The Great North Woods
Subject The first night
Upon arriving at the campsite, Ragnar gingerly gets off his horse and starts to walk around, slowly, muttering to himself. "First ships, now galloping horses... Why people think their own two feet aren't good enough to take them from one place to another, I'll never know..." When Salix approaches and asks him to look for firewood, however, he ceases his mumbling and does as requested.
Finally seated around the campfire eating dinner, and only shifting slightly in his seat from his discomfort, Ragnar takes the opportunity to ask a few questions about the Great North Woods. "I never lived anywhere near the woods myself, so I'm not too familiar with them. Do any people live in them, other than the druids?"
From: Mark
Subject The Great North Woods
"Many people live on the edges of the woods, but few live deep in the woods. The druids have encampments through several areas, but there are vast sections where no one lives. I have, at times, traveled for days with out seeing anyone else."
From: Porter
Subject The Great North Woods
"Yup. My folk live up near the great woods, few of us live deep in the woods. We'll go in there for huntin' and stuff, but only crackpots stay."
From: Mark
Subject The Great North Woods
Salix nods. "However, Mund lives near the most wild portions of the Woods. The Woods stretch for a 1000 or more miles, from Eld to the WildLands. In Eld and Bhyo people are free to risk the edge of the woods with out much peril. Only when they go deep into the woods do they risk the dangers within. Don't get me wrong. These dangers are natural ones, common to all large forest. Bears, wolves, other predators. Natural dangers. However, the Woods nearer the WildLands is more dangerous. The creatures more feral and there are spots where evil has taken hold."
"Part of this is the forests response to attacks by people. The Wildlands is just as it sounds. People do what ever they want with out much thought of consequence. They will burn large sections of wood just to clear land for a road when they could have logged the trees to build something with them. Not that we druids would have been happy with the logging, but at least the trees would not have died in vain."
The ride continues
Subject The ride continues
The exhausted riders soon turn in to sleep. The night passes too quickly for most of them. Harp sleeps first watch while Ragnar and Ran stay up. He then keeps watch the rest of the night, first with Surin and then with Mund. At sunrise he wakes the others and they eat a quick, cold breakfast. Salix gives the horses some more of the hurtloam in thier morning fodder. The horses seem to none the worse for wear after the hard ride yesterday and the party members all seem refreshed.
Before much longer they are on the road again, Salix setting another blistering pace. Mund and Ran and Harp wonder how long the horses can keep up the pace, but the horses seem to be able to keep up the dangerous speed. They break for lunch and Salix dolls out another small portion of the hurtloam to the horses. The riders are feeling a little worse for wear, but are still able to keep their saddles.
The next several days pass in much the same manner. Salix adding hurtloam to the horses feed and water at every meal and some to the party's food at the evening meal. They ride into the night every day and are at the border by noon on the third day. Harp, Ranthir, Salix and Surin recognize the stone keep they see approaching. In the distance they can see a bustle of activity as the guards prepare for the party's arrival.
The familiar face of Lt. Halpin leads a contingent of 20 warriors out to meet them. When they get close enough the man signals the party and they slow to a walk. The Lt. lets out a bark of laughter when he recognizes Ran and Harp and a few of the others. "By Herionious will, I had thought you dead. When you did not return all those weeks ago, I had figured that you had been ambushed at the pass. I am glad to see I was wrong. I recognize some of your companions. Who are these others?" The question is addressed to both Harp and Ranthir.
From: Ashley
Subject The ride continues
When did the party meet Halpin? I can't find it in the archives.
From: Mark
Subject The ride continues
Jan. 24 of 2005.
From: Kevin
Subject The ride continues
Mark, I don't know why, but I did not get the original e-mail. I got Ashley's question/response to it (thank you for including the original) but I never got the original e-mail.
A familiar face
Subject A familar face
Harp watches the little keep fade away in the distance. He had asked Halpin to include a message to Anglewing with the next courier. They had made excellent time - this was not a sight seeing tour - this was vitally important. He wondered how he would fare out in the open - his vision gave him some advantages underground, but his size had been a problem before - he just plain got noticed. Well, with his new armor, he didn't sound like a bunch of swords banging against a their shields.
