More Discussion, Marching Order, Man in the Road
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Very good point. I had forgotten that Rennick had ranger levels as well.
How are Cadfael's combat skills and AC? Does Garyth have any ranged skills? When our wizards aren't casting their spells, what do they use to fight?
Mission's main focus is mobility and unarmed combat (duh-- :) ). He has also trained hard to move quietly and to remain unseen. He acts quicker than most (Improved Initiative feat), which makes him ideal for quick, devastating melee attacks.
What are everyone else's feelings on this? I think Rennick should take point, but I'm not sure how to best protect the wizards without his strong arms there in front of them.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
"So, monk, what would you have us do?"
Mission does not answer swiftly. His voice is measured, calm. "I would have us consult, Rennick, and make a decision amongst equals and companions. You make points I had not considered. Wise points. And yet, you take it upon yourself to act on them, desiring us to follow and be content, seemingly on the mere fact that since it is YOUR desire, it is the right one."
Though is voice is mild, Mission taps his staff on the ground anxiously. The more he thinks on Elise and her men, the more anxious he grows.
But he says nothing. He waits for Rennick's response and Garyth's leadership.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Well, Farron has a crossbow and a dagger. He also has a Staff of Defence, too, but if it comes down to relying on him for non-magical combat, the group is probably done for anyway.
In a battle, barring logical necessity to do otherwise, Farron will most likely stay at the edge of his range for magical attacks and will resort to weapons only when his magic is useless or spent, then it will mostly be his crossbow, since his strength is pretty low.
Once a battle starts, and we know the direction from which the attack is coming, we can reasonably expect Cadfael and Mission to move up as required to be effective. The biggest challenge is to pay close enough attention that we don't get flanked.
(/my $.02)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
(OOC: Tom and Matt, I believe this email is coming to the correct addresses, and that there's only one addy per person on this list.)
(OOC: Sa'id doesn't exactly have a combat-intensive list of spells, with the notable exception of Fireball. Fortunately, he is in possession of a well-built crossbow and a reasonable number of bolts. He likes the proposed "loose pairs" marching order, with Rennik scouting ahead of Garyth.)
The viper coiled around Sa'id's staff hisses at no one in particular. Sa'id blinks, pauses for a moment, then speaks in a much milder tone. "Mission," he says, "are members of your order greeted with an honorific as with Brother Cadfael?"
He waits for a response, nods, then continues. (OOC: If there IS an honorific, just assume Sa'id is using it until I find out what it actually is.)
"I am persuaded that pursuit is wise. If Garyth and Cadfael concur, let us proceed before we lose too much more time. I would rather be near a fire when night falls, even we are skulking around in the dark near the campfire of Elise's group."
As his tone softens, the viper slithers back into Sa'id's sleeve and, presumably, coils around his arm.
"I believe my familiar I have not introduced. His name is Aldon, after a close friend and former tutor of mine."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Farron gives a loud whistle to call Jack back to him. After a minute the weasel scurries up his robe and onto his shoulder. "This is Jack", he says to the group.
(OOC - Are we agreed to move out? Ty, who still needs to check in? Let's get ROLLING!)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Rennik looks up at Mission and speaks quietly, but with an edge in his voice.
"Equals. I do not tell friend Sa'id how to weave his spells. I do not tell Brother Cadfael how to pray or heal. When the time comes to do so, you will not hear me offering advice or delaying them. Those are their realms."
"You are ignorant of the wilds. I accept that. You do not realize what can happen to a trail in an hour's time. Two hours. Three. If they go out on open road, I may still be able to track them - but only if traffic on that road is light, and we are close behind. If they cross a river, their hoof prints will slowly wash away until there is nothing left."
"But, if you wish to sit around and consult, so be it." The halfling's voice raises as he turns away from Mission and addresses the group. "We can call a grand council every time a decision must be made! We can hold an election! I vote that *you* take point and track Elise and her party" he points at Garyth, "and you can look for signs of the beasts as well... seeing as we're all equal here."
