thirty answers for dolmenwolves
Answers for the thirty questions for my Dolmenwolves group that starts near the Woodcutters' Encampment.
01 How do we discover places worth exploring around here?
Most rumors end up at the Stump and Poniard sooner or later. Whether they're worth believing is another matter. The Woodcutters know the nearby forest, and the barge crews bring news from the High Wold.
02 What places do people travel great distances to visit?
Pilgrims travel to Fog Lake to touch the crystals, which supposedly cure the sick. At the Falls of Nyf, an enormous contraption hauls entire ships between different levels of the river. Some people make the journey just to see it work.
03 Where do we go for a meal, a bed, and some good company?
Clement Brancher's Merry Mendicant has rooms, meals, and plenty of passing travelers. The locals gather at Jock Furngle's Stump and Poniard to drink and mock the Drune. They serve food, but have no beds.
04 Who else is out there exploring dangerous places?
Other adventuring bands are active in Dolmenwood. Some pass through the Stump and Poniard, and Jock Furngle might know who came through last and which way they went.
05 What are people fighting over around here?
The elder Woodcutters are losing patience with Jollie Oistace Pollard, who has done little to preserve furnging. House Mulbreck wants greater control of the river trade, particularly around Dreg and Shantywood Isle. That puts them at odds with Lord Malbleat.
06 How do we stock up for a week in the wilderness?
Nell Bolewick sells provisions and basic equipment near the port. Anything more specialized may have to be ordered from Dreg or Castle Brackenwold. Horses and wagons are particularly expensive here.
07 How do we find out what we're getting into before we set out?
Father Horsely has an incomplete map of Hag's Addle. Some Woodcutters know the nearby forest well enough to serve as guides, if they're willing. A fairy along Cave Path is said to share her knowledge of the surrounding country with anyone who beats her in a musical contest.
08 What dates should we mark on our calendar?
Father Horsely holds a sermon every Sunning, and a market is held by the port every Frisk. The Mulbreck bailiff holds court on the 16th of each month. The Woodcutters mark the first cutting of spring on the first Sunning of Symswald.
09 How else could we make our fortune around here?
Merchants make their fortunes shipping goods along the Hameth. House Mulbreck wants a larger share of that trade. Rare herbs and fungi from Hag's Addle also fetch high prices from specialist buyers.
10 How do the seasons affect where we can go?
Spring is generally the easiest time to travel. Winter snow seldom lies deep, but the days are short, and autumn rains make the bog difficult to cross. The occasional unseason brings other problems. During Chame, the woods fill with snakes.
11 Where do we find people willing to work for us?
The port and the Stump and Poniard are the usual places to find people looking for work. Nell Bolewick can put you in touch with boatmen and labourers. Finding someone willing to venture into Hag's Addle is another matter.
12 If one of us is hurt or ill, how can we get them back on their feet?
Ordinary wounds heal with rest. For illness or curses, you can consult Father Horsely at the Church of St Foggarty, though he isn't known for miraculous healing. Pilgrims travel to Fog Lake to touch crystals said to cure the sick.
13 How do we find out what we've got our hands on?
Megwynne Marrowbold knows pipeleaf and smoking curiosities, while the elder Woodcutters can identify unusual timber. For magical objects and mysterious inscriptions, the consulting magician Mostlemyre Drouge offers his services in Prigwort.
14 How do we turn the treasure we find into coin?
The Camp has passing merchants, but no jeweller. Gems, jewellery, and fine art are better taken to dealers in Castle Brackenwold. Magical objects are harder to sell and may require finding a particular buyer.
15 If we stayed here for a few weeks, what could we get involved in?
Father Horsely is still mapping Hag's Addle and may welcome help with his expeditions. Megwynne Marrowbold is studying the properties of pipeleaf. The Woodcutter elders are trying to preserve the art of furnging, though they're reluctant to share their knowledge with outsiders.