As they ride, Harp pulls up along side Mund and Allistair. "Mund, do you think you could teach me some basic orc? It might come in handy some time. I never learned it growing up - my mother was afraid to let me learn much about my father or his people. I respect her reasons, but at least knowing a bit of the language may come in useful."
OOC: Mark, Harp will also try to engage Kal in some conversation. If Kal is in the least bit amenable to some, I can write up the start of that talk.
Harp is riding with his buckler on his left arm, his sword in his scabbard, his bow strung across his back, and a quiver with 20 arrows. He has 60 more arrows in his pack. I am still working on updating Sakeriver with my skill points, but given his lowly amount and limited applications, that is not that big of a deal. Did we get any more healing potions or scrolls from the Order before we left? I know that I was going to have Harp buy a number, as well as some other basic travelling tools (grappling hook, some more rope, etc.). I will try to have that stuff completed and updated by tomorrow night.
Conversations on the Road
Subject Conversations on the road
Kevin: Kal is receptive when/if Harp starts talking to him.
From: Porter
Subject Conversatoins on the road
"Sure thing, Harp. You should know more about your people. They're a proud race of strong warriors. Let's start with some words you might hear in a confrontation or challenge with a small group of orcs. Now this first word literally means "elven whore", but really it's just a generic put-down...."
From: Karl
Subject Conversations on the road
R O T F L ! ! !
From: Kevin
Subject Conversations on the road
OOC: Porter, do you have a list of the orcish words you have been using? I do not know where you are getting those from (your own vocabulary or a pre-determined one).
IC: Harp stutters at hearing the word and its explanation from Mund. "Well, I'm sure that would get most orcs riled up, but do you know any that don't insult the elves? I know you don't like elves a whole lot, but I have some good friends that I would trust my life with and that I don't want to offend. I am thinking along the lines of challenging their bravery, their skill at arms, that type of thing. I should probably learn some regular conversations."
From: Kevin
Subject Conversations on the road
As Harp rides along, he pulls up along Salix and lets him know that Harp will take up the rear guard. As he drops back and passes Kal he motions him to drop back to the rear with Harp. As the two slow their mounts to let the others pass, Harp looks to the elf, his hair cut and slashed, and asks him quietly "How are you doing?"
From: Porter
Subject Conversations on the road
IC:
Mund laughs, and slaps Harp on the shoulder. "You don't understand what I'm saying. Viadlak is a word that you are going to hear from other orcs, no matter how you feel about elves."
"Now you can't get all prissy on my and avoid learning any any "crude words". By "civilized" standards, most of orcish is crude. Almost all strong words are insulting or foul it you want to take them that way."
"And if you're gonna talk with orcs, you can't pussy-foot around strong words. If you talk weak, they're gonna take that as an act of submission. Unless you're backing down, you've got to get in their face and insult them as much as they insulted you."
OOC:
I'm taken back to my mission in Brazil where my companion made sure that I knew the common swear words in Portuguese, so that I would understand what other people were saying.
Unfortunately, I have not kept a list of the orcish words I've been using. I wish I had. That would be quite an undertaking to try to compile them at this point.
I think I made all of them up. What I usually do is take a word or a sound and then make is sound more Klingon. For example, viadlak comes from a Portuguese swear word viado, and then I changed the ending to make it sound harsher and more gutteral.
From: Mark
Subject Conversations on the road
Just a quick note. There is not much chance for conversation while riding. The party is a full gallop most of the time. This pace would kill horses in a day if it were not for the hurtloam. They are moving at twice their normal rate.
From: Karl
Subject Conversations on the road
Salix rides in the lead with singular determination. He watches the woods around him intently, and listens to the breeze. He knew there were dangers in many parts of the forest and that dark and impetuous forces had taken hold in some areas, but he couldn't think of anything specific that would require the Stormfather's direct intervention. In fact, in all the years he'd been a druid, the Fathers and Mothers among them had almost exclusively taken teaching, administration, and ambassadorship roles. Not that they didn't actually get out and see the forest or that they had stopped being hands-on stewards of Obad-Hai, but grunt work was usually what the younger trainees did, and surely a Brother or Sister could handle any problem of the woods or wildlands that Salix had ever heard of. It bothered him immensely that he had no idea even of the nature of the "disturbance" MountainSister Sephira spoke of.
