The Abandoned Farm

A group of 6 were traveling North towards Nottinghill together. They were Ravina (the sly fox archer), Jay Quilliam (a hedgehog with a penchant for magic and drink), Bean (a Raccon with deep ties to nature), Odds’Mabobbins (a grumpy hare with a big sword), Petalfoot (the young mouse ward of Odds’Mabbobins), and Pebble Shorefoot (a wandering otter with a sling).

They spotted a farm in the distance, then cautiously approached, only to find it empty. Not much was left behind.

Upon searching, a lone grave was found. The words “Death and Taxes” were scrawled onto the barn wall behind it. Odds knelt at the grave and left a crystalized bead of honey behind.

In the farmhouse, a few women’s dresses were found. I pile of old, broken tools was in the barn. The crops and the fruit of the orchard were unripe.

In quiet contemplation, the group moved on.

The Ruins

The wanderers continued northward, all eyes scanning the horizon for threats or resources. Less than a day passed before a shape was spotted on the horizon – which resolved into a wooded hilltop as they grew closer. Sharp eyes spotted smoke rising from the base of the hill, presumably from a distant campfire. The decision was made to carefully investigate further.

They split up to approach the hill, but found their caution unwarranted. A small group of refugees was camping in the midst of ruins, and they were just as skittish with strangers as the traveling companions. There were 5 refugees all-together:

• Orla Spikeseed, a quiet young adult hedgehog
• Naul Sandprow, and elder mole with mining experience
• Fivian Sungrass, a jittery young-adult mouse
• Jillian Farfeather, a hen seamstress
• Jasper Farfeather, Jillian’s husband, a blustery rooster acting as leader to the five refugees

After introductions, Ravina and Jay quickly abandoned their fellows to search for treasure. They found a door, blocked by massive boulders that they started attempting to move.

Meanwhile, Bean, Odds, Petalfoot, and Shorestalker stayed with the refugees. Odds and Bean tried to learn what the refugees knew about the state of the world: rats, royals, Nottinghill, taxes, etc. They also tried to calm nerves and set up camping for the night., and heard ghost stories about the ruins.

At some point, Naul approached Jay and Ravina and pointed out that if they budged the boulders blocking the door, they would roll directly downhill and crash into the camp. After some negotiations, Jay and Ravina reluctantly agreed to go the slow but safe road and let Naul start constructing scaffolding.

Before bed, both Bean and Odds took time to themselves to bond with the land. Bean summoned a spirit bird. Odds went and sat near a nest of bees.

A Plea for Help

Early the next day, a stranger was sighted. Everyone scrambled to wake up, and were startled to find a young wolf sleeping in Bean’s bower instead of a raccoon. It turned out the Bean had shape-shifted in their sleep. They identified him by the spirit bird hanging out nearby.

It turned out to be Petunia, an acquaintance of Ravina. Petunia worked as Lady Blackberry’s maid, and she had snuck out of Nottinghill with an important message – Pete Smalls was captured. He was now in jail.

Ravina’s urgent need to go save him immediately was not felt by her fellow travelers. Odds, Jay, and Bean eventually agreed, but more because they had other business than out of interest in the risky venture of immediately freeing Pete. They wanted news of the world and supplies. Petalfoot wanted to join, and was told to have a good think about the situation. In the end, she decided that together was more important that safe. She opted in.

Under the advisement of others, Ravina agreed to wait and prepare for a few hours. Ravina cleverly disguised herself as a cat. Odds harvested honey to sell – having a short survivor to survivor chat with Orla on his way up to the hive. Petalfoot took one of the shards of rose quarts that was lying around and she strung it into a pendant and gave it to her guardian.

Mid-day, they were on their way.

Rumble at the Fishing Hut

It was getting dark, and the travelers needed a place to rest. They were nearing the city of Nottinghill. They skirted the nearby lake and found an abandoned fishing cabin. Inside there wasn’t much, but a fishing pole was found. Bean gleefully took first watch and started fishing as everyone else settled down for the night.

Bean’s luck with fish was strong. His luck with the watch wasn’t. His old gang, the Fleet Feet, snuck up on the hut. They ambushed Bean, then shouted out, calling themselves tax collectors and demanding money and goods from the travelers. Odds and Ravina had Petalfoot and Petunia hide, then went outside to face the unwelcome visitors.

Cherla, leader of the Fleet Feet, taunted everyone, teasingly offing a friendly discount to Bean. Odds made a choice he would then regret – he struck.

The battle that followed was immensely one-sided. Jay, sleeping separately from the others, hurled a witch-bolt from behind, but was soon downed. No one knew if he was alive or dead. Ravina was shot. She dropped her money and bow and fled to hide. Bean summoned his new shifting and healing powers and surprised Ravina, but was on his last legs. Odds was barely holding his own – driven now by rage when his pendant was stolen.

They were in over their heads. Odds managed to rein himself in. He saw what his actions had triggered. He locked eyes with Cherla, spoke to her fighter to fighter, and brokered a tentative truce in return to keep his sword and regan his pendant.

Cherla agreed. Bean didn’t. Bean struck Cherla in the back and was immediately downed.

Odds still managed to keep the truce, checking on Jay and Bean to see if they were alive, trying his best to patch wounds. He held back his rage as the two mice were chased out of the hut and everyone’s backpacks were stolen. While everyone was distracted, Ravina snuck back to take her bow, then staid out of the way.

Cherla, impressed by Odds, offered him a job should he ever leave “those losers.” Then she and her crew walked off into the night.

In the end, all the money and supplies were gone. Shaken, the travelers sought a new sanctuary. They tucked themselves into small grove of trees and tried to rest.

Notes

Jay’s sleep habit involves digging a shallow hole in a pathway and curling up into a ball: turning themselves into a spike trap.

Bean likes to fish

Ravina’s Hero Tally:

# of Heroic Acts	# of Stuff > People Acts	# of strangers who recognized her
0	2	0