"Gods I'm thirsty," Eyvindir says rising to his feet. "Perhaps high ground will help us spot a source of water. If there is no high ground then we had best split up."

Once Bjarne heard Etvindir's voice, he ran back the short distance to the improvised shelter. His words echoes Bjarne's thoughts and no matter what ordeal Gods had planned for the group, he couldn't ignore his bodily demands anymore. "Me too, We need to find something to drink" Walking anxiously around whatever remained of the campfire, Bjarne tried to find a solution desperately "Unless some of you have a pot with you, that we can use to boil water, our best bet would be to search for a spring of fresh water somewhere around the woods"

Bjarne's sentiment was less of a definite statement and more of an invitation for discussion and idea sharing and his face pretty much translated his confusion and desperation.

Y'strahl's sleep was as expected from sleeping outdoors with not a bed in sight. Absolutely back breaking and cold. Getting a wink of sleep was practically an accomplishment for an aspiring astrologer in the middle of the wilds. She woke up groggily and as if on cue, some of her fellow survivors decided to find a spring,"My suggestion is for only you two to go, it is better for two people to find a water source. The rest of us will hunt for game, I may be tired but my magic can certainly assist in the hunt." she says, her crystal piece on her hand gives off an orange glow.

"And if last night's display was any indication, you might be able to cook and hunt at the same time. Don't use too much fire though, I prefer my meat bloody." Eyvindir says as he gathers some soot from the fire pit and makes some black streaks under his eyes.

Turning to Bjarne he says, "I have some skill in the woods, but honestly I'm not the greatest. How about you? Water will be the most important task today, we don't want to leave it to the stars."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 05:32, Sat 16 July 2022.

Y'strahl merely scowls at Eyvindir,"... Hmph, with that attitude, I might as well serve you the more burnt parts of our game. Think of it as a lesson of sorts, maybe you'll be enlightened at such new palettes." she says as she pulls out her book to review her previous entries.

"I can forage pretty well, but I would prefer if we bring someone else along with us as well to increase our chances of finding water. It is our main priority right now. Without water we can't do any longer. And on our way we will look for any edible plants either way" Bjarne added to the ongoing discussion. "Who would like to join us?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:25, Sat 16 July 2022.

"I will join you, I have skills in foraging from having to take care of horses and the trouble I caused back home." Vinlas smirked

Bjarne's words were purposefully spiked with urgency, the thirst had obviously exhausted his body greatly, and if he was to fulfill his purpose he will need to get back to his old self as soon as possible. "Lets head out then" He responded to Vinlas, before turning to others. "May gods be in your favor, and may we feast tonight." Once done, Bjarne headed towards the wooded areas with the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:02, Sat 16 July 2022.

"I mean it as a compliment Y'strahl," Eyvindir says sincerely. "Last night you showed your ability with fire reflects your fire within. Don't forget that. Don't ruin our dinner by blasting it away, and don't burn down the entire forest."

Eyvindir nods to Vinlas. "You look the type to know their way around a forest. Let's get going then."

oK, and the results are in. Only Eyvindir and Bjarne foraged, but Vinlas went with them, presumably to keep watch. Which is good. That gives us someone that actually gets a passive perception roll if necessary. Foraging takes all one's focus.

And that leaves Y'strahl back at camp trying to figure out how to find game without training in Nature or Survival. Which doesn't mean she hasn't come up with something, just that she hasn't told me what it is.

OOC:
The good news: Exhaustion should be gone by morning, yielding more foraging success th next day.

The bad news: Bjarne barely found food for 4, and water for 5. But there is no way to preserve that extra water, so it's gone.

You have no way to bring water back to camp, so someone will have to go get Y'strahl and bring her to a puddle to drink from. Also, you now have a new project to consider: Making waterskins for everyone. While also foraging.

OK, folks, you're fed and Stig's lean-to seems willing to stay up another night. Let me know what you want to do the rest of the evening.