As the party rides in the early mornings and late afternoons he sends Noctis up ahead to scout out the path, with orders to report back immediately if he sees any trouble.
He rides on in silence, occasionally looking back to make sure the rest of the party was keeping pace, but not initiating any conversation himself.
(OOC - though he will respond if someone else starts something.)
From: Kevin
Subject Conversations on the road
IC: "I understand. I was just thinking of insults that don't also insult my friends, if I can avoid them. If I can call someone the cowardly bastard of a kobold and a sewer rat instead of an elven ...." Harp's words trail off, tyring not to say the end of that curse.
I know that I won't be talking civilized, but I don't have to go out of my way to say things that may hurt my friends.
OOC: Ok, I just wanted to make sure that you did not have a pre-existing vocabulary you were using.
From: Kevin
Subject Conversations on the road
OK, then when we are in camp then. There will have to be some down time. Harp will offer to take a watch with Kal so they can talk some.
From: Josh
Subject Conversations on the road
Kal looks at Harp and smiles. "Alright, considering. How does it feel to be out of command?"
From: Kevin
Subject Conversations on the road
"Well, I didn't really want to be in command in the first place. You know, it was not that long ago that I was just a corporal, and even that took me a couple of years. I had sort of resolved myself to being put in some out of the way garrison, sort of like Halpin back there. Away from civilized people, but somewhere that I could not screw up too bad.
You have no idea how hard my first years with the Order were. But, something seemed to happened on the trip to meet Rochelle, the one where we met. All of a sudden, what they had been trying to teach me in the Order, the drills, the teaching, the instruction, all seemed to make sense. I mean, learning how to swing a sword was easy enough, but strategy, planning, learning how to control what you want to do and learning how to do what you have to do, that did not make much sense to me. But, out there on the trail, and more so in that damn dungeon, it seemed to fall into place. I still didn't like it very much, but I started to think that maybe having a plan worked better than just winging it. What do you think? Can an orc like me learn a new trick?"
Turn and What's up ahead
Subject Turn
I will be writing up the next turn tonight, early.
If any one wants to do anything by then please go ahead.
From: Kevin
Subject Turn
OOC: Have I missed anything?
It seems really quite today. Is everyone working? ... or studying???
From: Mark
Subject Turn
All I have seen is my e-mail about writing a turn tonight.
From: Josh
Subject Turn
OOC: I'm trying to setup a new mailing list using gmail or something, if I can get it working I'll let you guys know.
Has anyone talked to whoever's hosting our email script? If it's busted I could probably fix it if he sent me the source code.
Kevin: Sorry I'm taking so long to respond. Been running around getting some stuff done today. I'll send out a response in about an hour. I don't think the game needs to wait for Kal and Harp to have that conversation, it's just "something that happened sometime on the trail". As long as we get it settled sometime soon I don't think continuity will suffer at all.
From: Mark
Subject Turn
I will see if I can find it. Twinky on Sake River is the guy hosting the mail server at a place called Strobelight. His name is Raja.
Let me see if I can get his e-mail some where.
From: Mark
Subject What's up ahead
The rest of the day goes by in a blur. The pounding of the hooves keeps ringing in their ears long after they have stopped for the night. They get into a pattern. Up before the first light, a quick breakfast, and then on the road until noon. A light lunch while the horses recuperate and then on until early evening. A hot dinner and then on the road again. After another 3 hours of riding, camp is made for the night, Mund's everburning torch helping the humans and halfling around camp. Luckily it is mid summer and the days are long. Harp figures that they are traveling somewhere in the 60 miles per day range. He wonders how long the horses can keep it up.
Each night the same watch order is kept. Harp takes an odd watch order. He is on first and third watch, with Ragnar taking second watch. The 1/2 seems to be eating less than all of the others, although one would expect someone his size to eat more. He also seems to be sleeping only a few hours per night. His behavior does not reflect this though. He is his normal self, maybe even more relaxed than the others have ever seen. He spends his time on first watch learning Orc from Mund and his time on third watch talking quietly with Kal. Salix, Allistair and Ran alternate second watch with Surin. Every night before he turns in and after the morning break, Salix sends Noctis out to scout the road ahead. The bird is not happy about this since the pace means that he can not sleep on Salix's shoulder while they ride.