Rennik pulls himself back under control, stares at the ground for a moment, and continues to Mission.
"There is time for action, and there is time for words. It seems, though, that because I am half your size that you feel my decisions have half the value. Perhaps my elven friends were right when they told me humans were slow-witted"
"When we get to a monastery, I'll be sure to question *your* every decision."
The halfling shakes his head while clenching his jaw, then looks away and takes another step along Elise's path.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Sa'id thumps the end of his staff soundly into the ground. Aldon, the viper, slithers out of his collar and arranges itself on Sa'id's turban.
"While you are right, Rennik, the reason for our current stupor is clear. Most of us, we met only last night. Only working together for a few short hours have we been. Once we have learned to work together well, then these things will be more clear. Until that time, we will continue to muddle through. Since this is the first decision we have had to make as a group and since we have no clear chain of command (situational or otherwise), we cannot be expected to be decisive." Sa'id smiles wryly. "Even though this situation clearly calls for decisive action."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Mission speaks clearly, but with no edge at all to his voice. He maintains a calm attitude toward the bristling halfling. "I have not called your tracking abilities into question, Rennick. I only wish that you would share your intentions with those who will be assisting and protecting you. That we might better be able to do so."
"I am not calling a council. I am asking your advice, friend, and your reasons for your belief. You have supplied those, and unless Garyth or Cadfael can offer better advice, I find your way to be sound."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Yeah, pretty much. I have some defensive magic (Mirror Image) and some offensive magic (Colour Spray, Ray of Enfeeblement, Scorching Ray, Fireball), and a few protective spells (circle vs. evil, etc)... the rest is non-combat stuff. :)
Oh noes! Teh DM si gone! Quick, spam him! ;)
*clicks 'send'*
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Garyth flushes and clenches his jaw, trying to keep in check his frustration at being challenged. "You needn't worry about my safety, Sir Halfling; I can handle myself if it comes to a fight."
He turns to the rest of the party, visibly trying to calm himself. "As I said, we have no guarantee of finding anything at the other farm. The Guard has uncovered nothing more that will help us. What we do know is that that woman and her men left in the same direction as all the other tracks. Since it's likely that the victims left in that direction as well, our best chance to discover more is to follow that trail."
He gestures in the direction of the tracks. "Rennik, if you would be so generous as to lend your tracking skills and take the lead? But try not to get too far ahead. I'm sure you're a great fighter, but it would be foolish to be caught alone in a fight against four armed opponents. That's a good way to get killed."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
(OOC)
Regarding the ordering, Garyth doesn't have any specific ranged skills or feats, although he is carrying a composite short bow. I think keeping him near the front is a good idea, though. Our group has a decided lack of tank in it, but Garyth is extremely fast and would be able to react very quickly to any threat.
(/OOC)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Okay, so, here's what I'm thinking.
If we pair up, sort of like this:
Rennik
Garyth
Farron Sa'id
Mission Cadfael
(that'd flank Sa'id with Garyth and Cadfael... who could administer touch healing more easily that way. ;) and it would give Rennik room to stop the party if it were needed)
If we have to single file it:
Rennik
Garyth
Sa'id
Mission
Farron
Cadfael
(that'd put Sa'id safely in the middle, with two strong arms in front, an armored strong arm in back, and Mission able to tumble past if need be in either direction)
Ideally, though, we'd put Sa'id in a large metal box with eyeholes so he can cast spells. :D
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
> Ideally, though, we'd put Sa'id in a large metal box with eyeholes so he can
> cast spells.
Bwahahahah! :D
Word. Maybe my Mirror Image spell will also replicate the metal boxes ;)
Ah, whatever, that's what he gets for not checking ;)
I think those marching orders are fine. We may need to go single-file at some point, so we should all be aware of both sets of marching orders.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Ok guys, I had to move our exchange server this morning, so my email was down till now. So, as soon as I finish reading the 50 or so emails, I will send out responses.
