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Experience:
Farmer Trelawney's return =150xp, split among party members (Jornell and Preece get half of their xp removed, as their characters were present but not their players). "In the Army Now" Army Experience = 108axp(Jornell and Preece get half of this xp removed, as their characters were present but not their players). Special Award of 25xp to Leon for the "Roman Soldiers" fact document sent to DM Steve by Mark.
Well, folks, we have a three-way tie for best Role-player this week. The Prize is usually 50xp(level), but we have to split this and it does not split very evenly. So 20xp goes to each of Pandora, Sabrina and Jarel - good job guys! Brent gets a 25xp role-play bonus for an excellent write-up done about his characters motivations and thoughts about life.
Session 3 Last Total Current Total
Char xp axp xp axp xp axp Total
Brent 75 108 227 65 302 173 475
Jarel 70 108 302 125 372 233 605
Jornell 21 46 150 125 171 171 342
Lance 50 108 302 125 352 233 585
Leon 75 108 302 125 377 233 610
Pandora 70 108 150 125 220 233 453
Preece 21 46 150 125 171 171 342
Sabrina 70 108 200 125 270 233 503
Old Format
Brent - 75xp; 108axp - was at 227xp; 65axp - puts him at 302xp; 173axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Jarel - 70xp; 108axp - was at 302xp; 125axp - puts him at 372xp; 233axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Jornell - 21xp; 46axp - was at 150xp; 125axp - puts him at 171xp; 171axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Lance - 50xp; 108axp - was at 302xp; 125axp - puts him at 352xp; 233axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Leon - 75xp; 108axp - was at 302xp; 125axp - puts him at 377xp; 233axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Pandora - 70xp; 108axp - was at 150xp; 125axp - puts her at 220xp; 233axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Preece - 21xp; 46axp - was at 150xp; 125axp - puts him at 171xp; 171axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Sabrina - 70xp; 108axp - was at 200xp; 125axp - puts her at 270xp; 233axp - needs 1,000xp for 2nd level
Updated Explanation of axp: "axp" refers to army experience points. Essentially, as an army recruit, your character is working toward a level in fighter. At any time, you may turn in your "axp" at a 1:1 ratio toward a level in fighter (you must be able to make the fighter level with your xp and axp together at the time of turning them in) or you can wait for until later and exchange your axp for 1/2 its value in xp for any other class.
If you somehow obtain more than 1,000axp and use it to level up as a fighter, you lose all excess axp.
If you are still first level after Basic Training and later on gain enough xp to gain second level, you can still use your axp as explained above.
Week of the 8th of Reaping (continued)
The week of intense physical training pays off for some. Some of the recruits are feeling better than they ever have before. Pandora and Sabrina seem to be coming along well. Pandora has color in her cheeks the likes of which her sister has never before seen.
After the morning run on the 17th day of Reaping, Brother Drake comes to visit Leon.
“Hello, Brother Leon. I just wanted to give you an update on poor Farmer Trelawney’s murder. We have not discovered the identity of the person or persons behind this horrible tragedy. We had Father Mulcahie perform a speak with dead and oddly, it failed. I just thought I’d let you know. Thanks again for bringing the bodies in and taking care of things at the farm“
Leon tells Brother Drake about the rabid wolves. “They seemed to be infected in the same way that Farmer Trelawney’s hound was. The wolves did not seem as gone as Farmer Trelawney’s hound was but they were rabid nonetheless”
Brother Drake replies thoughtfully, “Nevertheless this could be an outbreak of rabies. Perhaps we ought to tell Hawkwing of this?”
Leon tells Brother Drake also about Pandora and Sabrina and the detection of chaos he performed on them. In He says, “It is not present in great amounts but…”
Brother Drake says, “Oh that’s right, you’re new to this whole detection of chaos thing. I’m afraid that you are going to find that everywhere. You are just going to have to turn the other cheek, my son, unless you find it very strong. In which case you may have to let someone higher up the chain of command know what you have discovered.”
Leon tells Brother Drake, "It was just a little bit of chaos.”
Brother Drake replies, “Then you probably have nothing to worry about.”
Meanwhile, Jarel Brightblood is talking with Pandora and Sabrina about Sabrina’s wolf bite and the fact that as a paladin of Pholtus he is immune to disease. The girls seem somewhat impressed. Jarel tells Sabrina that perhaps she should make a visit to the church of Pholtus to see if they can do something about her rabies. Sabrina asks, “What if I don’t have rabies?”
Jarel tells her, “If you don’t have rabies and the clerics treat you, nothing bad will happen. However, if you do have rabies and don’t get treated, you will die.”
He sees Sergeant Steel at that moment walking in the Garrison yard.
Jarel walks up to Sergeant Steele and asks him, “Is it OK to leave the barracks area on our off hours?”
Sergeant Steele replies, “Leave the barracks?! You soldiers are in basic training!”
“But sir, she’s been bitten by a possibly rabid wolf.”