Three days out of the garrison they party is following the North Mountain road. Harp, Salix and Ran recognize certain sections as they ride past. The terrain changes from the farm lands of Schon to more plains grasses. In the distance the mountains raise into the clouds. The road veers to the north and goes into the foothills. The road itself is fairly flat and straight, but the surrounding area gets gradually more wild. Occasionally, off to the north in the distance, a small hamlet or farmstead can be seen, smoke coming from the town blacksmith's forge. Day after day the party rides until they are exhausted. However their spirits and their bodies are renewed by the power of the hurtloam that Salix puts in the food each night.
The party has just started off after their lunch break on the third day. They come to the top of a long slopping hill and crest the top. Ahead of them, down the other side of the hill, is a broad valley. Salix pulls up at what he sees. Far ahead of them, circling in the sky, are vultures. Squinting, he sees that there seems to be some forms on the ground about a mile away, just beneath the vultures. Ranthir pulls up besides Salix and almost startles the druid when he speaks. "Do you recognize this place?" the fighter asks. When Salix shakes his head Ran continues. "This is the valley where Rochelle's company was attacked. See up there to the left? That is the entrance to the Pass of Undulant." Salix is shocked to realize that Ran is correct. It had taken them a week to get here the last time and it only took half as long this time.
OODM: Ok what do you want to do.
From: Karl
Subject What's up ahead
How far out of the way do the vultures seem to be? Also, how much farther does Salix recon they still have to travel?
From: Mark
Subject What's up ahead
The party has been on the road about 5-1/2 days. They have 8-1/2 days still to go.
The vultures seem to be about a mile away also.
Checking in and Down in the Valley
Subject Kal and Harp
Kal replies "I was disapointed by how you felt about what I did, I felt I was making a descision that you didn't have time to, but they would have me believe I was wrong." He smiles, "but lets leave the past behind us. Overall I feel you did an excellent job. You got us all through alive and we accomplished the mission. Furthermore, you mostly kept Mund under control, which doesn't seem to be an easy task." Kal goes quiet for a moment and then looks up at Harp, "Do you imagine all orcs to have the capability for good that you have?" his face hardens and he says softer, "Would that mean that all elves are capable of evil?"
From: Mark
Subject Travel update
I just realized that I might have left the wrong impression.
The North Mountain road is a well travelled road. The party has passed several groups, mainly merchant caravans, heading in both directions. These have consisted of between 3-10 large wagons with appropriate employees and guards. The total number of people in a caravan has been between 12 and 50 people, with about half usually being guards or escorts.
From: Karl
Subject What's up ahead
And the vultures and the "forms" that Salix sees are on or near the road ahead?
Where is Noctis in all this? Has he flown ahead? Is he nearby so he can be sent ahead?
Re-reading your turn, it sound like a caravan has been attacked. Is this a reasonable assumption on Salix's part based on what he sees and the location?
Is there any cover between here and there? Anyway to approach the scene unseen?
From: Mark
Subject What's up ahead
Since the forms are a mile ahead it is hard to tell exactly where they are but they are at least close to the road. He has not flown ahead since it is just after the mid day meal. Salix had sent him ahead in the evening and in the early morning, but the poor birds normal sleep cycles are getting all screwed up. :)
He can be sent ahead. However, remember that unless you have speak with animals, he can not talk to you. A waylayed caravan would be a good guess based on the history of the area and what he sees. There is very little cover in the area. It looks like the area has been cleared decades or centuries ago. There is almost no way for most people to approach unseen.
From: Karl
Subject What's up ahead
Salix tells Ran to drop back, spreading the word that there is trouble ahead and asking Harp and Mund to ride to the front. He briefly considers sending Noctis ahead, but he would have little advantage in the noonday sun and the danger to him would be too great.
When Harp and Mund get to the front, Salix says, "It looks as though a caravan might have been attacked. If so, I'd suspect Orcs. We should ride on with caution. I want you two to take the front. If there are Orcs there, seeing you two might put them off their guard. The vultures are a good sign, for us at least, since they would probably not be gathering if this scene were very fresh and there was still a lot of activity. Still, everyone be on guard.
