gear, saying, "Sorry, everyone, I was watching for predators or danger to us, not miscreants with a passion for the food in our packs. Did any of you know that monkeys existed on this island, at all?" Saisei mends some minor damage to her harp with magic.

Slot 2: Searching your packs as you repack your things, you notice that the monkeys have taken ALL your food.  You are torn.  Do you return to the Outpost and report your failure to Agela, or do you press on without food to find the herd and bring home the bacon? Talking among yourselves, a decision is reached...

Sellion wakes up, rubbing his eyes as he yawns and see's everyone's things throw around the camp. As he looked around he noticed the tracks, but it would seem he was to groggy to notice as it wasn't clicking in his mind just yet. " Mmm.. seems we had some visitors last night, was anything of value taken or did they just rummage for food? If its just food.. just ask and I can go acquire some food for us before we go out and hunt the Bison. " He then yawned some more and stretched, picking up one of his water skins that was probably opened by the monkey's and spilled as he filled it with water and took a morning drink. ( Perception: 19 , Knowledge Nature: 9 )

Shinon woke to see her bag everywhere.  Luckilly it was just food missing and nothing too important.   \\OOC Perception crit 21, survival 17\\ The monkeys.... She sighed because nothing happened during her watch....  Well I'm not going back.  I'll be damned to give up on this when I could get some real meat soon.

"We tighten our belts," Saisei agrees. "Just need to be successful, that's all. Forage on the way, and secure two or three bison. The supply caravan are on their way to secure our quarry, anyhow." Someone back at the outpost has something to answer for by not explaining these little things in the overview discussion of this mission. Surely they had been out here before?

Aye, we press on. I can forage for us all. It won't be tasty, but will fill our bellies and keep us going. ooc: Frerin can take 10 on Survival and feed himself plus 5 people each day. It'll be enough, I reckon.

Slot 3 Deciding to finish the job, you prepare to set out.  After your bags are packed again, you look around to pick up the trail from yesterday. //ooc Perception 12 to find the tracks, Survival 14 to follow.

\\OOC Perception 14 survival 4 I swear the VTT always sends me to do crazy stuff\\ Shinon looked at the ground and found the tracks barely.   Okay found them!  They go west!  Let's go!   She said pointing in the wrong direction.

Sellion leans down and finds the tracks, looking to Shinon. " ... You do know hooves don't go in the opposite way right? " He would then point out to her that she is telling them to go in the opposite direction of where they just came from and that instead the hooves point forward in the OTHER direction. " We need to go this way, they moved out the OTHER way.. we should hurry while they might still be asleep. We can regain distance then. " (( Perception 13, Survival 22 ))

Perception 18; Survival 21 After careful analysis, Frerin sides with Sellion on the tracks debate and urges the party to get moving.

Slot 1 You find the tracks easily enough, but a small argument erupts over which way the tracks are actually going.  Sellion finally wins the day when he points out Shinon's tracks from the previous day are pointing the opposite way of how she wants to go. You follow the tracks throughout the morning.  As the sun reaches it's peak, you note that the tracks seem very fresh.  One set, in particular, is meandering off to the side of the rest a bit.  You deduce it is either very old or young.  It seems a likely target for your hunt. //ooc I need Perceptions

Sellion looks at the set of tracks, getting close to example with his keen Elven hunter eyes as he tries to make out more about the fresh tracks and the surrounding area. ( Perception: 26 )

Perception 1+8 (fumble) uh oh! Frerin confidently approaches to take a look at the markings. He's done it a thousand times before, and is sure he'll guide the party to their quarry. Unfortunately, he trips and falls, landing exactly on the tracks, making a mess and destroying them. Blargh..Pftoo! He says, as he cleans bison dung from his face. I bet ya these monkeys set that trap! They want to undermine us, I say. I'll wrangle their little necks, see if i won't! Fortunately, Sellion had already examined them before, so not all is lost.