Delays

17Delays

During the adventure putting the sense of a time pressure or constraints can add to the adventure. It they have only a few hours to catch up to a certain NPC then every interruption, each encounter and each character who stops the party could cost them their mission. Only, it wont. The perceived delay, whether random combat encounter or request for aid, doesn’t actually have to impact the time frame applicable for their quest.

As long as it conveys the message that it could potentially delay them it will have the intended effect that we want for the party.

The alternative is making it so that each side track or distribution does impact the progression of the quest. If we, the DM, choose to run the game this way we need to make sure the distractions are manageable if not completely optional so that we don’t force the party into a lose-lose situation where two competing quests or jobs (or one main quest and a distraction).

Filo

16Filo

As Red looked up from filling his waterskin at where he had stopped over to feed and water his beasts he gazed upon his magnificent eight draught horses and he couldn’t help but admire how perfectly designed and built they were.

Each beast was around 1700lb of pure muscle, determination and grit. As he went to pat one he particularly admired it attempted to bite him then stamp on his foot, succeeding on the latter. As Red cursed and hopped around a comforting muzzle pressed on his back, Rue. Now Red wasn’t a bitter or resentful man but his horse, Rue, was particularly proficient enough for the both of them and hence the nickname Rue. It was given the name. Due to how he felt when he first encountered the beast and purchased him as a young colt. He rued the day he bought him and there and then on the spot the name stuck. However since then Red had not come across a horse more brave or loyal that Rue and they had been inseparable since.

Red climbed aboard his horse and as he linked him to the other eight horses who were already tethered to his wagon, the Merribringer, they nuzzled Rue affectionately. The horses respected and feared Rue more than he as there was no beast more demanding or respected as he.

After a while of travelling down the road Rue stopped as they came across a clearing in the wooded road they had been traveling down. Either side of the road lay ripped and torn fabric and splashes of dark dried blood. Something had killed some traveller’s brutally here and recently enough.

Nudging Rue onwards the pack of beasts and their driver moved hastily but silent through the clearing, the goods he contained in his wagon were for a small town who had come into some bad luck where their recent seed storage for crop planting had been devoured by vermin. As he moved through Rue whinnied a high pitch noise as a warning as they moved through to the other side of the clearing. They likely wouldn’t be safe until they reach the village.

Luckily they made it through the forest and the village was visible now. As they moved down the road into the village people came out to greet him, Red was well known as a bringer of joy and hope and when his wagon and it’s train of horses approached word spread fast of his arrival.

That night he and his horses rested as his wagon was finally finished being unpacked he couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling of danger he felt ever since finding the site where the travellers were butchered. As the villagers danced in celebration a strange quiet came about the grasslands. Rue whinnied out a warning as Red also felt the uneasiness grow.

“everyone. Something comes this way. Help me with the horses on the wagon and everyone climb in.” He called. After a moments panic malicious howling could be heard from the road leading towards town. Red had heard this before. Worgs.

Getting the horses onto the wagon was easier this time as his urgency seemed to resonate with the animals desire to also leave this place. Soon the small village, around 25 people were on or in the wagon and just before Red could tether Rue to the convoy of animals an arrow burried itself into the ground at their feet. Rue caller out and bit one or the other horses causing it to dash forward with the village onboard, the eight horses making the wagon load of people almost skim across the ground with how much power the horses had. Moments after the wagon took off and Rue jumped out of the way a spear flew into the wooden post where the horses were just tethered and lodged itself into the wood.

“let’s buy them some time Rue” Red said as he moved the massive horse to the spear and yanked it out. Looking up he saw the glowing eyes ot worgs taking off after the wagon with goblins riding a them shooting arrows and throwing spears. Rue jumped forward and kicked a worg and it’s rider before it could attack Red or himself. As Red whirled around he plunged the scavenged spear into the worgs side as Rue kicked out and shattered the beasts jaw. Worg and goblin alike ran off before stumbling to not rise a few dozen feet away.