Salix drops back and conveys this plan to everyone else.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Kal
Harp thinks to himself for a few minutes. "I have been taught that all mortal creatures can choose how they live, and that all creatures have the capacity for good or evil. How they "choose" to live their lives is up to them. Of course, most orcs worship at the altar of evil beings, but it may be that the know nothing else. The elves, for the most part, see the beauty in life, and live accordingly. I am sure that there are some elves who have chosen to live a life of evil, enjoying the pain and suffering they bring to others. But in general, I have found the few elves (and half elves) I have met to be smart, loving caring creatures. That doesn't mean that they don't make mistakes. I think there is a big difference between making a mistake that causes harm and intentionally doing something that causes harm.
Back in the Training Ground, we had a difference of opinion on how to approach something. There is nothing wrong with that. I *think* what you superiors were trying to say was that at that point in time, the decision to open the door and attack was not yours to make. If it had been one of them leading the group, and they had given you the same instructions I had, and you had done what you did, how would they have responed then?
Are elves capable of evil. Of course they are *capable*. But I do not think that it is in their *nature*, or in your *nature* to truly want to harm and hurt others without cauase or reason."
From: Kevin
Subject What's up ahead
Harp will do as requested, getting his bow ready, but not nocked (i.e. he will NOT try to shoot from horseback).
From: Porter
Subject What's up ahead
"Sure thing," he says to Salix.
From: Mark
Subject Checking in
I have only seen messages from Kevin, Porter, Josh and Karl.
Could the rest of you please check in so that I know you got the past turn.
From: Porter
Subject Checking in
Derek's having email problems, but I've sent him the turns, and he doesn't have anything for Alistair to do.
From: Jason
Subject Checking in
Ragnar doesn't have anything special to contribute and he's certainly not in the mood for small talk while on a horse traveling 60 miles per day.
From: Randy
Subject Checking in
I got it.
From: Ashley
Subject Checking in
Surin sits up a little higher in his seat and focuses his attention ahead. His hatchet appears in his hand, though he figures being on a pony would make it pretty useless. "Whatever you need, I'm here," he says reassuringly to Salix.
From: Mark
Subject Down in the valley
Harp and Mund move forward at Salix's command. Both of the riders unsling their bows and bend them in the saddle, stringing them as they do. Neither is terribly good with a bow while mounted but it is better to have the bow ready when they dismount, especially if they have to do it in a hurry. Salix waits for the others to catch up. "Ragnar, would you bring up the rear. Kal, stay near Allistair and Surin, protect them. Ranthir, you and I will be the second row. Lets' leave some space between us and those two." The party takes up positions as they trot down the gentle slope of the valley.
The party moves at a trot and closes the distance slowly, at least to how they have been covering ground the past several days. Ragnar is thankful for the rest. Dwarves just were not made to ride horses. Mund and Harp take up point about 60 feet ahead of the rest and lead the way down. As the party gets closer the scene starts to make sense. There is a large wagon about 30 yards off the road to the north of the road. The ground for yards around the wagon is littered with bodies. There are 10 large bodies and 40 or more human sized bodies all sprawled out in a random pattern all around the wagon. There are no horse bodies though.
The vultures still circle and some of them come to land on the bodies strewn across the ground. It is still impossible to pick out many details but a few can be made out. The wagon leans to one side, a broken wheel laying on the ground. As the party gets within 100 yards of the battle signs of the conflict become more obvious. Javelins sticking out of bodies, limbs spread across the ground, crumpled human forms in leather armor piled up next to much larger forms. It is still tough to tell exactly what happened, but the larger forms are obviously not orcs, but some larger humanoid.
OODM: How do you want to make your approach? I have attached a Map. There is one correction. Down in the lower right hand corner I show what way is north. That arrow is wrong. The arrow is facing west. The party is still about 100 yards away. If you want a character to enter the map please give me the grid coordinates. They are comeing from the east, or the bottom of the map.
From: Jason
Subject Down in the valley
Ragnar will remain in the back as Salix asked, keeping an eye on the surroundings as well as he can (which is never that great!) and bashing any vultures with the flat of his sword (which he has out) if they get too close.
Checking in, the caravan, Harp and Kal cont.
