On their third day out, the mist did rise. Before the sun reached its zenith, a fog rolled in slowly from the south. Visibility dropped to a hundred paces, and then dropped further, until they moved as ghosts within the grey light that filtered through the fog. They grabbed their blankets from the packs on the donkey, and wrapped them around their shoulders and backs for warmth. Their captive was very reluctant to go further, but Will’s sword convinced it to do so.
The raven that had been so useful during the fight flew down through the mist and landed on Gralen’s shoulder.
“Looks like you’ve got a new friend,” said Sam.
“An old friend,” said Gralen. “She’s afraid of the mist.”
“The night troll’s afraid, too,” said Will. “Why?”
“It’s near time to stop for food anyway,” said Sam. “We should climb up the next hill and see how far this mist extends, if we can, and maybe see if there’s something else we should be aware of. Or even if we should just go home.”
So the next time they felt a hill rising beneath their feet, they followed it upwards.
At the peak of the hill they rose above the mist. They could see tall trees rising out of a cloud-like sea of mist, and here and there other hills jutted above the fog. The sun glimmered over the mist. To the east, the High Divide rose out of the misty sea, with two rounded, white-tipped peaks due east especially prominent.
“Well,” said Gralen, pointing to the mountains. “We’ve moved a little faster than Mistoles. There are Isaiah’s Breasts.”
But the mist continued rising as they discussed moving east, and soon the mountains and the breasts were only shadows in the fog.
“This may be a blessing in disguise,” said Sam. “We can pass east undetected by any creatures like yesterday’s.”
“Then let’s step up the pace,” said Charlotte.
Back in the misty woods, the crackling of leaves beneath their feet took on a new dimension. The sound of their footsteps and the leaves was muffled by the thick mist. But the mist also carried noises that they didn’t recognize. The chirping, and screeching, of birds or insects they never saw, and sounds like branches cracking and falling from far away.
Charlotte suddenly stopped and turned her head to the right.
|
“Listen,” said Charlotte. “Do you smell something?” |
“Did you hear that?” she asked.
“No,” said Gralen. “What?”
Charlotte held up her hand, motioning them to silence. Now they all heard it: a snap and a swish deeper in the forest.
“Jesus,” said Sam. “What the hell is that?”
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Charlotte’s player made her perception roll. Monks often will. |
“Something’s moving out there. Something big.”
“Did you ever notice how all legends like ours start with farmers heading into the wilderness?” said Gralen.
“We’re none of us farmers,” said Will.
“Yeah,” said Gralen. “A farmer would know what that was.”
“It’s probably just some bird,” said Sam. “Right?”
Then they all heard it: a loud crack that couldn’t have been more than forty paces away if they’d been anywhere but this sound-altering mist. A dragging noise, or slithering. And then silence. Then the same thing from a different direction.
|
A surprise roll was still required because, while the characters were aware that there was something out there, they had no idea what it was or where it was. It is unlikely that they were expecting tentacles of unknown origin. They did get a bonus due to being aware of something. Fans of Shannara might recognize this scene. It will be difficult to Guide a fantasy role-playing game if you are not already a fantasy fan. Besides giving you an understanding of the genre and of what your players want to see, it will also give you ideas for adventures, or one-shot scenes like this one. Don’t simply steal entire novels for your adventures. Deconstruct them into their themes and situations. You can never be sure that your players will follow the plot. Requiring them to will probably create a poor adventure. It is one thing (and perhaps gratifying) to hear your players say, “wow, this is kind of like Battlestar Galactica! I feel like Starbuck! Cool!” It is another thing entirely to hear “This is just like Battlestar Galactica but with horses and lizards and magic. That means this guy is Baltar. We kill him now.” |
Suddenly, a snake leaped out of the mist and wrapped itself around Will. He screamed. Only Sam kept her head. In one swift movement she unsheathed her sword and hacked at the huge snakelike thing hanging onto Will. It unraveled from Will and lashed at Sam.
“What is that thing?” asked Will.
“Don’t worry about what it is,” yelled Sam, “kill it!”
Another one lashed again, barely missing Sam. Will yelled at her to get away.
“You aren’t in any shape to be fighting something like... this... thing,” he said.
“My god,” said Charlotte, “they’re slimy.”
“It’s attached to something even bigger out there!” said Gralen. “I think it’s just an arm or...”
“Tentacle,” said Charlotte. “Like an octopus.”
Gralen sent a magical bolt to the tentacle, just as Will swung his sword around and into it. His sword dug deep, nearly cutting through, and the thing, whatever it was, slithered the way it came, back into the forest.
“Crap!” said Sam.
“Worse,” said Will. “The goblin’s gone.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about it bringing back more to attack us,” said Gralen. “It probably thinks we’re dead.”
“I’m not sure it’s wrong,” said Charlotte.
“Let’s keep moving,” said Gralen. “Just in case.”
“I think we know what everyone was afraid of,” said Sam, as they ran further east, with the mist swirling around them, Will coaxing the donkey into moving as quickly as they were.