Lunar Deserters Get Their Just Desserts!

And so it was that our weary heroes arrived at Oraskat, after a few days of travel from Garakt. While they were no experts in the subtleties of civilization, it was immediately apparent that there was more town than people to fill it. They were viewed a bit suspiciously at first, and after a little conversation it became apparent that times had fallen hard due to the war and many of the villagers had left to pursue predatory lifestyles (in game terms, Outlaw Threat was increased by 1 due to "corruption within" as a village event.) The Raft was able to go about their business however, so Oasasya went foraging and returned with medicinal herbs, while Anasdiazi did dome training with the local militia (gained +1 xp, leveled up, and gained +1 Will.) Puddles went out looking for new fishing spots; the one he found wasn't great and he caught nothing. Quackmore was offered a fine suit of partial armor for 10 gold crowns; instead he opted to buy a regular suit of the same at a much lower cost for the Nameless Priest Of Humakt. And after another day of rest, the Raft headed out into the wilds surrounding Oraskat looking for trouble.

The Raft chances upon some Lunar Deserters in the act of looting a small farnstead.

And after another day of rest, the Raft headed out into the wilds surrounding Oraskat looking for trouble. Before they had gotten very far, they came upon an old doctor in a cart travelling towards Oraskat. He payed them no attention, not even a greeting, and so they passed him without another thought. It wasn't long off the road, however, that they chanced upon a small group of Lunar soldiers, most likely deserters from the army of the Empire, looting a small farmstead at the edge of the woods. Exactly the kind of problem they were looking for!

Engage!

Before the deserters even knew what had hit them, Oasasya and Puddles let loose their arrows. Oasasya killed one of the soldiers outright, but Puddles quite uncharacteristically missed his mark. The Nameless Priest of Humakt gave his gift of Sparrow's Flight to Puddles, allowing another bowshot that hit it's target but failed to get past the Lunar armor. Mataw, against the advice of Anasdiazi, leaped forward to engage one of the enemy. The Lunars moved to engage as well, but their one archer missed her shot by a wide margin.

Where is Pariwan when he is needed? Injured and out, of course...

Puddles Walked The Wind to support Pariwan Keetslander and the Former Soldier, but his shot missed (probably due to the disorientation from magical movement, yeah, that;s the ticket.) Pariwan in turn jumped forward to attack one of the Deserters, and was promptly cut down for his impetuousness. Mataw was similarly unlucky in her attack, but survived the counterstrike. Anasdiazi moved to support her, while Quackmore moved around the back of the rock. Oasasya found her target, and killed another opponent. The Former Soldier ran towards one of the Lunars, but made no attack.. The Lunar archer, seeing a few of her friends dead and those remaining having little success, decided it was time to desert the deserters and promptly fled the farm.

The final countdown!

There were now only three of the Deserters and their leader facing the might of Anasdiazi's Raft. Puddles, Oasasya, and the Hired Guide ALL managed to miss their targets with their bows. It was a bad day indeed for the archers! Mataw was still unable to dispatch her foe, but Quackmore came around from behind the rock and made short work of him. Anasdiazi then moved up behind his fearless retainer while Mataw judged the distance between her and the enemy leader across the field. The Lunar engaged with the Former Soldier managed to get a solid stab into the man, dropping him where he had stood. What would be his fate?

We win!

Puddles, faced with the Lunar Lieutenant almost within stabbing distance, backpedaled a bit and loosed another shot. And he found his mark, slaying the enemy leader. Mataw entered the field and ran as far into it as she could, intent on engaging the remaining soldier soon. But Quackmore reached him first, and dispatched him with a single blow of his sword. The Raft was again victorious!

In the aftermath, they recovered a fine sword. Pariwan proved to be lightly injured, but would be down for a while recovering. The Former Soldier, however, was quite dead. Oasasya leveled up, and received a choice of skill; Bartering was added to her profile. And the Hired Guide was promoted to Hero status, and will henceforth be known as Trackquack The Guide.

This game played out a little differently. It wasn't the powerhouse duo of Puddles and Mataw that saved the day, it wasn't all the new, fun magic the Raft is packing around, it was Oasasya and Quackmore who did most of the heavy lifting.  And, given that neither of them are much better in combat than when they started, and how easily the Raft defeated this reasonably powerful group, I think that there will need to be some more difficult encounters in the future. Like special scenarios that will be more challenging than just some of the regular encounters rolled. But, of course, each will be tied to a Threat, so that the campaign will continue to progress.

Five Leagues From The Borderlands and the supplements are available here.