Rue and Red took off after the wagon wagon and worgs but as he drew closer he could tell things were not going well.  The wagon had come to a stop and the smell of blood was ripe. Rue whinnied a sound of remorse and sadness before taking off.

“Rue, we need to check for survivors” Red called as Rue continued to try to pull away but Red was more stubborn in this case. Whirling the horse around he trotted towards the wagon the sticky tangy smell of blood was overpowering when they got closer to the wagon. As they came alongside the wagon the lack of movement and eight dead horses and piles of mauled humans.

“We shouldn’t have come here” Red muttered as he released the reign and Rue took off away from here quickly the twang of bows and thud of arrows and spears hitting wagons.

After a few minutes of galloping Rue slowed down to a trot and his breathing was laboured. It wasn’t for a few minutes until Red noticed the arrows embedded in Rue’s chest. Bringing him to a stop he checked the wound, the sinking feeling in his chest told him enough. The arrow had pierced Rues lungs and he wouldn’t survive.

Under the tree

16FirTree

Red stirred, he was barely aware of his surroundings or how he received this thumping headache. A quick glance around revealed nothing and memory was foggy from the past – well however long it has been until now. Closing his eyes and putting his head between his knees he tried to remember what happened, the last things he remembered was the apples spill before the bridge then the short tunnel under the bridge seeming to go on for ages. He tried to reverse the wagon to no success enchanted as it was with its nine wheels or otherwise. Eight supporting the weight of the wagon and another where the two reigns attached to and acted as a way to street the wagon as it traveled along the roads meant that it couldn’t turn in tight circles and moving it backwards wasn’t an easy ordeal.

Sighing he went to stand but found himself with straight legs but unable to stand. Moving around he became acutely aware of him drifting in nothingness. Drawing his wand Merry, a length of rich cherry wood, he one of the stored spells and created a ball of light that shon like the sun. Immediately he could tell that he was stored in some immense extra-dimensional space and it appeared to go on forever. Well, he was stuck here for now and what made matters more confusing was the magical items that he was transporting to the Supreme high magus were floating around him. He could almost rule out the old wizard as he had bo interest in the magical items and instead only in the obtaining and learning of knowledge.

As he pondered where he was a blinding light appeared from somewhere in front of him and a colossal hand reached in and neatly plucked a floating item out of the space before disappearing. He felt around for his other items he kept on himself to aid in his travelling and came across an unfamiliar bag on his hip. Opening it slowly, curiousity getting the best of him he found two waterskins one filled with water the other with what smelt like wine. There was also several hard little loafs of bread that were about palm sized. As he wondered what the purpose was another memory pierced his mind sharply and painfully.

As he moved through the tunnel and breached the other side a wall of canvas enveloped him and the wagon, throwing him and it into darkness. Spinning for what felt like ages he blacked out when his mind couldn’t take the spinning any more.

He knew this item, though he was only aware of a few that remained, and he owned one in hid wagon. The loaded knapsack, an item that can. Hold untold amounts of goods but only a limited amount of time. Depending on the amount of items it will then rupture all of them forward in a number of weeks, days or even hours depending on how loaded it is. Looking at the food and drink he had in the provided bag he believed he had about two days of supplies in there. Who ever was responsible knew their stuff but they best be prepared when he gets out, everyone knows Red doesn’t go down easily in a fight.

Grant Weathermane

16GrWm

As Grant sat down and delved into his roasted meat sandwich he dreaded when his break would end. He had already pushed out the last few minutes of his lunch before going out and was dreading going back to patrolling the south district and nearby shops in the market districts.

“Grant, we have a young halfling out here who claims we have a situation in the southern district. She’s been waiting a while for you, you’re up” his captain said sternly from the door.

“No worries captain Harrix, I’ll get onto it once I finish up here” Grant replied as he leisurely took a bite out of his roll. His captain sighed and could be hear calling out for Dane down the hall. “Good“, thought Grant, “Dane will be able to deal with it and I’ll get to finish my lunch“

Grant was so engrossed in avoiding work that he didn’t hear the first call for the rest of the guard to report to and deal with the fighting in the north of the markets. Once he had avoided work for as long as he could be left the mess room and head out to a bustling hallway.