I am going to consider the post storm grace period over, and let creatures start roaming to forest again, so I recommend from this point: Stay together. If there IS an encounter, you don't want to deal with it alone...or being left out of it. Also, you'll eat and drink sooner if you're with the foragers.

Sitting around the fire Bjarne's mood has turned somber for the first time since they ended up on this beach. His inquisitiveness, willingness to explore and joy at stumbling upon knowledge have flew out of his brain for an hour or so and were replaced by a mild anxiety. The group's current set up was good enough for a day or two, but if they were to find Vinland, and fulfil the purpose that the gods have planned for them, it would be impossible reach it barely surviving like this, some form of progress will be a necessity.

"We haven't reached our goals today" Bjarne broke his silence abruptly, slight disappointment he felt inside echoed in his voice. "We haven't even quenched the thirst and hunger of everyone stranded here. If we are to find and reach Vinland we need to hone in on our strengths, and do it step by step, and in order to do so, it would be best if all of us could share our knowledge with each other, so we can rely on each other."

If Bjarne was to get others to talk, he might as well begin the conversation himself. "I am not a carpenter, I am not a smith, I can't weave, but I can heal, I can repair small breaks and cracks in objects, I possess knowledge about nature which could help and that is as much as I can do."

"I am warrior and storyteller," Eyvindir replies to Bjarne. "If we find ourselves in a fight then you'll be glad to have me at your side, but I'm afraid my knowledge of the woods is less than stellar."

Turning to Vinlas he says, "You seem rather at home in the woods. If we saved some of this food, do you think you'd be able to make a trap with it as bait? I've seem some hunters fashion a snare out of next to nothing, and others have set up a simple trap of just a stick and rock which falls down and crushes a rabbit underneath."

He thinks for a moment before adding, "Although we might need set up camp somewhere else since we found no water source today beyond some puddles. Surely we could at least find a hill, or a lone tree to climb, so we aren't wandering about the woods as if we're blindfolded."

"Snares are a distinct possibility. I would prefer to skin an animal or two and make waterskins in preparation of travel. After we have secured traveling water supplies, then shelters can be made from large animal hides." Vinlas said dredging up knowledge he had learned.

"If there's anything we might prepare tonight while we sit around the fire, let me know. I will glad to help," Eyvindir tells Vinlas.

"I'm afraid my usefulness is limited in these environs. Like I said before, I can only see futures that align with the constellations." Y'strahl says with a pause as she looks toward the others,"Though if you require mystical powers and knowledge, I can wield it effectively. And I know of common medicinal practices whenever one of you is foolish enough to get hurt or gain a disease."

Alright, another watch less night in the lean-to, which is looking rickety.

And you're hungry again. I'm going to keep you in a bath, and split you into multiple obs, much as travel would have you doing. (Also, did anyone notice the private message certain of you should have gotten in the IC thread? No mention was made last night, so I'm not sure. message 49, above)

Now, as best as I can figure (and I may be wrong) the plan is to make waterskins and start looking for Vinland, which should be north. The waterskins will allow a little water transport (about 25% of the requirement) so  daily foraging will still be needed. Navigation won't be an issue if you stay on the coast where you can't wander away from the ocean (which might affect foraging for one of you). But at least one of you will need to stay alert to have Perception rolls.

From the PHB, page 182 the following activities apply:
The Lookout: Does nothing, which allows for Passive Perception rolls.
The Tracker: The will find food animals. It will take a couple rolls (Find a trail/game trail and follow the trail)
Forager: Finds food and water on the way.

Perception matters for the Lookout(s)
Survival for everyone else.

Go ahead and figure out who is doing what, if this plan seems like what you want to do. If not, give me a plan you prefer, and I'll figure out what's entailed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:45, Wed 20 July 2022.