Is the email list above the one we want to use? No giantsdrink, and no tom's work address.
Is that correct?
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Hey now... I'll... I'll... cast Gentle Repose on you!
:D
(Which actually happens to be one of my favourite spells on my list, but it's very much non-combat ;)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
I like this.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (4); inside the house
Ok guys, I've gone through the 50 emails. :)
I am going under the assumption that the final decision was to track Elise, and that the last marching order sent out is the one we will use.
Karl, Jack didn't find anything other than a tasty field mouse.
I am doing turn 5 using the above assumptions. It will be sent soon.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Cadfael notices it first. How quickly the party came to anger. "We are under a shadow here," he says to the group.
Rennik just snorts and heads off down the trail clenching his axe and muttering under his breath. After a few moments, the rest of the party gathers up their belongings and follows.
The morning sun has finally burned away the last of the remaining fog, and for this the Cleric says a brief prayer of thanks. With the fog gone, the party's spirits begin to lift, and before long Farron and Sa'id begin a drinking song they both learned as students. After the first verse, the rest of the group joins in.
Ahead, Rennik moves like a hunting dog; keeping low to the ground, the tracks of the horses never out of his sight. He also keeps an eye on his axe, which glows more brightly by the minute, far too quickly if Elise and her band are still moving.
Finally, he becomes concerned that an ambush may be ahead, and stops moving. In a few moments, he hears the sound of singing behind him. He shakes his shaggy head in disbelief and hurries back to tell them to quiet down.
One he has stopped the party, he moves forward like a shadow, using the sparse cover so well that he nearly disappears. Coming over the top of a rise in the road, he sees what looks like a man, lying in the middle of the trail and not moving. There is no one else in sight. The man is about a hundred yards away, and slightly down hill.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Ouch. Singing while pursuing?
And Rennick gets to berate us AGAIN for how little we know about tracking?
Methinks the Bezerker has a favorite.
:-)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Not at all. But Rennik is quite a ways ahead, and Farron and Sa'id have never tracked anyone before.
If it is out of character for him, Mission was not singing. :)
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Several things, observational:
- Can Rennik identify with any certainty if this is indeed a member of Elise's party?
- Judging on the surroundings, is there sufficient cover to mount an ambush, or for a ranger to set up shop with a longbow?
- Can Rennik tell if the man is armed, if he has his pack with him, etc... as in, does it look like he would be prepared to jump up and fight, or was he stripped of his possessions? If he has nothing, is there anywhere within several feet of him that he could have hid his weapons?
- What sort of landscape is this? Forest? Plains with bushes and hills? Flat pancake country with some hills (notably this one)?
- Would it be an easy approach for Rennik to circle around and flank this prone figure without being seen? Or even just to get a closer, better vantage point?
Once he gathers all this information, he brings it back to the party and reports primarily to Garyth, with the tone of one fighter talking to another trained in the arts of a field soldier/fighter and assessing a situation.
If it is possible, Rennik would suggest that he find Mission a good patch of cover from which he could watch with his crossbow (along with any others with ranged weapons), while he snuck down to get a better feel for the lay of the land. Possibly Farron's animal companion (if the Diviner is up to risking it) could make its way down through the brush (off the road) to see what it can see, as well.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
"There once was a wizardly fellow
Whose disposition was mellow
He could never get laid
Not even for pay
But about this he never could bellow!"
:D
*Sa'id stops singing, and waits for Rennik to return with a report of what he saw*
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Conditional actions:
IF Rennik comes back, tells us about the man, and also thinks it's safe to run out to him, Sa'id will examine the body to determine whether or not the man is dead, and how he died if he is dead.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
- Can Rennik identify with any certainty if this is indeed a member of Elise's party?
Not from this distance, but the clothing is consistant.
- Judging on the surroundings, is there sufficient cover to mount an ambush, or for a ranger to set up shop with a longbow?
Not easily, it would be difficult for any human sized person to hide effectively here.
