Gutbur’s Grand Adventure: Session #005
Introduction | Previous Sessions
The Adventure Continues…
(Talolan):
Busy two days.
(Lasarian):
Yes it was.
[DM]:
You head back to the hole in the ground without issue.
[Gutbur]: I look around for the owl if it is still there. Scout for large deadfall, or trees that are dead or nearly dead to lay over the hole.
[DM]: As you approach, you see that a conglomeration of roots, vines and branches have actually started to form a canopy over the hole.
Make a Nature check.
[Gutbur: Nature]: 1d20 (20) + 1 = 21
[Gutbur]: If the owl is still nearby I will tell it I returned to cover the hole but it appears to be mending itself . I will also tell it that one of my companions is a Firbolg and might be kin to those buried here.
[DM]:
The owl isn’t there.
[Gutbur]:
Time to move on then.
(Talolan):
Sorry, I missed the result of your nature check. :slight_smile:
[DM]: Even to Gutbur’s barely trained eyes, it is obvious that this kind of coverage is “unnatural.” It appears that some kind of magic, whether it is active or lingering, (or whatever, you don’t really know or understand) is causing this. When checking it out, you also notice several trees in the area appear to have 2 trunks. 2 trunks rising from the ground, and joining below what looks like a normal tree.
(Lasarian): Not quite following what you mean by the two trunks… Sorry.
Your saying below the ground it looks normal but above the ground it has two trunks ?
(Talolan): The reverse actually. It looks like two trunks are coming out of the ground and forming 1 tree.
I’m trying really hard not to say legs. But they look like legs.
(Lasarian):
Oh, I gotchya now. That’s freaky.
[DM]:
But yes, you can move along and continue on your way.
[Gutbur]:
…and we’re off.
[DM]: The rest of your day is uneventful and you have an easy, undisturbed night.
In fact, the rest of your trip to Red Larch is uneventful. Are you planning on stopping in Red Larch or are you going to continue to Javor’s burial mound?
(Talolan):
Good thing I put all that stuff in World Anvil*.
[Gutbur]: I was planning on going straight to Javors Tumulus.
I might stop only for a few provisions to offer at the mound. Food, beer, etc
[DM]: Ok. As you get to Nettlebee ranch you see that the farm seems to be thriving, but a simple wood fence has been constructed around the hill with some “keep out” signs in multiple languages.
The hill, which was part of the farm land seems to have been left fallow and untouched.
[Gutbur]: I don’t recall, is the mound on their farm?
Or just near it?
If it is on their land I will announce my presence; otherwise I will just go.
[DM]:
On it.
[Gutbur]:
I guess I’m knocking on the door then.
[DM]: After you knock on the door you see somebody peek out of the curtains on the dining room window to the right, at which point you hear some quick foot falls and some dropped dinner wear.
After a few seconds the matron of the house answers the door with a deep bow.
She looks around and sees you’re by yourself.
“How may we be it service good sir… As you can see, we fenced off the hill. It won’t keep anybody out whose wanting to get in, but it’ll keep the family and hands away…
I hope that is ok?”
[Gutbur]: Bow in return.
“Your pardon for returning unannounced, I pray your family is recovering from the tragedy that befell you. I am here to pay my respects to the chief buried within, but did not wish to trespass without your leave. ” *
(Talolan):
DM note: you are a shockingly well mannered barbarian.
(Lasarian): Bow return.
“Here to honor ancestor, UG. Give food now – hungry. UG.”
“Do not make Gutbur angry or I kill all. Ug.”
[DM]: “Well thank you. Feel free. If you need anything on your way back let us know. We don’t have any big-person guest rooms but I’m sure we can make space if needed.”
[Gutbur]:
“My thanks, but I will pay my respects and trouble you no more.”
[DM]: She thanks you. Behind her you can see several halfling heads peeking out of a door opening. It is quite comical.
[Gutbur]: I am tempted to growl at them if they are children, but I’ll just leave and head over to the mound.
[DM]: Alrighty then.
You head on over. As you walk away you notice that they light the porch lamp. Just in case.
[Gutbur]: lol
How very halfing farmers of them.