Sergeant Steel looks incredulous. “Let me see the bite!”
Sabrina says, “it’s right here on my leg.”
“You look fine. Wrap it up and don’t be such a wimp”
Pandora asks, “What about…er…isn’t it contagious?”
Sergeant Steel responds, “Rabies?!”
Pandora reaffirms, “I think it’s contagious.”
Sergeant Steel says, “Those wolves weren’t rabid!”
Sabrina pipes up, “And you know that how…uh… sir?”
Sergeant Steel answers, “They gotta be seriously foamin’ at the mouth.”
Jarel says, “They were foaming.”
Pandora says, “Leon said…”
Sabrina interjects, “Was it Leon?”
Pandora finishes, “Leon said they were foaming at the mouth.”
Sergeant Steel changes focus with, “Well, why don’t you paladins cure the disease in this woman?”
Jarel replies, “In a year or two I might be able to but I don’t know that she has that long.”
“Oh. Well, how do you feel ?” asks Sergeant Steele of Sabrina.
“We will be back,” says Jarel. “It’s not like we’re going out to party.”
“Tell you what, I’ll have a priest brought here. Hey, didn’t I see Father Drake around here little while ago? Oh, I mean Brother Drake. Brother Drake’s his name. Let me go find him.”
Sergeant Steele catches Brother Drake as he’s finishing his conversation with Leon Vespers. “Father Drake! Errr. Brother Drake? Father? Brother? Uncle Drake! Do you wanna come and…we got one of the recruits, and she got bit by a rabid wolf. Supposedly. I just wanted you to come and have a look and make sure she’s OK.”
Brother Drake comes in has a look at Sabrina's leg.
After some examination, Brother Drake says, “It seems to be fine but if the wound starts to look infected and gets red have someone come and get me at the church.”
Pandora whispers, “Sabrina, now we don’t have to go to the church!”
Sabrina agrees, “Yeah, now I don’t have to go to the church!”
Leon muses, “You know I find this strange, I can detect magic, poison, chaos, evil, law, good, secret doors, and the undead. But I cannot detect disease.”
Brother Drake smiles and says, “Keep an eye on her Leon. Even though the wound is closed, just check it once in awhile. Maybe use the divine healing of Pholtus on it at the end of the day, should you have any remaining.”
Now that the immediate threat of death is lifted from Sabrina’s head, she and her sister begin to consider how much it is that they’re getting paid for their stint in the army.
Pandora corners Sergeant Steele and asks, “What do we get paid?”
Sergeant Steele says, “Funny nobody ever asked that question before.”
Pandora says, “Yes, well I’m asking now.”
Sabrina joins in with, Yeah, how much?”
Sergeant Steele replies, “Seven silver and a day.”
Sabrina seems shocked, “A day?!”
Sergeant Steele says, It’s crazy I know. That’s not what they were paying me back when I was in your shoes.”
Pandora whispers to Leon, “Is that gopod?”
Leon answers, “With room and board it is.”
Sergeant Steele cautions the group, “I would let that slip out to the guardsmen.”
Pandora asks, “Do we get paid more than them?”
Sergeant Steel leans forward conspiratorially, “Quite a bit more, yep.”
Pandora says to Sabrina, “Didja hear that? Seven silver pieces.”
Sabrina asks Pandora, “And what are we here for again?”
Pandora answers pragmatically, “To make money.”
Sabrina asks, “Take money?”
”No, ‘make’ money, “ emphasizes Pandora.
Sergeant Steele emphasizes, "Of course, that doesn't include the Theocrat's Fifth."
The morning of the 1st of Goodmonth, Seargent Steel annonces, "Allright recruits, we're gonna start week three. One thing you're gonna realize this week, is the mantra, "Mind Over Matter". We're gonna start simulated combat drills, and some special mental challenges. But now, its time for the morning run."
Sabrina says, "I don't want to do a morning run, sir!"
Sergeant Steel favors Sabrina with a withering look, but chooses not to berate her.
Pandora asks, "When do they bring out the bows and arrows?"
Sabrina pipes up, "Yeah, I want to use this sword thing that I was given here."
Pandora whispers to Sabrina, "I want to use the bow and arrows."
Jarel quietly says, "I want to use my own sword."
Either Sergeant Steel does not hear Jarel, or chooses to ignore his comment.
Pandora says, "They look really cool using the bow and arrows."
The others aren't really sure who Pandora means by "they", but they let it go.
Sabrina says to her sister, "Do you think we can get Jarel here to teach us?"
Leon looks at the army issue shortsword he has been given and says, "This here might be good to eat with, but I like somethin' with a little heft."
Sabrina looks at her crossbow and says, "I'd like to know how to use this."
Sergeant Steele responds, "First, you gotta learn how to carry it. Wait until next week when we load your up with some equipment."
"You mean besides what we're already carrying."
Sergeant Steele says, "You think a sword and armor and a shield is equipment?!"
Further discussion is impossible, as Sergeant Steel turns around and begins the run.