"I think that we should head North along the coast searching for water and maybe for some edible fruits, for if the animals eat them then we can assume they are safe enough if the Thunderer is with us. Then see about capturing animals to give us meat and skin for water skins. Vinlas contributed hoping to find something.

"It will be difficult to hunt any animals while we are on the move, and I only have my knife. That won't be much good. Still I suppose reaching Vinland is our best bet at survival."

Do we have any idea how far away we are?

Also what is the process of making a waterskin? Do we have to cure a hide, or let the stomach lining dry out?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Wed 20 July 2022.

"I agree with Vinlas, our best route to Vinland lays in that direction. If you don't mind I can keep my eyes around so nothing creeps up on us. If someone else prefers me to occupy another role, let me know. The route through the forest is far riskier, but the potential for boons is much better, or am I mistaken Vinlas. "

DM I would like to know if I can do a Nature roll to get an impression if we can find any seals along a coast like this, or any clams, crabs

Also I have a high passive perception, so I can lookout really well, my surival is at +3 too so I can be ok at both. What are your preferences?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Wed 20 July 2022.

No idea how far away you are. I fact, "North" as a direction is just a best guess. The colony could be south of you, but that would put you close eough to the frozen north, there would likely be indicatons.

As to making a water skin:
-Kill a beast
-Skin the beast
-Tan the hides using a process that was actually invented by the locals, and probably hasn't been taught to you lot (Europeans), yet. Still, it's a game, and you don't have the chemicals, so let's go easy and use the brain matter of the beast you killed to tan it's hide.
-Use leatherworking to make waterskins

Time...killing and skinning is a one day task. Next day for tanning to produce at least 4 sp worth of leather (I might allow this on the same day as the kill/skin, as so little is involved) then day 2 or 3, depending, make 8 sp worth of waterskins. A fraction of the day, but enough to sideline the leatherworker from any foraging projects that day.

So: at  least 2, maybe 3, days. day one will prevent foraging if everyone is on the hunt.

Of course, as you only have daggers, the beast may have died the death of 1000 cuts, and Mending may be needed to make a single hide usable for 4 waterskins. I think that's covered, just stating for completeness.

Day one may also see butchering, of course, so someone else may do that, and if you want to try and smoke preserve the meat (ie: make jerky) instead of foraging, that's possible, too. That is best done by a trained cook, but if you don't have one, well, you won't lose by trying, you just may not gain.

Other items for travel, if you have more than one skin: Leather sacks. Cheaper and quicker than above, in theory, but I'm going to insist on at least over night for any tanning of hides. It takes time, regardless of the canon rule general pattern on crafting. and for this sort of thing (Sacks and waterskins and sleeping rolls from furry things and etc) sheer size of the available material is more important than the value after tanning, regardless of the rules on the matter (50 go per week produced, from material at half the value of the finished product).

It's easy, fairly quick, and you have the skills and tools (more or less) between you. Mostly this is just a chance for a quick simple combat.

"I'll look for food and water as we travel."

Y'strahl nods along,"We should move as a group as we head. I won't be much of use but I'll offer my aid as much as I can."

"Since we only have our daggers, should we flush out any game your powers will prove to be most useful," Eyvindir assures Y'strahl.

 "I have one way to inflict injury from afar but it will send the beast fleeing, if it wasn't already."

Folks, I have one person foraging. IS anyone else doing anything at all other than walking along?

Either I've missed something (happens more than I'd like, frankly) or folks just aren't committing to doing anything.

So let's mix it up a bit: a lone, somewhat gaunt, wolf stumbles into camp while you're debating the day's foraging plan.

Let's roll for initiative. You may send in any first round intentions and actions, with die rolls, as well.

Please post combat actions (and any speech)) to your private threads. I'll put it all together in initiative order and post here. Please don't post here during combat.

Keep in mind that, in this edition, rounds are only 6 seconds. You really have no time to discuss on the fly or work out what someone is about to do, etc.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:21, Fri 22 July 2022.