Feroda campaign: events so far

Session Sunday 6th September: "Bwakga"!

Dave Black> The leader of the Ducks has advanced closer. You can see that he is not typical of the Ducks you have met. It takes a moment but each of you will notice that his gait is distinctly less 'waddling'. His arms and legs are thick and strong but his torso looks somehow thinner than it ought to be.
Varjeela> Does he perhaps have Death runes all over his equipment? And the odd Truth rune?
Nijehl> Are him and his companions fully armoured, Dave?
Dave Black> No death Runes - or markings that you can see Varjeela. Yes, they are all wearing stiff leather armour. They are typically wielding spears and clubs.
Varjeela> OK.... let's hope he speaks Trade. "Our thanks, sirs. Would you care to enter our camp?"
Dave Black> The leader cocks his head to one side and then to the other. It is apparent he does not understand. In response he says something which sounds like, "Bwakga".
Varjeela> Do I recognise the language? Even as one I don't speak myself (like Boatspeech)?
Dave Black> He repeats the word and this time points to the east.
Nijehl> "What did he say?" (whispering at Varjeela)
Dave Black> No. None of you would recognize the word.
Varjeela> (to Nijehl) "I'm not sure - his accent is a bit strange. Comes of talking through a beak, I suppose". (You expect her to admit to having no idea??)
Dave Black> Once more, for good measure, the leader points east and says "Bwakga".
Varjeela> Dave, remind me - what's significant about the east? Is that where the Ghouls came from?
Nijehl> "Maybe he wants us to follow him."
Dave Black> They did. There are lots of things about the east though. The channel you guys followed to get to Skull Rock was east. Corflu itself is east. The "glob" came from the east.
Varjeela> "Maybe. Let me try a few more languages." And she greets the ducks in all the languages she knows. Any reaction? .
Dave Black> No. (Sorry)
Jane> Communication with ducks via sign language. Tricky.
Dave Black> The leader turns on his 'heels' and leaves.
Jane> I take it he didn't beckon us to follow, or anything else meaningful?
Nijehl> "Shall we follow him?"
Dave Black> No. I should have said "starts to leave" instead of "leaves" though.
Varjeela> How is Mawth? Fit to move, or (more likely) not?
Dave Black> Mawth can stand up now. He is weak but conscious - still somewhat disoriented.
Varjeela> Did Mawth understand the word?
Dave Black> No.

Nijehl> I move next to Huff. "Hey, ever heard of this group of ducks? They must be of this area"
Dave Black> "Not know this area too well," replies the Baboon. My people not often come this far towards the setting sun.
Varjeela> Right - attempted sign language translation. Repeat the word "Bwakga" in an interrogative tone, while pointing at....

the east
me
a dead ghoul.

Hope for a nod, a head shake, or something!

Dave Black> Varjeela repeats the word "Bwakga". The leader nods in the affirmative when she points east.
Varjeela> How about when I point at the ghoul?
Dave Black> The leader points to the group and then east. Then he points to his troops and points west.
Varjeela> Let's try another word they'll recognise: "Corflu", while pointing east.
Nijehl> I shake my head from the corner, not uderstanding, putting my whole trust in Varjeela's communicative powers :)
Varjeela> (And give Nijehl an Irrational Trust skill to go with his Be Impressed!)
Nijehl> *grin* Thanks :)
Varjeela> When they were about to leave, were they going west by any chance?
Dave Black> No. To go west would've entailed walking through your camp.
Dave Black> "Kurfle," replies the leader nodding again.
Varjeela> But did they seem to be skirting round our camp before going west, or going somewhere entirely different? And which direction did they approach from?
Dave Black> They came from the east. They didn't seem to be stumbling upon the camp so much as tracking the Ghouls.
Varjeela> Beckon them into the camp, if that's what they're avoiding.
Dave Black> At your beckoning gesture the leader declines and begins to turn to leave again.
Nijehl> And when the duck turned to leave, he was going to move east?
Dave Black> Yes Nijehl.
Varjeela> Point at myself, then at the ground, and nod. Then at myself, east, and shake my head.
Dave Black> The leader looks irritated at this and repeats "Bwakga".
Nijehl> "Perhaps they are going back to their camp. Shall we follow?"
Varjeela> "Mawth seems to be in no fit state to travel through the swamp, to me. Especially not in the dark."
Dave Black> Of course Mawth protests this but not with any significant amount of conviction.
Nijehl> I get up, and walk to varjeela. "Or I might follow them and see what they are up to. They would not even know, with the darkness."
Varjeela> "I think you're right, Nijehl, he does want us to follow him: or at least, to go east. But we can't." No-Bison and Huff, and Joss are still here and OK, aren't they? They could guard Mawth while we investigate?
Dave Black> The leader is now at the perimeter of the camp. He turns one last time..
Varjeela> Point at myself, then at Nijelh, then east. Then at Mawth and the rest, and point at the ground.
Dave Black> "Bwakga" comes the stern reply. The leader pointing at each of the group members and then east.
Nijehl> Understanding Varjeela, I quickly move to Mawth, showing him his javelin and buckler, which I am wielding at the moment. "Can I take them with me?", then whisper so that Varjeela does not hear me "I need them to protect Varjeela."
Dave Black> Mawth shrugs in confused agreement (sort of)
Varjeela> "Looks like he wants us all to go east. Maybe he reckons this place is dangerous." (Can't imagine why!) How much support will Mawth need? Can No-Bison provide it?
Dave Black> Yes. No-Bison could easily provide sufficient support for Mawth.
Varjeela> (To Ducks): shrug, point at all group, and point east. "Corflu"?
Dave Black> The leader nods.
Nijehl> "They want us to leave here for Corflu?"
Varjeela> Then point at posts for the Warding. I don't know sign language for "wait a minute", myself, but perhaps Varjeela's communication bonus does. Our boats are east, aren't they? We could head for them, for now.
Dave Black> A raised finger in the air would probably be interpreted that way so this seems reasonable. Index finger that is....
Varjeela> Assuming no fumble, yes! (I wonder if Ducks would take that the same way?)
Dave Black> However, the leader steps across the perimeter and into the blackness beyond showing no intentions whatever of waiting.
Varjeela> Are we all agreed? The NPCs and not-here-PCs included? "Looks like he wants us to go east, and go now, but not to follow him".

(There were technical hitches at ths point as Nijehl's connection imitated a yo-yo. Varjeela's comments about his chances of following ducks through a swamp without being noticed were lost, and then ruled out by the GM).

Dave Black> You need to decide right away whether you are going to track them.
Nijehl> Of course I am.... am I going alone? (better if I am alone)
Dave Black> You've only got a few seconds to decide or else they'll be hard to follow.
Varjeela> I've got wards to take down if we're leaving. NPCs going with him?
Dave Black> No. Sounds like Nijehl wants to do this and no one feels qualified to tell him he's wrong.
Dave Black> Ivan, can we get together sometime through the week. Pushy GM isn't he?!
Nijehl> I quickly cast silence on me, and leave after them.

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