“Whats going on?” He called but several people ignored him and pushed past.

“Get out the way you waste of space. Real Market Watch coming through” one guard said as he pushed through and past Grant, gritting his teeth fought back a response. It wasn’t the first time someone had said something about his attitude or dedication to the Guard and it in wouldn’t be the last so he let it slide. Walking to the entrance room to the building he approached the front desk, a woman named Karen manned it today. They got on well.

“Good to see you avoided the commotion Grant. A lot of the Market watch have head off to try and stop the street fights to the north of the Market district. Reports coming back from runners or those returning is that it’s a fruitless endeavour we are almost getting as many injured men as the gangs are.” She said as she cut off an offending section of a finger nail with a small knife. “Let them sort it out I say, more dead thugs means less paperwork we have to do when we can’t question them.

Nodding Grant agreed. Glad he dodged that bullet, “there was a halfling who said there was trouble down in the southern district, what happened to her?” He asked going to avoid more work with a leisurely stroll into the area of the city where the rich employ their own guard.

“Dunno. She took off after Dane questioned her. One less thing to deal with now. I can’t have anything holding me back after work today. I’ve got a date” Karen said with a toothy grin.

“tell me about it tomorrow. Will be more interesting than work I can already tell that.” He laughed as he started to walk back to the mess room before stopping. “You said the halfling spoke to Dane yeah? Where is my little brother?” He smirked, he would do anything for his little brother but his dedication to work was exhausting to be around.

“I think he went off with the captain to the fighting..” Karen said before stopping mid sentence as a man was carried in with an arm missing. “Nasty business this, I hope this won’t hold me back” she said.

The warmth drained from Grant. Hoe could the street gang fighting be this bad. They are normally just a handful of kids who pick pockets or occasionally break into shops. Fighting and serious injury is rarely seen if ever. A stone fell into his gut. Dane. His little Brother was probably on the front lines looking at trying to break it up.

With that Grant was off, grabbing a short sword from the weapon rack to add to the dagger at his hip he made haste for the north. The normally charming remarks from Karen grating on him as he ran out “let the market guys deal with it Grant, its not your job!’

As he dashed through the streets more and more injured people and smashed stalls were revealed. As he followed the train of guard returning from the front lines he constantly scanned for his brother, nothing, a good sign surely as he isnt injured. Relief started to relax his mild panic but the seriousness of the wounds on people was distressing.

Then he started to find the dead. Bodies cut nearly in half with such savagery and brutality he had not seen before. The sandy ground was red and tacky from the blood and everywhere he looked a new body or dying person lay. As he got to the fighting itself he saw the captain fighting several thugs at once, his longsword flashing in the light as it parried and wounded, not killed, thugs. As they fell injured and incapacitated guards ran up and bound them.

“Captain!,” He called as he ran to join him, drawing his blades.

“Grant, good, reinforcements are coming. They are organised Grant. Some guy called Carter is behind it or so we have worked out. His men number in the hundreds and he is fighting all gang members who have territory in this area. We are sustaining casualties, mainly injuries though,” he continued, Grants relief was visible to all near by, even when parrying an attack and knocking out a man with his elbow.

“And Dane sir?” He asked, hope in his voice as he stepped forward and knocked out the last man attacking them. A meaty hand clasper his shoulder.

“I’m sorry Grant. Dane didnt make it. He lies over by the warehouse, we had to retreat when we were ambushed, he held them off whilst we escaped with some civilians…” Grant looked towards where his captain was pointing, rage, white hot and burning surged through his body as the words from his commander vanished as he stepped forward, one foot at a time, towards the heat of the battle where his brother lay against a broken door.

---

Reports from that day speak of a great push to regain the market, of courage and planning that went of perfectly. What they leave out is how one man fought more savagely than all the gangs combined, never killing just leaving the gang members unable to fight as he moved across the streets like a fissure of wrath and rage, only stopping to pick up the body of a young Sergeant, his brother, and return him to his people.