Lance begins to fall behind, saying, "This is too haa-ard..." Elestar and Preece have some trouble keeping up as well.
By the time the run is half done, Elestar stumbles. "I just want to play my guitar. I don't want to run around in armor!"
Sabrina pipes up, "See? I'm running on a bad leg too, sir. I should get special treatment. Look! It's starting to bleed again already!" Just as she says this, she stumbles, and falls behind the others. Her ankle hurts.
Elestar falls even further behind and is in visible pain now. Then he slows down and looks quite pale for a moment. Then his eyes roll up into his head and he collapses.
Not long afterwards, Sabrina starts to stumble, then trips to the track and does not get up again.
Pandora shouts, "Sabrina needs help!"
It's OK, I'll take care of her ...wait, I'm really tired," Lance offers and complains in the same breath. "Jarel pointed out, that we were supposed to, like, help each other." He limps over to Sabrina and touches her gently. Her eyes flutter open.
"What happened to me?" she gasps.
"I think you, like, trip-ted," chants Lance.
"See its that bad leg I tell you!" says Sabrina, getting to her feet.
After the morning run, Sergeant Steele has the March assembled in the training yard near a large pit.
"Today, recruits," he says loudly as he walks up and down in front of them, "we're gonna have your first mental challenge."
"Oh, I'll be good at this," whispers Sabrina to Pandora.
"I need one strong volunteer to go into the pit and the rest of you will be stationed around the pit to give advice."
Jarel's hand is up in a moment. "I volunteer," he says.
"We have a volunteer," says Sergeant Steele.
Pandora and Sabrina almost immediately start up a chant, "Jarel! Jarel! Jarel!"
Sergeant Steele gives the girls one of his famous "looks" and they stop. Sabrina tries to be serious as she says, "Sorry."
"Do we have any time to prepare at all?" asks Jarel.
"What do you need to prepare, soldier?" demands Sergeant Steele.
"Well, there are some people who are probably not at their best after the run," replies Jarel. "I thought it would be good to help them before we get into the next test."
Sergeant Steele replies, "You have half an hour!"
Jarel and Leon spend some time making sure that snyone who was feeling the ill effects of the run are revitalized with cure spells.
"Thank-you, dude!" exclaims Lance as Leon casts a spell on him.
Leon jokes with Sabrina, Pandora and Brent that in order for him to help them, they must listen to another one of his sermons.
Leon says, "One last thing I want to say, yeah, I... I'm just now thinking if we use up all of my cures, you might be needing one when you come up out of the pit." Having said this, Leon calls upon the power of Pholtus, converting one of his other spells to one that heals Jarel's fatigue after the run.
Leon sighs, "I'd like to say that last casting winds me, and I'd be surprised if I could do one more of them today." He thinks for a moment, then frowns and slaps his knee. "Damn! Damn the Light!"
"Excuse me?!" says Jarel with distaste.
"You know, we could have done this in a more practical manner." He gets out his first aid kit and helps his own minor fatigue with some salves he keeps in it. It works, and Leon again swears (this time so the paladins cannot hear) because the spells were perhaps wasted when more mundane methods could have been used.
Jarel is lowered down into the pit. There he is faced with 6 boulders that are too heavy to life, but are small enough to push. There are no handholds on the rocks and they are shaped in such a way that they cannot be pulled along. There are also 6 circles inscribed into the ground.
"What are these circles?" asks Jarel.
"Those are your targets," says Sergeant Steele. "You've got to push the rocks onto the targets so that the rocks cover all of the targets at the end of your mission."
Jarel immediately assumes he knows the answer and pushes a rock into a space where it can't be pulled back out again.
The people watching groan in protest, but too late.
"You have failed!" shouts Sergeant Steele. "Maggots!"
"Can I have another try?" asks Jarel.
"You are still considered to have failed, but you can take another shot at this puzzle."
The March has a long, drawn out discussion about the Rock Puzzle.
Lance says at one point, "I'm helping, I'm into the help-age!"
An attempt to push the rocks incorrectly is met with derision from Sergeant Steel, "You can't push the rocks diagonally, maggots!"
The party discusses the rocks in depth.
"I can push this one here.." says Jarel.
"Hey, you know you could..." interupts Brent.
"Just a sec," interrupts Jarel right back again. "I could push this one, then this one, then..no, that doesn't work."
"Dude!" Lance jumps in. "You could, like push this one, then move that one, then, like, push the other one. Uhhh...I don't know if that helps or not."
"You can't do it, "Jarel says, giving up in frustration for a moment.
The First March of St. Jostema debates several possible ways to go about moving the rocks, and the argument gets heavy after a bit, and tempers flare.
In the end they cannot figure out the puzzle and have to leave the field twice defeated.
Week of the 20th of Reaping
Farmer Trelawney's corpse comes to life and takes on Jorge Birch the mortician. Party defeats the corpse and arrests Jorge for Desecration of the Dead.
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