Tippler C. Atramentaria
Session 2 12/7/2023 - New Beginnings for New Friends
We are out in the rescue fields with the various rescue beasties.
Weaver is off on its own. The closest creatures are a colorful winged dog and a galaxy eyes quill back creature that floats. Weaver is annoyed, but not chasing them off. The winged dog seems to ne communicating.
In another area is a haughty winged lizard and a whip-like floating frilled snake with water that floats around it. They are sparing. The attendants are allowing and keeping an eye. It seems to be a frequent occurrence.
A couple baby owlbears are playing in a more forested area, where a toad with a big flower growing on its back is looking after them, making sure the babies do not wander into the forest.
An attendant approaches. She is young with white curly white hair and round glasses. Her name is Joyce and is here to help us find partners. A partner needs to fit. It is fine to wait or take on an existing animal companion. Rescuing is encouraged. most rescued came through injury or death of their trainer.
Tippler asks about their stories.
Weaver came here after the death of his trainer. The two had a strong bond and Weaver has been unruly and lashing out since. Has gained the ability to take on a shell. Was a normal mustang before. Drake's blood exposure?
Alaric has worked with horses before, though none like Weaver. Could be someone that can meet Weaver's needs.
The hovering quilled creature is a moon spirit. This one is Starflower, and he is a prankster. They are hard to keep track of and require you earn their loyalty.
The winged dog is a rarity. Only known through myth. Guardians of the deceased look after spirits that have passed on. Is a Chamrosh. This one came with Weaver and was able to help settle him.
The winged lizard that is sparing is a druk called Dewey. His trainer was recruited to poaching and Dewey fled. He has not communicated about what happened and is now looking for a new person. He won't stand for corruption or wonton violence. He wants to win.
Saltier, the whippy water snake, is a hunter. His last partner thought they were too and was not correct (ded). Saltier has long gashes down one side of his body.
The other two, the bloom crawler and an axolotl, are vibing together in a puddle. The axolotl is large for its species and is named Nipru. The others might be feisty, but they give Nirpu a wide berth.
Kosi, the bloom crawler, escaped slavers and is now looking to travel and see flowers in the world. She has some anger issues. They said she was attacking those pigmy owlbears. She needs a friend to connect with them.
We can have a potion of beast speaking to talk with them if we like.
Alaric is directed to go meet Weaver. Joyce bustles Alaric towards Weaver. More praise for the bronco feat. Alaric is modest.
She gives Alaric a bottle of animal speaking.
The dog is pushing Weaver to learn how to make friends. Weaver grunts "I'm not here to make friends" like an edge lord.
Alaric offers to be an acquaintance and Weaver is intrigued by how different Alaric is from the others. Not a hotshot or a hunter, but a rancher. Weaver wants to get to the league, to be the fastest. Does Alaric want to use him for fighting?
SCENE CHANGE TO TIPPLER AND FEKNAAST
Tippler asks if Feknaast might be interested in any and pushed Feknaast towards Kosi.
Tippler wants to talk with Chamrosh about death.
Feknaast takes a potion of animal speaking. As he approaches Kosi he hears a pair of voices that say "Don't step on the flowers!"
Nipru "Kosi doesn't like it when people step on the flowers"
Kosi watches from the water like an angry crocodile-toad
Feknaast (acrobatics - Nat 1) missteps on the edge of a loose path stone and falls into a tangle of itchy ivy. A pink tongue whips out of the pond but Feknaast is just out of range.
Kosi "do we have to fight? not in the flowers"
Demands Feknaast apologize and replant it.
Discussion proceeds of fur versus mucus. She also shows that she has seed pods that have "psychotonic" compounds to cause drowsiness and confusion.
"So what you're telling me is you have a flower that shoots drugs at people?"
"no. Its a toxin"
"what is a toxin if not drugs at low doses?"
Feknaast is interested in drugs.
Kosi turns back to repotting the plant.
BACK TO TIPPLER AND ALARIC
Araric is asking about how Weaver plans on winning the speed race. Weaver needs someone who knows how to race, how to be a jockey and be a competitor in that sense. Alaric has some experience, not in a competitive sense, but has participated.
Khitan the chamrosh encourages Weaver being curious about new people and not automatically hostile.
Tippler starts talking to Khitan.
Alaric is actually small enough that he should be able to jockey the pony that is Weaver. Weaver is wiling to give Alaric a chance.
Time for a test ride! The moon weaver starts teasing Weaver about having a rider.
