#hearthfire

First, A small Testimonial: I've now tried this system with four different groups, and while there's still some bugs to work out I can say it feels a lot closer to my ideal form of d&d than the baseline rules. Planning combats is SO EASY, and I can actually scare my players with big monsters again. I've dropped the weird XP calculation and I can now use the group's level as a budget for medium-challenge combat encounters. Lower HP totals on both sides keep fights fast and punchy, which means I can fit more of them into a session, getting more progress through a gauntlet of challenges. While considering implmenting this system, I also encourage you to take a look at some of my combat hacks, which help to supplement fights the same way this system is meant to supplement exploration.

PROVISIONS: In order to get the benefits of a long rest while travelling you need 1) A place to set up camp that's not exposed to the elements 2) To spend a use of your provisions

Rather than beancounting individual servings per person, provisions are tracked through "The provision die", an abstract representation of what your party has left to eat that ranges from a d4 to a d20. This works off a depletion die system, meaning that every time provisions are used (generally once per night) you roll the die, and if it's a 1 or 2 it shrinks a size category. If it shrinks while it's a d4 the party is officially out of supplies and starts taking levels of exhaustion.

The base price or provisions is 5gp for a d4 depletion die, larger sizes of die may be bought based off the linked chart.

Alternatively, provisions (of an enhanced rarity even) may be salvaged from a monster, dungeon meshi style.

Without the extra carrying capacity from a bag of holding or wagon, the party's provision die is limited to a D6. Going offroad is tough, requiring characters to live off the land.

Living off the land generally requires a survival check with a DC based on how verdant the area is. Failure can mean a lack of finding anything suitable, or a delay in trying to acquire necessary provisions.

Features that can keep people fed like the outlander background or goodberry spell prevent the exhaustion buildup but still do not allow a long rest.

If ever the party is traveling for a week or more between settlements, their provision die drops by one size, regardless of how many times in the week they've rolled.

A party can buy better rations (consumable) or improve their camp gear (permanant) in order to gain temporary hitpoints when they consume provisions. A common upgrade will get you 2 class HD in temporary hitpoints, an uncommon will get you 4, a rare upgrade will get you 6. Enchanted camp gear (such as high quality tents, enchanted cookwear, rare spices) may also grant other bonuses when provisions are consumed, such as resistance to weather effects, bonuses to saves against fear, or even inspiration.

HAVENS: If the party is sticking in one place for a while it's likely that they'll be doing so in a Haven such as a tavern, outpost, or perhaps even their own bastion. Havens are rated on the same rarity system as camp upgrades and provisions are, which determines their overall level of quality and the amount of temporary HP they bestow per night.

The plan was to go to Windhelm, get Sofie, then head to Dawnstar and get Alesan. We could stay there for the night if it was too late, then come back in the morning.

Unfortunately, as soon as we left Solitude it started storming. Jolf said it would be all day until Windhelm, if we were lucky, but he could drop us off in Dawnstar safely.

So, we went to Dawnstar, and got there a bit before lunch. The weather had cleared up only slightly, so we hustled to the Inn to see if Alesan was there.

He wasn't, so we ordered lunch for all of us, including him, and waited.

It was agonizing! Karita and Thoring could tell that something was up, and asked why we were acting so weird. I think they knew, or at least Karita did. She gave her father a little grin while she put together the extra plate for us.

Erandur waited until after she set the food down before he said anything, which was good, because she SHRIEKED when she heard the news! I'm glad we were the only ones in there. It startled Septim!

She ran around the bar and gave us all big hugs, but Erandur had to calm her down a bit. We wanted to adopt Alesan, but if he didn't want to come with us we weren't going to force him.

I admit, the thought that either of them might not want to come with us hadn't occurred to me, but it explained Erandur's nerves.

I must've had some sort of Look on my face, because Thoring poured me a refill and told me not to worry. Alesan sometimes asked how old they thought he'd have to be to get work on a ship. He clearly didn't want to stay in Dawnstar forever.

That was a relief, but the next thing Thoring said almost broke Erandur.

In a good way, but still.

He pulled some shot glasses out from under the bar along with a VERY nice bottle of flin, and poured one for each of us, including himself.

He picked up his glass and said, "A toast," gesturing to all of us. We picked up our glasses, and he said, "To Alesan, and…" Here he looked at Erandur and Valdimar, "Fatherhood."

Before that moment, I don't think Erandur realized that the kids would think of him that way, or that it was even possible. He just froze, and didn't move until Valdimar nudged him. Even then, it was only to blink at the drink in his hand a few times before he knocked it back.

Thoring laughed and finished his, as did the rest of us.

That was some damn good flin!

Anyway, Erandur was quiet after that, and when I asked him if he was all right, he looked confused. He said he thought he was, then asked if I thought they'd want him to be their father.

Right then, Alesan ran in with an empty soup pot, and said something about the miners to Karita before he noticed we were sitting at the bar. He said hello, and was happy to see that his lunch ready for him. He was cold, so he went to sit on the floor by the fire to eat.

We all looked at Erandur, and I could tell he was nervous. He had the hem of his cloak in a death grip, practically grinding the fur off between his fingers. I leaned over and whispered for him to go ahead.

"You do the honors."

Later on he admitted that the reason he called Alesan over rather than going to sit with him was because he didn't think his legs could work.

Alesan came over, and knew something was up right away. He asked why we were all looking at him "like that," and Erandur said it was because we had a very important question to ask him.

I'll never forget the smile on Alesan's face when Erandur asked if he'd like to be adopted. He has such a big smile anyway, seeing him just light up…

Dammit, I thought I was done crying for today!