- Can Rennik tell if the man is armed, if he has his pack with him, etc... as in, does it look like he would be prepared to jump up and fight, or was he stripped of his possessions? If he has nothing, is there anywhere within several feet of him that he could have hid his weapons?
He is far away, but he looks like all he has is the shirt on his back. He is not close to any obvious hiding places.
- What sort of landscape is this? Forest? Plains with bushes and hills? Flat pancake country with some hills (notably this one)?
Plains with bushes and hills.
- Would it be an easy approach for Rennik to circle around and flank this prone figure without being seen? Or even just to get a closer, better vantage point?
He could get closer using stealth, as his size allows him better use of the low cover.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
So. . . Rennick is looking at the body, and we're. . . what?
Waiting for him to report? Following silently ( :) ) behind him?
How far is the body from where the main group is?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
The main group is 10 yards or so from the top of the him Rennik is peeking over. So far he has not filled you in on the body.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Cadfael is in the metal box that Sa'id covets. It's called a "breas plate" and a "helmet" :) He has the most solid AC of the group, weighing in at 21. His only weapons are a mace and a dagger, so should there be combat he would be in it, hand-to-hand.
Well, really he'd be casting support spells on the group, and making sure the fighters stay alive.
He's Ok with the marching order. He freely admits that he has almost no experience with combat outside of controlled settings while training for his order. He knows little of such things, and shows no real desire to.
As for what he does now, it depends on what Rennik tells us. Although, when Sa'id drops the song, he does as well.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Garyth takes in the information from Rennik's report.
"I don't like the sounds of this. Rennik, does your axe respond only to those alive?"
He thinks for a brief moment, then unlimbers his bow and nocks an arrow. "I think caution will be the best notion. Mission, you cover the right flank with your crossbow and I will cover the left. Rennik, you take the center. We should move up to just below the rise and see what we can see."
He turns to the magic users. "Stay below the rise and out of sight until we have made sure it is safe. Farron, might Jack be up to scouting ahead?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Rennik's axe does only respond to those still alive.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Given the information about Rennik's axe, Sa'id whispers: "Try not to disturb the corpse, if you don't mind." But he stays put as asked.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
"If he's alone, it's no corpse. If he's dead, he's got company. My axe only responds to the living."
He turns to Garyth again.
"I don't know how much the ferret would even be able to tell us, but if Farron is willing to send him, we should wait for that information. If the animal can tell us nothing, I will go. There is not enough cover for any of you to safely crest the hill, but I think I can manage to get closer while still remaining unseen. If all is clear, I will motion you forward and protect your descent down the hill from cover."
Rennik makes a distinct "thumbs up" sign, then waves forward, to show what "all clear" looks like.
"If there is a threat, I will point in the direction of the ambush." Makes obvious pointing motion that looks *far* different from the "all clear". "If I feel I can do so without revealing myself, I'll hit our would-be ambusher in the head with a rock, like so" Rennik picks up a rock and tosses it twenty feet or so into a gopher hole. "Maybe I can get it to move enough for you two to hit it with arrows."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Garyth nods. "Agreed. Mission and I will wait for your signal just below the crest, that way we can be out of sight and still close enough if there is a need."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Rennik's axe IS glowing? My bad. I thought it wasn't.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt (3)
Cadfael looks grim but makes no move for his mace, nor casts a spell. He is tense, but waiting to see what happens.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
We are just waiting for a check in from Karl and Scott.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Mission loads his crossbow. When it is time, he will take up a position as outlined by Rennick.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: First day: the hunt; on the trail (1)
Farron makes a whispery chattering sound and Jack jumps down from his shoulder and darts over the hill crest, keeping to the high grass as much as possible.
His instructions are to check out the corpse(?) and the surrounding area briefly and report back. At any sign of danger he is to get into the underbrush and get back ASAP.
Farron will use his empathy with Jack to keep tabs on his progress, and will converse briefly with him upon return to find out whatever he can from the weasel.