I will break out my offerings of smoked meat and the cask of beer and begin my prayers. Thanks to Chief Javor for his blessing that aided me in battle against the dragon. Thanks for my ancestors for leading me here in the first place and guiding me on this journey. Thanks to my animal totem the Cave Bear for his strength and thanks at last to Uthgar for the joy of battle, may he look upon me with favor that I might one day join him in Uthgardtheim for battle, feasting and drinking.
[DM]: You feel a sense of calm. The sense of calm that you truly only feel when you are honoring the ancestors. As if your inner-rage is fueling their hunts in Uthgardtheim. You see no apparitions or spirits, but you feel as though your gift has been received. You know it is time to start heading north toward Beorunna’s Well, Runemeet is coming.
[Gutbur]:
Okay, I leave my offerings (of course) and head north.
[DM]: If memory serves, you would going to head to Flint Rock (mound of the Elk Tribe), then head to Beorunna’s Well.
Will you be travel on or off road? The quickest path at the moment would be straight north to Triboar.
(Lasarian):
I’m not at home so I’m working from memory also.
[Gutbur]: My tribe’s mound is on the eastern edge of The Lurkwood. My plan was to take the road north as far as Triboar, stop in there, then go into the wilds to follow the Surbrin shores north through Elk territory.
I was hoping to work my Nature skill some more while I was off-road making my way north.
[DM]: Heading up the road to Triboar is easy enough. You can travel along with one of the many merchant caravans, or place yourself between a few of them. Either way the road is plenty safe. Traveling north, you do see some passing patrols, with a mixed bag of members, wearing the liveries of Triboar, Phandalin, West Bridge, Red Larch and Longsaddle.
[Gutbur]: Looks like the mutual aid agreement is in place …
If any merchant caravans are looking for extra security, I will go along with that, but I am going to try to keep to myself – each day I will be offering prayers and I am looking forward to leaving the towns and the roads as soon as I stop in Triboar.
[DM]:
None are offering paying work, but they do invite you to travel with them. Safety in numbers and all.
[Gutbur]:
Fair enough.
[DM]: You make it to Triboar easy enough. Are you going to spend the night at the Frog, or camp out in the woods? There are the woods NE of town with the necromantic graveyard, or those SE of town known as Gwaeron’s Slumber. You know that the laws of Triboar forbid both hunting game and the felling of trees in Gwaeron’s Slumber.
<map>
[Gutbur]:
No, I’ll stay at the Frog and say hello to the Kettlebottoms or whatever their names are …
[DM]: Nesrug and Umbdri Wifflesprig.
They seem shocked to see you there, knowing that Darathra is in Leilon meeting with the rest of your fellows.*
[Gutbur]:
Oh, drat, I was hoping to say hello to her before I left.
[DM]: Given that you aren’t in Leilon, they inform you of what Darathra informed them of. She is releasing you from you contract, and bequeathing the group the Frog.
[Gutbur]: “Hmm, so, Oswin’s Spear is no more?”
Also, I believe I have in my possession something that Nesrug needs.
[DM]:
“Well… not officially tied to Triboar any more. You’re freelance now, so to speak.”
[Gutbur]: “In that case, I am traveling north to honor my ancestors and celebrate my heritage. Perhaps I should start by slaying the two of you and burning the Frog to the ground … “
[DM]:
Make a deception? check.
[Gutbur: Deception]: 1d20 (15) + 1 = 16
[DM]:
Nesgur dives behind the bar, and Umbdri just freezes in place.
[Gutbur]: As soon as it is clear they actually believe me, I will bust out laughing and hammering the bar with my fist.
[DM]: “Oh, haha. Very good Mr. Gutbur sir.
You said you had something for me?”
[Gutbur]: “Pffft”
I will take the heart of the fire elemental from my bag and place it on the bar.
[DM]:
Nesrug’s eyes get really big, “Really?”
[Gutbur]:
“What do you need such a thing for, Nesrug?”
[DM]:
“Come with me,” he grabs it and dashes toward the work room in the far south of the building.
[Gutbur]:
Grab for his hand before he snatches it. “I want to know what you need it for first. Show me.”
[DM]:
Make a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check.
[Gutbur: Acrobatics]: 1d20 (12) = 12
[DM]: You succeed.
He looks surprised, but leads you to the work room, sans fire mote.
[Gutbur]:
I explain I want to be certain it is not being used for some witchy mischief.
[DM]: He says, “No no no. It is a power source for my invention.”
