In the Interest of Honesty

In the Interest of Honesty (1x03) is the third episode of the first chapter of the first campaign for Shikar.

The gang investigates a chicken coop and come up with a plan to deal with an unknown threat. Their plans quickly turn to chaos and they make a few surprising discoveries.

Your Little Nim Grim
We open this episode on an idyllic farm. The sun is baking hot and the group has enjoyed a late morning. The sky is clear and the wind kicks up to relieve them of the heat. Nim sits down to write his mom a letter:

''Oh my goodness Mummy! I had plans to come straight home but, as you know, things come up and we found this sign looking for help on the Furious Farms, and I know you would have wanted me to go and help, so I took my friends, my companions.''

''Oh! We picked up some friends, it's not just Ajax with me. There's these two half-elves, Scorpio and Valym. They're very exciting in very different ways, but I'm very happy to have met both of them, and now we are on a farm, and we actually met THE FURIOUS FIVE!''

''Yes, that's right, the ones from the stories! The band of adventurers that have retired! They are the ones who need help, and we have spoken…well, we haven't spoken to, Valym has spoken to many of the animals who have been getting hunted by something. We are not sure what, but, well, hopefully it is something we can deal with quickly and be back in time for supper, I hope.''

I miss you,

Your little Nim Grim.

Nim rejoins the group, who are sitting on hand woven day beds beneath the shaded veranda. Taj comes out with a tray of tall steel cups containing buttermilk. Scorpio sips his at first, curious of the taste, before chugging it down.

Nim warns Taj of the chicken coop. He and Motee discovered some damage over there. Taj agrees to check it out. Valym fills the group in on what the ox told him. He guesses it may be a pack of wolves or even one large wolf. He then laments his woes on talking with animals.

Don't Count Your Chickens
Scorpio turns the conversation back to the chicken coop. Nim leads the group to the chicken fence. Part of it had been ripped out and then mended quickly. Ajax and Scorpio eye Motee as a suspect but Nim and Valym defend the animal.

Valym also says that the attacks have nothing to do with the girl he met in the woods the night before. The rest of the group is astonished and Valym realizes he never told the group about her. He fills them in and lets them know that she gave him a totem and Motee didn't recognize the scent.

Scorpio turns his attention to the chicken wire. Although it was hastily mended,  the wire is distorted and wavy where a chunk was grabbed and pulled away. He also notices a mess of feathers on the ground. Going to the other side of the fence, he looks for tracks, but it is hard to ascertain any prints with the recent upheaval by whoever mended the fence.

Of Perfumed Plans and Moral Quandaries

The group agrees to stay overnight, but Nim feels bad, hoping his mom doesn't worry. Valym asks for rope so that he can form a trap. Scorpio reasons that someone should be on top of the homestead or the barn for range and someone should be near the well.

Nim glances over and hears a voice coming from the well, singing, "One day you'll join me again, one day soon, under the pale blue moon, one day soon." Ajax rushes to Nim's side, grabbing him and telling him there is nothing there and calming him down.

Valym goes to the stable and arranges the rope to magically cast Snare. Scorpio goes around and sets a perimeter. He takes some incense and lights it as the sun goes down to create a barrier of smoke. If something disturbs the smoke, it will be easier to see. Nim pulls a bottle of his mom's perfume and sprays it to cloak everything but the horse's stall in the stable.

Valym poses the question of what happens if they capture whatever is taking the animals. He wants the group to think ahead of time what they are willing to do in this situation and not do anything rash in the moment. Nim suggests he speak with whatever creature it is and the group agrees to wait for his signal.

Nim climbs up the silo as Ajax hides near the stable. Valym has climbed on top of the stable after dabbing himself in the mud from the pigsty. He spots Motee and realizes she might step in the trap. He casts Speak with Animal and warns her of the plan as well as giving her instructions to let him know if she notices anything coming onto the farm.

The evening passes uneventfully. Taj and Lala bring samosas and a cup of tea before going to bed. Valym asks for, and receives, a dagger. Scorpio spots Lucky and flags her down. He asks if she knows if their plan will work or not. She takes his tea cup and reads his tea leaves. She says that Scorpio's past is cloudy and that he is searching for something. She reveals that he once had a great love but lost it and his past wasn't noble but he seeks to make amends. She sees death in the immediate future, a lingering death that will remain for quite some time.