Alaric encourages him to ignore it. As soon as Alaric is on Weaver takes off (animal handling 13) he manages to get a handful of mane and stay on.
Tippler talks to Kniton. Once Weaver is okay is he gonna stay?
no. He will move on to guide another.
He found Weaver raging in a desert. he has requited a lot of patience to keep out of trouble.
What advice does Khiton have as a guide?
The chamrosh are not born, they are received. They are a bond ascended to to form of an ancestral guardian. Once the family has gone, they wander to help those who re in need.
How do they find those that need help? The chamrosh of the past guide the living to where they are needed. "Their wind carries us to where we are needed."
"I can say only on the outside that it would seem like stumbling"
A chamrosh without a family is a chamrosh that has failed. "We are cursed."
he sounds lonely.
He visited the last member of his family in the afterlife until he was forgotten. That afterlife was fun. celebratory.
"How does one find themselves walking on that border?"
it was innate
BACK TO FEKNAAST
Feknaast has cleaned the ivy off his legs and (rolled an 18) did well on replanting the offended plant. Kosi was pleased seeing that Feknaast was as competent as he was. She sees now where the step broke and that it wasn't his intention to hurt the plant.
Kosi does not like nature being disturbed. Feknaast doesn't either. They seems to be bonding on their mutual dislike of capitalist exploitation and destruction of the eco-system.
"What do you do? Where would we be going if I went with you?"
"Im really just an adventurer."
Discuss Feknaast's exile from the mainland and his disruption of a bear baiting ring.
Kosi seems interested. Feknaast fights anyone that seeks to disturb nature and it's peace. Kosi wants to help fight them. They have shared trauma with destruction of their homes. Kosi chose Feknaast.
BACK TO ALARIC AND HIS RACE
(animal handling 19) Weaver be zooming. Head down, hard focus, heavy running. He is pushing as hard as he can.
Personal observation - It seems to me he is trying to prove himself and make sure Alaric is ready to match him.
Alaric is able to start directing him. The countryside is flashing by. Alaric feels like he is supposed to be there.
He could direct Weaver towards the river or towards town. Alaric does not want to push Weaver too much right now.
Weaver want to keep going. Alaric is worried that Weaver will hurt himself (animal handling - 20 total). Weaver reluctantly slows down and starts heading back. Alaric stayed on and knew when to call it. Now he just needs help growing. Weaver will teach him how to be a rider and Alaric will help him be a racer, Together, victory.
BACK TO TIPPLER
Tippler sees Alaric coming back, and that Feknaast has made a friend. The moonweaver has been up to mischief. Tippler wants to help with more. They don't have a lot of time. They want to persist. Khiton "my family struggled with time. It is an elusive creature."
Khiton's time here is done. Weaver seems to have accepted a path forward.
Kosi has accepted a friend as well.
For now, Tippler has Wigglin.
What is next? Alaric has a league to train for. Feknaast has found a kindred spirit. Tippler has a pest to help.
Maybe we will meet Khiton again.
Joyce returns. She seems not enthused about Khiton flying off.
Tippler puts the collar on Wigglin. The disk becomes a similar shade of purple to wigglin with a simplified image of him. Then he turns to mist and goes into the coin.
Alaric already has weaver's coin.
Feknaast boops Kosi's snoot with the coin. Her collar has a bowtie with a little bell. Her coin is brackish purple like her flower then Kosi goes into the coin.
END OF SESSION
Personal Goals -
-Still would like to follow up with the Hunter's Guild about leads on a pest smuggling ring.
-Seek out contact in the Witherbloom College.
-Find a worthy trainer for Dewey
-Get powerful enough to take one another teammate (level 3)
The Journal Entry’s title
Begin writing your story here...
Session 1 11/30/23 - Dino Rodeo
Session 1
trade has only been in the shattered rifts for a century or so.
We are in Mirstone, a crossroad trade city. Arid, 110 degrees (which degrees? we dont know but its too damn hot)
We are in a tavern, Corvid's Crest, and on the radio is the latest match of the League. A challenger to the current champion. Champ is using armored snake (does it look well cared for?)
The match looks rough, but we understand its a contest, not a fight to the death. As we go into the final round we notice... (perception 24) a great commotion outside. A fight? Cursing? Shouting? There is a lot of people.
Feknaast, a drunken tanuki in appropriate light clothing for the environment. He is enamored with the match. The challenger's last companion, a quillbear, is in fierce contest with the plate snake
Alaric, another tanuki in half-moon glasses, is watching along, also notices.
Armored lizard creatures are stampeding through town. One breaks loose from the barricade being attempted by the town and charges through the wall.