And he takes you into the work room, where you see this:
(image)
[DM]: “I call it a ‘Robot,’ from Robota, the gnomish word for ‘forced labor.’ It differs from a golem you see, as it is not a creation of magic. This is pure science!”
“It can hold 12 gallons of liquid, which it can dispense whenever you need. In a pinch, it can also super heat the liquid and attack with it… should you require that.”
[Gutbur]: “So … you are telling me this thing is not magical. But it requires the heart of a Fire Elemental. Doesn’t that make it partly magical?
[DM]:
“Not at all. We’re not creating a perpetual fire. We’re harnessing one that nature has already provided.”
[Gutbur]:
Can I roll Perception?
[DM]:
Sure.
[Gutbur: Perception]: 1d20 (6) + 5 = 11
[DM]:
You don’t see any runes, glyphs, symbols, or other magical ephemera on the machine.
[Gutbur]: “And your machine will dispense what kind of liquid … like, beer? This is a walking beer dispenser?”
[DM]: “Well, yes. We don’t have any beer on hand at the moment, but we have lots of wine. It can hold 12 gallons split between 3, 4-gallon tanks. It’ll store whatever you put in it, but doesn’t offer any extra longevity. So wine works good because it lasts longer than beer. With beer you’d have to make sure to drink it before it gets skunky.”
[Gutbur]:
“Nesrug, have you given any thought to putting your talents to better use?”
[DM]:
“What could be better than an automaton that serves alcohol?”
You’ve spent enough time around gnomes to glean that gnomes of a certain mindset will spend their entire, extremely-long, life doing one ridiculous thing.
While you’re talking with Nesrug, Umbdri asks “How are Bos’ke* and the rest of the team?”
[Gutbur]: Responding to Umbdri, “They were well when we parted ways not long ago. Bos’ke and Mara were wed shortly before that. There was much rejoicing and merriment.” :neutral_face:
To Nesrug, Gutbur says “I will give you the use of this heart of flame that I won dearly from the creature that nearly sent me to Uthgardtheim. I will accept your word that if I hear grumblings from my ancestors or the spirits that we have misused this thing and are offended, you will surrender it back and you and I shall make amends to the spirits for angering them. Agreed?”
“But until I hear otherwise … let there be beer!”
[DM]: “Agreed!”
He takes the fire mote and installs it, he tells you it’ll take about 20 minutes for the machine to “warm up.”
[Gutbur]:
:thinking:
[DM]: He can show you the engineering, but I’m not sure Gutbur would understand it.
That is not an insult to Gutbur’s intelligence. Just his mechanical experience.
[Gutbur]: “Nesrug, what are the chances this thing of your’s becomes as evil as the creature it was part of and attacks us?”
Gutbur will pass on the engineering class and drink beer while he waits for this thing to “warm up”
[DM]: “I can guarantee with 100% certainty that it will not become evil. It can only take input, and output corresponding actions. However, I cannot guarantee that it won’t attack us. I’ve… never built something like this before. As far as I know, nobody has.”
[Gutbur]: :man_facepalming:
Gutbur keeps his weapon handy … just in case.
[DM]: In short. Nesrug has invented a closed loop, steam powered robot. The power plant is in its face, and its arms and legs act as heat sinks, cooling the steam generated in the head back into water before it completes the loop. You see him fill and seal a bunch of cylinders with mineral oil, which he calls hydraulic fluid. The cylinders are all pipped together and come between the joints, and provide power for locomotion. Around the storage tanks are another series of tubes, filed with something that looks like water, but smells slightly sweet, to keep the beverages cool.
He also fills one of the tanks with red wine.
After 20 minutes the eyes light up, and Nesrug says “Wine please” while holding out a mug, and robot takes the mug, puts in it front of the tap, and fills the mug.
It is at this point, you notice that the tap is roughly in the position of the crotch.
Umbdri giggles at the robot peeing wine into a mug, but Nesrug doesn’t seem to notice.
“Oh my, it didn’t even explode! Usually they explode on the first go.”
“Oh thank you Mr Gutbur. You’ve done me a great service.”
[Gutbur]: …
“Well … let us hope it does not explode or kill you while you sleep.”
[DM]: “Well, we’ll have to shut it down at night. The cooling system can only stand up to the heat for so long. I estimate that it can operate safely for 15-18 hours a day.”