Baying on the Breeze
One by one the stars awaken and the sun falls asleep under its blanket of dusk. The night proceeds uneventfully until they hear a baying in the distance. Motee answers back before trotting away towards the sound. Valym has a realization as they watch her trot away into the wheat fields. He asks Ajax how the creature took the animals if Motee didn't see it first and Ajax catches on. The creature would lure Motee away before striking.

After a few minutes, Scorpio spots Motee coming from the opposite direction of where she left. Scorpio goes to shush Motee and locks eyes with her. He sees that she is acting strange, not even wagging her tail. She passes towards the well, ignoring Nim as he and Scorpio follow.

Valym asks the dog what she is doing but she doesn't answer. He attempts to pick her up and she goes to bite him. He pulls his hands back just in time. Ajax runs to grab the dog, forgetting Valym's trap and getting caught by the Snare. He gets pulled from his feet and is hanging upside down.

Nim pulls some manacles from his bag and tries to clamp them on Motee's back legs but She sidesteps the Tiefling's attempt. Scorpio rushes towards the horse, attempting to leap onto its back and lead her away. As he runs by, Motee bites the back of his ankle but he is able to vault onto the horse. He rides it towards the back of the house.

Valym releases his spell and asks Ajax and Nim to catch Motee. He then dashes for the woods where the baying came from. Motee snaps at Ajax, biting him as she runs past him to pursue the horse. Ajax lashes out at Motee, grappling her back legs. He watches in horror as a spectral beast comes pouring out of her mouth.

Nim panics and calls to Ajax for advice. Ajax says to kill it and Nim casts Thaumaturgy to create a baying noise away from the group to draw its attention. Motee is drawn by the noise but the creature is unaffected. Nim goes to Motee's side to check her and discovers she is back to normal.

He clamps the manacles onto her front paws to slow her down.

Scorpio, now having a target, stands up on the back of the moving horse. He launches himself like a torpedo from the top of the horse, slamming his forehead into the beast. His neck muscles flex and he snaps his head back again, slamming into it again.

Valym watches the horse pass by without a rider and goes to catch it from running off. He mounts up and looks back to see Scorpio headbutting a spectral creature. Valym knows this to be some type of wraith or ghost and wonders where the hell it came from. He takes the horse around the side of the farm to keep her out of danger.

Motee begins a slow plod towards the baying noise that Nim had created off in the woods as Ajax whirls his battle-axe into the beast, seeing a rift beginning to form in the creature's neck. The spectral hound cries out in pain and Motee whines. It attempts to run and Scorpio kicks out at it, connected with it weird vaporous body. Ajax takes the opportunity to bring his axe down in a  glancing blow.

Nim knows of ghosts, and oftentimes they are not evil. He has seen them in person and they are usually peaceful, but there is the occasional ghost that means harm. He runs forward and jumps on Motee's back, willing her to move forward.

Scorpio pursues the creature, dashing to catch up. Valym spurs the horse away from the chasing specter, continuing to head for the area where the baying came from.

Motee runs after the creature and Nim throws some holy water from his bag, dealing radiant damage to the beast. Motee tugs at Nim's sleeve and whimpers and Nim doesn't know if they are doing the right thing. Ajax runs forward, sinking his axe into the beast as it dissipates into the air.

Am I a Dad Now?
Valym comes to where the baying initiated and hears small whimpers. He spots a litter of young puppies playing. He casts Speak with Animals and tells them he has food for them. A notch-eared puppy pops up and expresses his love for food. Valym pulls out the rabbit he caught the night before and feeds the puppies. He dumps the rope from his bag to make room and ushers them inside. The puppies are Nickle, Tolbert, Sarah, Russel, Rikka, and Marco.

Nim comforts Motee who is sad about the dead dog specter. Scorpio and Ajax discuss the fight, complimenting each other's technique. Ajax walks over and tells Nim that Motee is better now. Nim explains that it was a ghost and he is upset because it obviously had unfinished business and they didn't find out what it was.

They spot Valym coming back with a squirming bag. Valym asks Motee if there was another dog in the area. Motee said she had a friend that hasn't been around in a while named Mojo. She is surprised when Valym asks if Mojo was pregnant.

Valym explains the situation to the group. Ajax kneels by Motee to comfort her, telling her he knows what it's like to lose someone. Valym shows the puppies to the group, explaining Mojo was taking the animals to feed her puppies. Valym introduces the group to the puppies, continuing to use Speak with Animals.

