And the Apatosaurus you rode in on...
I finally have a good reason for writing a love letter, thanks to a player missing a session. I was initially thinking about writing multiple Love Letters to set up levers for different elements of the upcoming session, but someone smart on the Stonetop Discord gave me the idea to smash everything into one.
I thought about what sounded exciting while I did various chores around my house, and this was born. The wait to spring it on my players is killing me. I feel excited and satisfied about this setup; our party's fate may be in the hands of the Marshal in more ways than one. I have some ideas about a village dance for if they roll a 10+, but otherwise, this letter allows me to sit back and wait for the situation to unfold while I mostly lean on the books if necessary.
Dear Cadfael1,
It was brave of you, running ahead in the Great Wood to clear a path for your friends. When you turned back and found that their trail suddenly ended, it was obvious what happened: despite Gwendyl's warnings, they took the uncertain path of the Golden Oak.
Time was of the essence, which I'm guessing is why you and your crew are closing the gap on the backs of tall-necked Tal Gerdwyr2. Mark XP for your efforts, and +1 for each person (including yourself) you think may have gotten beat up in the process. Tell us how the hell you pulled this off, and after sharing tales of your courage, Catch up:
Catch up: Roll 2d6 +CHA of your party member with the highest value.
On a 6-: The Manmarchers perceived the party as friends of Ulrik and Mieke3. They're safe, but held captive (probably thanks to Ciara4 translating) while the chief of this Hillfort figures out what to do with them. Escape will be tricky... if it weren't for you showing up just in time. Trade is not possible unless you find a different hillfort. Mark XP.
On a 7-9: The Manmarchers are neutral towards the party. The injured are convalescing or resting while those who are still able have been helping out around the hold. Trade is as usual, but since they're grateful that the gang "helpfully" delivered a pair of their sworn enemies and all their loot, they're willing to hand over a little more for the trouble.
On a 10+: The Manmarchers perceived the party as enemies of Ulrik and Meike. They're being treated as honored guests and will not be sent off without a bounty of gifts, including a horse (yes, that horse5).
Finally, ask the party how they know that Ulrik and Mieke are slain.
Magda6, regardless of the outcome of Catch Up, you've had time to meditate. Tell us if you've been communing with Aratis7, and if Catch Up was a 6-, who's been running interference for you.
One note on this is that in our last session, the party discovered that Ulrik and Mieke's cargo was secretly bronze, a material most commonly employed against demons and agents of chaos. What does this mean? I'm not really sure. They're dead now, so it never reached its destination. It's one of those things I'm going to leave undefined unless it matters... kind of like what the Oak-Ward is really doing at the Golden Oak, or why the Forest Folk are entombed in trees in our campaign, or why our Afon left the Fae domains the day Fflur found her sitting at the end of a rainbow. Only time will tell.