Well, he was very happy and excited, and he asked Erandur if he was going to be his father.

Erandur blinked away a few tears, and said that he could never replace Alesan's father. Still, if he wanted him as a father, he could use the Dunmer word: "Ata".

Alesan said it a few times to himself before he said, "Ata!" and hugged Erandur so hard that he almost knocked him off the bar stool! Erandur hugged him back, and I was close enough that I could hear him whispering thanks to Mara as he did.

Erandur was wiping at his eyes when he let go, and I leaned forward to tell Alesan that he had more than an "ata".

Alesan's eyes got huge when he realized, and he said he never had a mother before! He said his father never talked about her, and never wanted to, either.

Mystery lady, wherever you are, I promise I'll do my best.

He asked what to call me, and I said that being "mama" was fine.

Divines, I was NOT prepared to hear him call me that! I thought I was, but…

If I'm not careful I'm going to have to rewrite this section. Stupid ink's not dry yet, and if I'm not careful it's going to run.

Anyway, he gave me a quick hug before he pulled back and asked Erandur when we got married!

We ALL needed that laugh! Lydia and I could hardly breathe, and Erandur tried to explain, but ended up in a coughing fit! Valdimar was laughing so hard he wasn't even making noise anymore, just slapping his hand on the bar!

Once we could talk again, we explained to a very confused Alesan that no, none of us are married, and that we were all adopting him together.

He was actually really excited about having four parents! Valdimar said he would go by "da", and Lydia is… Aunt Lydia.

Later on, she told me that she'd purposefully been trying to not think about it. She just didn't want to expect being called a certain name, only to find out that hearing it would be too weird, or that maybe they didn't want to use it.

Being their aunt feels right, she said, and that's fine with Alesan. I'm just glad that when he called her "auntie", she actually smiled.

Of course, he already knows Septim, and was excited to know that Septim was his dog, too.

Karita gave him a big hug and said that she'd miss him, but she was happy for him. "You got a whole family all at once!"

I told her that we were still missing one, and Alesan asked who.

"Your sister."

He was REALLY excited to hear that! He asked all about her, and I said that we'd talk more on the ferry ride back to Solitude.

He was surprised to hear that we were going to Solitude. He thought that he'd be coming with us on our travels, but Erandur explained that it was very dangerous. Beside, we had a big house in Solitude, where it was a lot warmer and safer than here, with plenty of other children his age to make friends with.

There are other kids in Dawnstar, but they're older than him, and Erandur said Alesan rarely got to spend time with them because he was always working.

I hope he can handle not having a job!

Maybe he'll enjoy studying? He seems interested in the books. I've been putting some of the duplicates from the library in the Manor over here when I remember to grab them.

Anyway, it's not like he really had anything to pack up, just his blanket, a spare set of clothes, and a little stash of coins, so it wasn't long before we were on our way to the ferry.

Erandur asked if we could stop in to Frida's so he could tell her the good news. She'd promised to keep an eye on Alesan after Erandur left with us, and he wanted to thank her for it.

She was thrilled to know that we'd adopted him, and we promised to bring him back for visits from time to time.

Then it was on to the ferry, and Harlaug was waiting excitedly for us. He teased Erandur for taking so long to "officially" adopt Alesan, and told us that he fretted over him like a broody hen!

Alesan laughed with us, and we had calm seas on our way to Solitude. We answered what questions we could, but we couldn't tell him much about Sofie. He's excited to get some real schooling, but also asking a million and one questions about our weapons and armor.

-/-/-/-/-/-

Speaking of weapons, he's found the wooden sword I left out in their room! I'll have to find another in case Sofie wants one, too.

Am I going to spoil them? Yes, yes I am. I'm their mother. I'm allowed.

Anyway, as I was saying, the ride itself was an easy one, but we weren't able to get in to Solitude until well after nightfall.

We showed Alesan to the long staircase that comes out next to the market, but after we got to the top, we heard shouting.

Vampires.

Erandur told Alesan to get behind us, and got his sword in one hand, and Flames ready to go in the other. He closed and locked the barred gate with Alesan behind it as soon as the rest of us were out, and I heard him tell Alesan to stay there until one of us came to get him. Lydia and Valdimar ran ahead to join the guards in the fight, and I stayed back with Erandur to make sure none of the vampires tried to escape that way.

Not like we had to bother. Septim stood in front of the door and refused to budge until we could show him that we were all okay!

There were two Vampires, two thralls, and two death hounds!

Alesan was scared, but impressed when he saw me summon an Atronach, and the others pull out their weapons.

The only person to get really hurt was Aia, one of the student bards. She was out late, going back to the College after a night in the tavern when she was attacked. I healed her while Erandur checked everyone over for Vampirism. Everyone's fine, including the guards, so we got Alesan out from behind the gate and brought him to the house.

Alesan was a bit shaken, but excitement soon won out over his nerves, and he's been wandering around and quietly asking questions about things ever since.

He sounds a bit nervous to meet Jordis, but I reassured him that she's very sweet, and is looking forward to meeting him tomorrow.

He loves their room! I made sure to put a lot of clothes in their wardrobe, and he found his new ones.

We'll probably turn his old ones into rags. They're muddy, badly patched and don't fit him well.

Like I said, he's too excited to sleep, and it was a long boat ride and an exciting welcome to Solitude, so the rest of us are having a warm snack and sitting at the table while he wanders around.

-/-/-/-/-/-

He's finally asleep! Erandur's almost done with his prayers, and Lydia and Valdimar already went to bed. I'm going to finish this, clean up, then make sure Erandur gets some sleep, too. We've got a long boat ride tomorrow.