The puppies ask their Aunt Motee where their mom is but Motee says she doesn't know. Valym says that something happened and the puppies panic, thinking they are orphans. Valym explains that they aren’t orphans and that there are plenty of people to look after them. He asks if they want to stay with Motee but Motee isn't sure if she is ready for that responsibility. Valym reassures her and she agrees that it would be the best way to pay respect to Mojo.

Nim wants to adopt one of the puppies but Valym reasons that they already have a place to stay and it gives him a reason to come back and visit. A voice comes from behind Valym saying that they are very strange people. He turns to see Tootsie, the horse, talking to him. He introduces the group to her and quickly realizes that she is a very self-aware and vain horse. He ends his spell.

Nim steals some rations from Ajax's bag and offers them to Marco, who slowly approaches to retrieve the treat.

Scorpio splits from the group and tracks down Taj, who has just woken up. He says that they solved the issue and leads him to the puppies. Taj is happy and excited about Mojo's babies and agrees to take care of the puppies. He thanks the group and says that there is a new Fearless Four in town. He gives them Tootsie as there reward and tells Nim that he can come back anytime he wants to. They tell Taj that they are heading for Solace Point if he needs their help in the future.

Young Wisdoms
The group continues on with their new horse, deciding to camp in the woods again. Valym takes the time to explain about Skylark Song, the girl he met the night before. Scorpio looks at the totem and explain that there are people that channel animal spirits in combat.

Ajax feels a familiar rumble from his sheath. He walks away from the group and draws the sword. Belinda angrily confronts Ajax, asking if this is who he has become. He explains he is trying to move on and Belinda is aghast. Ajax sheathes the blade and continues ahead of the group, preferring to walk alone for a bit.

Valym asks Nim if he like cemeteries. Nim says that he loves the cemetery because it is where you lay your loved ones to rest and the lands are pretty and full of flowers.

Scorpio uses some smuggled buttermilk to make a creamy stew as Valym goes to set his trap using some gathered bait to lure any passing prey.

On watch, Nim asks Ajax if he is okay. Ajax says he has been better and Nim says he hasn't seen Ajax likes this since the funeral. Ajax explains that the funeral seems to follow him everywhere. Nim assures Ajax that Ms. Ashford would be proud of what they did for the puppies. Ajax doesn't want to regret getting attached to people again because he is afraid of the pain and loneliness that comes from losing them. Nim says that he would be doing himself a disservice by removing himself from Nim's life, and that he doesn't remember the last time he had so much fun.

Familial Tune
As they talk, Nim realizes that Ajax has fallen asleep and then begins to pick up the sound of a pan flute and a tune he knows. He stands up and picks up his own pan flute, matching the tune perfectly. A figure comes out of the woods, revealing dark skin and horns like Nim. The man says he used to play that tune for his kid, and explains that the song is a dirge about a young woman lamenting when the moon goes away after being so full and so bright.

The man explains that he is looking for something and Nim offers to help him look. The man says that he was young and wasn't ready for responsibility. Now that he is older, he thinks about setting it right and the stars have led him to Solace Point. Nim explains that he lives in Solace Point and the man introduces himself as Demetri and seems to recognize Nim's name. He says he might know the child, and sits the boy down. He says that he thinks he may be Nim's dad.

This is where our tale winds down, until next episode.

Player Characters

 * Scorpio - Played by Xander Jeanneret
 * Valym- Played by Gabe Hicks
 * Nim Grimwillow - Played by Josephine McAdam
 * Ajax- Played by Lord Balvin

Non-Player Characters

 * Taj - A member of the Furious Five
 * Lala - A member of the Furious Five
 * Lucky - A member of the Furious Five
 * Motee - An excitable riding dog
 * Mojo - Motee's friend that passed away after having puppies and continued living as a wraith to make sure they were fed.
 * Nickle - chubby puppy
 * Tolbert -one of Mojo's puppies
 * Sarah - sassy puppy
 * Russel - helpful puppy
 * Rikka - one of Mojo's puppies
 * Marco - shy puppy runt


 * Belinda - A spirit trapped in Ajax's sword
 * Demetri - Nim's father?

Locations

 * Moonblush Valley
 * The Furious Five Farms
 * Road leading to Solace Point

Quotes
"Like aged wine, it settles in your clothes and stays there." -Lucky

"Sometimes it take us a while to find our voice but, when we find it, it comes out in a roar." -Taj

"I'm pretty!" -Tootsie

"That one's ugly!" - Sarah the Puppy towards Ajax

"I'm about to shit in his soup." - Valym about Ajax

Trivia
In this episode, we learned that Belinda's surname was Ashford.