R1
Alaric acts first, throwing a drink at the creature to distract it!
Tippler without hesitation throws a net and restrains it! Wigglin wiggles!
Feknaast misses the end of the match as the radio shatters!
The creature cannot escape the net! It tangles itself worse and falls prone.
R2
Alaric goes to check on the tavern patrons who were in the area the beast burst through. A pigmy owlin has a shard of glass in his shoulder and there are others with minor injuries. (medicine 15). Alaric goes to help the owlin, removing the shard and applying booze and pressure to the wound.
Tippler tries to speak softly to the armored lizard horse to calm it down. (animal handling 10) It seems the creature is fighting less, but still trashing and not calm.
Feknaast tinkers with the broken radio parts and makes a soothing noise box to try and calm the beast. (magical tinkering) Further reduction to the creature's escape roll.
Outside we hear people running and fleeing! "run away!" and another creature comes walking through the hole in the wall, green and black, long tongue, sharp teeth, and it eyes Alaric.
It bites at on of the people nearby and he blocks with scrap wood.
The netted creature begins to settle, clearly still mad, but not fighting.
R3
Alaric tries to get the person away and pulls him back. Then Alaric goes to climb on the green lizard's back likes its a biting bronco. (animal handling 25) He hops on its back and grabs one of its spines, then starts horse whispering it, gently rubbing its neck. Its not happy about Alaric being there, its not freaking out, it doesn't know what to do.
Feknaast is in awe. Then scavenges useful stuff from the smashed bar. (needs to select spells) Alaric sets up a Snare trap near the green bronco.
Tippler positions themself between the two beasts and readies a shot in their sling in case the green one goes berserk (readied action) and Wigglin readies to bite as well (readied action).
Outside the chaos is settling, beasties are meandering, scared people are scattering, but the active stampede has settled.
The biting bronco tries to shake Alaric off and he manages to stay on with (athletics? 19). It huffs and growls, annoyed. It goes to wander, but the snare goes off and hangs it upside down. Alaric hops off.
The two Armored Dragons have been disabled. The meandering ones are being moved out of town.
Tippler looks or assistance from the Hunter's Guild.
The owlin that Alaric helped goes to help other bystanders. Thanks Alaric for the aid and asks if Alaric can help finish up the patch job. His name is Pigin. Extends an invitation to Alaric to see him at the guild hall "I think you have potential for next season." Feknaast goes back to drinking. Bathtub whiskey, on the house if he can fix the radio. Bartender is one-horned sam elliot-esqu tiefling, white stash slightly yellowed from tobacco chew.
Back to Tips. Going down the street i can see that the damage is pretty minimal. The first lizard probably just tripped. Some trampled fences, no major injuries, loss of life, or major structural damage. The Hunters' Guild Hall is elaborate for the town. Brick walls and trophies. Tippler goes to the front desk. Young lady in smithing leather with red hair stained by soot. I explain we need assistence with the lizards. She asks me for hunting license. I do not have one. She orb contacts a drow and requests a cleanup.
HG's priorities are capture, relocation and defense. Missions are vountary unless there is an emergency. I ask for pamphlets. She hands me one along with three silver plates. Just touch and it will tell me what to do to sign. Come back to get rewards for the two captures we did.
IN ANOTHER PLACE
A drow hangs up an orb, and turns to his partner, a salt and peppered tiefling. "we got a couple of bags. time to go"
AT THE CORVID'S CREST
Alaric and Feknaast are looking after the creatures (animal handling 25 & 6). Alaric is keeping things under control. Feknaast is trying to use calming herbs and accidentaly riles up one of them, but thankfully his cousin is there to recover the situation.
A drow and tiefling come through the front door and assess the situation. Enriqo and Ember, representatives of the guild. Ember is very chatty /s. "How did you guys do this?" Feknaast was too drunk to know outside of a snare. Enriqo turns to Alaric. A -"I rode him like he was a rodeo horse!" E -"we got outselves a dragon whisperer, isn't that something?" A -"I wouldn't put it that far. Guy's still kind of miffed with me." E -"you did well all the same"
Again asked for hunting licenses, they have none. Feknaast flips him off. "I was offering to pay you, but okay. Thanks for the assist." Pulls out collars with coins on them, puts them on the lizards and poke-coins them.
Tippler comes back with applications. Enriqo keeps the coins, flips off Feknaast. Fek throws his whiskey glass at the drow. (improvised weapon attack, 17 to hit) He uses Sheild to stop the glass. He leaves.