“But we’ll step it up a little over time to see how long it can go. I think an hour today should be a good first test.”
You also notice that while not particularly loud, the machine is consistently noisy. You might even call it windy.
Having never seen an electric fan. I’m not sure how to describe that to Gutbur.
[Gutbur]: Gutbur is impressed and skeptical. “It is a wonder, Nesrug, but I fear you are tinkering in the realm of the spirits or the gods.”
[DM]: “If anything goes awry, you have my word that it will be corrected Mr. Gutbur Sir.”
“In the meantime, if you and your team decide to open this place as an Inn, you have an unpaid bartender!”
[Gutbur]: Gutbur shakes his head, “I will leave such things to Oswin’s Spear, I have no need for Inns or robot bartenders. I will, however, have more beer when you have a moment Mrs. Wifflesprig.”
“I am staying tonight, but departing in the morning. “
[DM]: “Yes, of course.”
After serving you, she says again, “How are Bos’ke and the rest of the team? We heard… we heard you killed Old Gnawbone.”
[Gutbur]: Responding to Umbdri, “They were well when we parted ways not long ago. Bos’ke and Mara were wed shortly before that. There was much rejoicing and merriment. You have heard rightly, Old Gnawbone is indeed slain.”
[DM] Gimnir (Talo): “Married… really… and we weren’t invited?! Mara seems a little much for Bos’ke…” she trails off.
Nesrug says, “Having an ancient dragon like that within a day’s flight has never sat well with me. I’m glad she’s gone.”
[Gutbur]:
“Truly, the battle nearly destroyed Leilon. It was a tremendous fight.”
[DM]:
Nesrug adds, “If I know anything about Toril, something else will take her place. It always does.”
[Gutbur]: “No slight was intended Mrs. Wifflesprig, t’was the eve before battling Old Gnawbone herself, not just her terrible fearsomeness, but no, a great black spirit possessed her. It was as if we faced two great dragons instead of one.”
[DM]:
Umbdri says, “Oh my. You are all much more formidable than I would have believed.”
[Gutbur]: “Such was our fear we would not survive the day, the ceremony, if one can truly call it that, was hastily assembled.”
“Battle ensued within hours. You understand.”
[DM]: Umbdri says “Yes, I understand…” then she grabs Nesrug’s hand. Maybe the first time you’ve seen her show her husband actual physical affection.
Umbdri says, “Well I’m glad you all seem to have come out the other side. I’m going to get to tidying up, if you need anything let us know.”
[Gutbur]: “I know the rest of the company looks forward to returning to the Frog.”
I’ll finish off another beer then get to bed early so I can leave early the next day.
[DM]: In the middle of the night, roll initiative.
Not really.
(Talolan):
We’ll stop there for now. :slight_smile: Pick up the next morning.
(Lasarian):
:thumbsup_tone1:
Credits:
Original Discord and Avrae play sessions were April 15, 24 and may 24,25 june 7th 2021
Images:
- Castle Avatar Art by Lasarian
- Gutbur Avatar Art and Title by Lucy Lisett
- Shield Art by Lasarian
- “Volgnir the Warhawk” and “Bob the Battleaxe” illustration, by Tundrra (medium: Chalk Pastels and application: “Procreate”)
Sessions
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- Gutbur’s Grand Adventure: Session #009
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- Gutbur’s Grand Adventure: Session #007The Adventure Continues… [DM]: Gutbur, You run along as best you can, keeping up with your horse at a slow trot and before too long you arrive at the Elk tribe encampment. It looks like the elk are having their own moot ahead of the great moot. As they see the great chief approaching, you…
- Gutbur’s Grand Adventure: Session #006
The Adventure Continues… [DM]: You can head off the next morning at your leisure. [Gutbur]: I’ll head out first light. [DM]: Surprisingly, Nesrug and Umbdri are already up, and see you off. Nesrug has wild eyes this morning has he adjusts some set screws inside his robot. [Gutbur]: I wish them well and tell them… - Gutbur’s Grand Adventure: Session #005
Introduction | Previous Sessions The Adventure Continues… (Talolan):Busy two days. (Lasarian):Yes it was. [DM]:You head back to the hole in the ground without issue. [Gutbur]: I look around for the owl if it is still there. Scout for large deadfall, or trees that are dead or nearly dead to lay over the hole. [DM]: As…