Subject Check in
The mail server here at school hasn't been working. I think I've gotten everything, just late.
From: Josh
Subject Harp and Kal
"I'm not so certain anymore. Things used to be very clear to me, I was an elf and a bladesinger, so I was a force of good. You had orcish blood, so you couldn't be trusted and were likely evil. Instead I find that you are as devoted to this mission as I am, and that you somehow found a way to forgive me.
These things don't make sense to me, and I don't know what to think anymore. I distrust Mund. He's obnoxious, unrefined, and he has shown rampant disregard for the sacredity of our mission. But now I can't tell if I'm right in that distrust, or if I'm wrong about him like I was with you. " Kals voice grows sharp as he continues, "And I can't afford to judge wrong. Either way it could cost us the mission; either I trust him where I shouldn't, or I don't where I need to. We can't afford to fail in this, and I don't trust myself not to.
Does everyone else realize how important it is that we don't fail? Do you? Do you really trust Mund to play a part in the fate of our world? I MUST make sure that this mission doesn't fail...at any cost."
From: Karl
Subject Caravan
Does everything look dead?
Does it look like the humans were fighting the large things?
Are any vultures actually pecking on/walking on anything?
How easy would it be to bypass this scene altogether? Is it blocking the road? Can the party easily pass it on either side?
Is there any sign at all that anything is still alive? (Besides the vultures?)
Are there any likely hiding spots beyond this scene where surviving attackers might be waiting in ambush?
From: Mark
Subject Caravan
From this distance everything looks dead, but you are 300 feet away.
None of the vultures are among the bodies now, but they had been before the party approached.
It is hard to tell, but it does look like the man sized things were fighting the large sized creatures.
It would seem to be easy to buypass the scene. It is 20-30 yards off of the path of the road.
There are no other signs that anything is alive.
There are no likely hiding spots close by. It is a fairly open area.
From: Kevin
Subject Caravan
"Mund, lets wait here for the others and see what Salix wants to do."
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Kal
"Ragnar and I realize this, maybe better than most. Ragnar probably knows the specifics better than I do, but the perils that founded our Order are ingrained in us when we join.
I don' trust Mund, not because I think he's evil, but becasue I don't trust him to think things through. Ha, listen to me. Like I haven't done the same things before. Mund was raised in the Wildlands where you have to trust your instincts and you often have to move quickly before the opportunity passes. He doesn't like elves, and that is going to be an issue. He doesn't follow any path that I can see except what will keep him alive. But, I think that if we talk with his brother, we may be able to get somewhere. Allistair has studied with your people, and Mund has a strong protective streak where Allistair is concerned. Maybe he can help explain how important this is for everyone.
I, for one, am glad your with us. I'm sort of surprised to hear myself say that, given our initial impressions of each other" With that, Harp nudges Kal in the chest, trying to get him to break a smile.
Down in the valley
Subject down in the valley
"Do? What is there to do besides go check it out? Let's go in slowly and see what we can see."
From: Mark
Subject Down in the valley
How do you want to enter? On horseback or on foot? I need this for every party member. If Salix decides to have the party enter a certain way, I would need to have any one who disagrees with that tell me so.
So if Salix decides the party should enter on foot and Mund wants to ride in Porter would have to tell me that Mund does not dismount and that he rides in.
From: Jason
Subject Down in the valley
Ragnar will approach however the rest of the group does so; however, as soon as the others are close, he will get off his horse to keep watch on their back.
From: Derek
Subject Down in the valley
Allistair says quietly to Salix, "I'f you're worried about an ambush, I could turn Surin or someone else invisible while they scout out the area. They would have about 7 minutes before the spell wore off."
From: Porter
Subject Down in the valley
Mund dismounts as he says this. He's going to go in on foot.
From: Ashley
Subject Down in the valley
Surin will continue to keep his eyes and ears open for any trouble. He'll stay mounted unless asked to do otherwise.
From: Kevin
Subject Down in the valley
Harp dismounts as well.
OOC: Are there any trees close by we can tie the horses to?
From: Mark
Subject Down in the valley
No but Harp is riding a heavy warhorse and it is trained to stay where it is told.
Anyone with a warhorse can assume that it is trained to stay. Standard riding horses are not so trained.