16 How can we send word to someone several days' travel away?
Nell Bolewick can arrange for letters and small parcels to travel with boats or merchants heading to Dreg or Castle Brackenwold. From there, the messages can be carried farther afield. There's no regular postal service, so urgent deliveries require a hired courier.
17 How do we become more than strangers to the people here?
The Woodcutters encourage visitors to join their evening mocking of the Drune at the Stump and Poniard. Weddings and dances are held beneath the Oistace Tree. Working alongside a local logging crew is another way to get to know the villagers.
18 How do we keep our treasure safe while we're away?
There's no bank or public vault in the Camp. Nell Bolewick may agree to store a sealed chest for someone she trusts, though she won't take responsibility for its contents. Larger fortunes will require secure premises of your own or arrangements with someone in a larger town. Or get creative.
19 If we needed a miracle, where would we turn?
You can pray for a miracle at the Church of St Foggarty, though there's no guarantee your prayers will be answered. Other saints have shrines throughout Dolmenwood. Witches are said to bargain with ancient wood gods, while the Hag of Hag's Addle is rumored to grant favors for a price.
20 What if we want something nobody sells?
The Woodcutters take commissions for carpentry and sometimes sell furnged timber, including wood that resists fire. More unusual designs may require a specialist, rare materials, or a workshop of your own.
21 How can we get an audience with someone powerful?
The Jollie Oistace, hereditary leader of the Woodcutters, receives visitors at Ferneddbole House east of the Camp. He has shown little interest in village affairs lately. An audience with Lady Mulbreck at Bogwitt Manor usually requires an invitation or a suitable introduction.
22 What happens if we're accused of a crime?
Accusations are brought to Ysbet Tarrow, the Camp's constable. Most cases are heard at the Mulbreck bailiff's monthly court, where twelve freepeople hear the evidence. More serious crimes go before the sheriff's court. The Pluritine Church may offer sanctuary, though that won't make the charges disappear.
23 What could we learn to do here that we can't do yet?
Boatmen can teach you to navigate the Hameth, and the Woodcutters know forestry and carpentry. Megwynne Marrowbold has spent years studying pipeleaf and its properties. The Woodcutter elders still practice furnging, though they're reluctant to teach outsiders. Some of their work takes generations to complete.
24 How do we get our hands on something we're not supposed to have?
Dreg has a reputation for thieves and questionable dealings. It's a good place to ask about goods that aren't sold openly. Some things are prohibited by law, others by the Church or local custom, and not all of them can be bought.
25 How do we get others to back a plan we can't afford ourselves?
House Mulbreck may support ventures that strengthen its control of trade along the Hameth. Independent merchants might finance an expedition in exchange for a share of the profits. The Pluritine Church may be interested in helping recover or restore a lost shrine.
26 If someone dies working for us, what are we expected to do?
Among the Woodcutters, you're expected to inform the family, return the dead person's belongings, pay any outstanding wages, and contribute to the burial. If you can't recover the body, the family will want to know what happened. Disputes over these obligations can end up before the bailiff's court.
27 What could we do with a fortune around here?
The Camp is small enough that a wealthy newcomer could become one of its largest employers. Timber and river trade are the main opportunities for investment. House Mulbreck would take an interest in any enterprise large enough to affect the local economy.
28 What if we cleared out an abandoned fortress and wanted to keep it?
Clearing out a fortress doesn't make you its legal owner. You'd need to find out who claims the land and, if it's in Mulbreck territory, have House Mulbreck recognize the claim. You'd still be responsible for maintaining and defending the place.
29 What would it take to change who makes the rules here?
The Jollie Oistace's position is hereditary, and he governs the Camp under House Mulbreck. The Woodcutter elders have considerable influence over village affairs, but they cannot appoint his replacement. Changing who rules the Camp would require House Mulbreck's cooperation or a challenge to its authority.
30 What would make people remember our names?
The Woodcutters still tell stories about their ancestors. Saving the Camp from a serious threat or helping preserve the dying art of furnging would give them reason to remember you. News of notable deeds travels along the Hameth with barge crews. So does news of crimes.