Tippler gives the other's hunting licenses. If we want compensation then we need paperwork in order. This one is a loss.
Alaric mentions being invited for the next season of the League. Tippler does not know about the League, but Feknaast does.
The League is a cross country event, with different divisions. Teams and Solo division participants go to different masters across the country to collect their tokens. Get six and you are in the league. Bring your own companions or they can help assign you one. Used to be a blood sport but has since been reigned back using sanctioned arenas that rely on the coin-collars. Creatures too hurt are removed from the combat automatically to protect them. Injuries are transferred from direct blows into energy drains until they pass out from exhaustion to prevent actual injuries.
Sounds like Pigin was proposing sponsoring Alaric.
HGs Pamphlet - Emblem is a bristle backed bear hunched menacingly over a banner. Hunters help maintain balance in the ecosystems. gives a breif history, used to be sport hunting but now are focused on capture and relocation. Still has sport hunting at its core, but with a conservation twist. They are a little extortionary in that the charge high fees for the aid they provide, like American ambulances. There is a rank system to gain access to more dangerous quests/game. You can report any CAPTURE that was done in self defense or the defense of another, so long as you are not in the creature's territory. Creatures are either relocated if alive, or broken down and made use of if dead. No waste.
I ask the application card and a bristle-back bear morphs out of the card, then morphs into a bear-person. Its name is Bristles, the mascot of the Hunter's Guild. We will be under surveillance in case we are involved with illegal activity, specifically related to poaching, animal smuggling, and other animal specific crimes. Tippler signs up, is now Rank 1. Lists name, species, class, rank, and reputation. Tippler started with a 5 reputation and notably is the third mycelian to join.
Feknaast decides to sign up and already has a -5 reputation. Alaric signs up and has a 10 reputation.
Tippler recovers net at some point.
As we are talking the tavern puts itself back together, give or take a wall, and people are settling back into drinking.
We go to follow up with Pigin. The League building is modest, short and wide and made of wood. It has magic crystal lamps. The front entrance is bustling with trainers. Inside is a large library full of all kinda of research on creatures and ecology and habitats. Pigin is there, behind a desk. He is rubbing his temple. Alaric says hi. Pigin welcomes him and reiterates his gratitude. He has been sharing the rodeo story too. It was impressive! Dr. Brown was able to finish up treating Pigin. A bizzare man, mayhaps we'll encounter that one?
Pigin has a critter, a stallion whose tamer passed away. Its a pony with big aspirations. Can Alaric help the pony out?
Pigin introduces himself to Tippler and Feknaast in turn. Compliments Tippler's netting and states plainly that Feknaast will likely be ignored. Compliments Feknaast's trap construction and placement.
Goes back to Alaric and his animal handling prowess. He thinks that Alaric is the right fit the help this ambitious pony win the League.
The league is where tamers, or researchers, compete. There is the combat completions, as well as derby races and other competitions and divisions. The league works closely with the Hunter's Guild. Tamers report back on the habits and behaviors of their creature companions to aid in the pursuit of ecological and zoological research. There are as many dedicated scholars and scientists as there are competitive tamers.
Why is Alaric a good fit? He took a scared, hungry, predatory creature and calm it, connect with it. That's not something just anyone can do. That's something only he can do. And it takes a skill like that for this pony. Weaver?
The league can teach us Speak with Animals. (fuck yeas please I beg of thee)
Pigin has potential companions for each of us. We just need to provide hunter's licenses. He inscribes the back, registering us with the league. This will track our badges.
We can also use poke-coins with the emblem to track data on the creatures we capture.
He then gives Alaric a case with a black poke-coin in it that shows the image of an unhinged bucking horse. That is Weaver, an obsidian stallion. An elemental rock-horse. Weaver is in a field out back. Obsidian Stallions form a bond that lets them grow with the tamer. Only a few creatures can.
Feknaast and Tippler get blank medallions for whatever creatures we choose. There is a moon-singer who has lost its family. There is Druk, a cute electric lizard.
We go out back where we can see trainers working with the rescue companions.
There is an Axolotl, a Chamrosh (a colorful celestial winged dog), a Druk (a tiny electric dragon/lizard), A river ribbon (a long slender water dragon), a moon singer (a small pink fey), and a bloom crawler (bulbasaur).
Standing off on its own is Weaver.
END OF SESSION
Personal notes - None of the companions here immediately speak to me. I'm curious what their personal stories are and if I might connect with one that way. Next session I would like to speak with the Hunter's guild about trying to track down any info on a pest smuggling ring.
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