From: Mark
Subject Down in the valley
Is Mund going in no matter what Harp does?
From: Porter
Subject Down in the valley
No.
From: Kevin
Subject Down in the valley
"Mund, tie your horse to mine. I'll tell him to stay here" Let's wait for the other to get a little closer then we can head in and see what is going on"
OOC: Harp's idea is for Salix and the other to get a little closer, and then have he and Mund head to the SW corner of the map.
From: Porter
Subject Down in the valley
OOC: Mund has a warhorse as well. There's no need to for Mund to tie his horse to Harp's.
Salix takes control
Subject Salix takes control
"that would be great, do that." Salix says.
"Surin, can you check out the area and let me know if it looks like an ambush?"
From: Karl
Subject Salix takes control
Salix motions for everyone to dismount. None of them were trained to ride in battle, as far as he knows. "We need to check this out, but we should go in on foot.
From: Kevin
Subject Salix takes control
Sorry, didn't know.
"Mund, lets leave our horses here and head in on foot to take a look. I'll see if I can get Ran's attention and the three of us can take a look while the other stay at the edge of the clearing"
OOC:Harp will try to get Ran's attention and signal his intentions (Ran to come up and join Mund and Harp) and have the others stay back a ways to provide cover as needed. If Salix has Allistair turn Surin invisible, Harp will have no problem with that, assuming he even knows about it.
If Salix indicates somehow that he wants to do something different, then Harp will suggest to Mund that they hold back until they hear what Salix has in mind.
From: Karl
Subject Salix takes control
Salix gave Harp/Mund point, so he'll be OK with them deciding what best to do at this point, though he is still going to send Surin in invisible if he's willing. Seeing Harp and Mund head in cautiously, Salix will motion for the remaining members (besides Surin) to wait at the edge. Salix dismounts and draws his scimitar.
From: Porter
Subject Salix takes control
"Sounds like a plan. Let's go in slowly. If Ran wants to join us, it will be easy for him to catch up."
Valley approach
Subject Valley approach
"Sure thing," Surin says, dismounting and starting forward. "How far in do you want to investigate?"
OOC: The "valley" map that I have looks friggin' huge, I don't know if Surin can get a good look at the general area before the invisibility spell wears off, but he can try--or go as far as the wagon or so.
From: Mark
Subject Valley approach
It is a large area but remember that there are 10 rounds in a minute, and the spell lasts for 7 mintues, or 70 rounds.
In a normal round, if Surin makes two move actions, he can move 40 feet. That is assuming he moves at normal speed. Therefore he can cover 2800 feet in 7 minutes.
However, that assumes that he does not want to move silently. He does not have to worry about hiding in the shadows, the invisibilty takes care of that. However, moving silently requires him to move at half speed. He can move at 19' per round, or 38 for a double move action, and only take a -5 on his move silent. If he moves his normal speed he takes a -10.
So for example, if Surin moved at 10 feet per round, or 20 feet per round with a double move action, he would be at+15 to do so. If he took 10 he would have a 25 for his move silent check. If he moved his normal speed, 20 feet,or 40 for a double move, and took 10, he would have a 15 for his move silent check. If he moved 19, or 38 for a double move, he would have a 20 for a move silent check.
I hope this clears things up.
Ashley, let me know what you want to do. YOu will need to contact me directly to let me know what squares you want to move through and such. No one else in the party will know where you are.
From: Porter
Subject Valley approach
I didn't state it earlier, but Mund will be moving silently.
From: Mark
Subject Valley approach
Or trying to. :) I assume then that he will move at half speed, which is 20 feet per round?
I will also assume that unless there is some type of combat, all the people approaching will take double moves each round. That would bring Mund's speed back up to 40 feet/round.
From: Porter
Subject Valley approach
I didn't realize that I needed to put "trying" to in front of every skill usage. ;)
But yeah, you've got it right.
From: Mark
Subject Valley approach
Well unless someone has in the range of 20 ranks in something, I do not consider it a for sure thing.
From: Porter
Subject Valley approach
Of course not. I just figured that the "try" is implied, inferred, and all around assumed without needing to be explicitly stated. ;)
From: Mark
Subject Valley approach
Then that person has never played with some of the people I have. :)
Not a problem.
I will get a turn out tonight. If anyone wants to do anything else let me know.
From: Kevin
Subject Valley approach
OOC: This goes for Harp as well, even though he has almost no move silent skill. He's going to try to not blunder in, but if he rolls a 1......
Seriously, they know they are coming up on a combat zone, they are trying to be careful, they are looking for trouble.
I suggest we use a 2x2 cover approach, weapons selectors on 3 shot burst, safeties off. NO, sorry, watching too much Dallas SWAT on A&E this weekend.
From: Mark
Subject Valley approach
Well if they want everyone can take 10 with the move silent. The armor check penalties still apply though.
From: Mark
Subject Valley map
Just a quick note. The scale of the valley map is 5 feet per square.
From: Derek
Subject Valley map
What are all those marks on the map? They don't make a lot of sense to me.
From: Mark
Subject Valley map
Well the L numbers are the 10 large figures laying about the area around the wagon. The wagon is the large brown figure in the middle.
The M numbered figures are the 40 or so medium sized figures laying around the area.
From: Karl
Subject Valley approach
"Just take a quick look around the area near us. I'm mostly worried that some of those big things might be lying in wait. I don't want to spend a lot of time here. If everyone is dead there isn't much we can do and we need to move on. I just don't want to be caught in a trap."
From: Kevin
Subject Valley approach
OOC: But if we don't stop, we will have wasted a perfectly good trap/ambush my brother thought up. How inconsiderate of us.
Don't worry Karl, if we did not stop here, I am comfortable that what ever we are about to encounter would have tracked us down the next time we stopped and encountered us then.
From: Derek
Subject Valley approach
Allistair shrugs. "If you're worried about them laying in wait, then just start from the outside and poke everything with your sword, working your way in."
From: Ashley
Subject Valley approach
Ok, I thought the spell was only 2 minutes long, so that makes more sense. I'll look at the map and send you something later tonight--I have tons of homework to get through first. :(
From: Jason
Subject Valley approach
Not to mention, Ragnar would definitely rouse himself from his stupor of horse-induced suffering to argue against riding by when someone might still be alive and in need of help.
From: Mark
Subject Valley approach
:)
From: Karl
Subject Valley approach
And Salix wouldn't just ride by if there's a chance of survivors.
From: Mark
Subject Valley approach
Salix whistles to get Harp's and Mund's attention. He signals the party to dismount and for Ran to join the other two further up the road. The fighter slides off his horse, hands the reigns to Ragnar and moves off. Salix waves the rest of the party forward and they all dismount and quickly stake out the horses. Allistair moves up next to the druid. "You know, I could make Surin invisible and he could go scouting with the others." Salix nods at the idea and beckons the halfling forward. Surin quickly agrees to the idea and Allistair chants the magic incantation. The halfling fades from site and moves off.
A few seconds later the three fighters are surprised to hear Surin's voice come out of no where. "I'm going in to look around. You three stay near the edges and be ready to come running if I shout" and the halfling's voice is gone. The three look at each other and, missile weapons in hand, spread out. Behind them the other four in the party wait and see what happens.
Harp moves to the left, towards the road, his new longbow in hand and arrow set to the string. His sword is in it sheath and his shield is slung across his back. Ran has his crossbow out, his small steel shield hung at his waist and his sword at his side. Mund has out his longbow as well, his axe strapped to his back and his shield hung at his side. The three move forward, trying to keep as quiet as possible.
Moving slowly so as to give Surin a chance to scout ahead the others move closer to the fallen bodies. Both Harp and Mun end up about 10 feet from the closest man size creatures and from that distance it is easier to tell what they are. They are humans wearing leather armor with small wooden shields. Some of the shields are broken in half, like they were crushed. The bodies of the humans show the same type of damage. Something about the bodies of the large creatures looks familiar to all three of the fighters, but they can not quite figure out what it is.
OODM: I have shown where everyone is on the map except Surin. I need to know who is going to move where. I need map grid coordinates or I will guess where you want to go.
From: Jason
Subject Valley approach
Assuming that Salix and Allistair stay where they are, Ragnar will be in L50. If they move, the idea is that he's behind them in case of attack from the rear, assuming that the fighters will guard the front.