Into the Jungle, Wile E. Halfling
Subject: Re: The Chase; Run for the tunnel- oh crap
But I think we should head towards the jungle (south) regardless and avoid the tunnel altogether. That will more than likely put the whole of the hunting party behind us (though they may pursue). If we go to the tunnel haste and invisibility will likely only serve to get us into their midst.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Run for the tunnel- oh crap
I agree-- let's move south.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Chase; Run for the tunnel- oh crap
OK. Moving south is good. I'll cast invisibility after Farron casts haste.
From: Ty
Subject: The Chase; Spells and more spells and some running
Sa'id and Farron confer quickly, and Farron begins to chant while waving his hands about. Mission suppresses a shudder, remembering the savage glee he felt while under the Haste spell last time. He isn't sure if he is shivering out of gladness that the spell won't be cast on him this time, or out of regret that he won't feel the rush of speed and power once again. He decides not to think about it, and moves over to put himself between the mages and the rapidly forming search parties to the east.
Rennik, for his part, is watching the small group that forms around the half elf with growing concern. He tugs Garyth's sleeve once, and points him in that direction. "That's who we need to worry about. See the Murrkat he is gathering? All carry bows or slings. All with bits of leave and twig in their clothes and armor. Those are hunters. Trackers. The half elf has the look of a tracker himself. That's the group that will dog our trail the hardest." Garyth nods. There is no reason not to believe the halflings assessment. Garyth can always spot a swordsman by the way he stands and how he moves his feet. He assumes that Rennik can do the same with woodsmen.
Rennik continues to fret. He knows that his skills at hiding their trail will be pitted directly against the skill of the half elf tracking them. Normally, he would relish such a challenge. His mind already whirls with tricks, and traps, and ambushes. But the weight of the child around his neck is a constant reminder of the handicaps he'll have in this particular contest.
Cadfael stands nearby, looking almost gaunt without his breastplate. He looks up at the sun and closes his eyes, letting the light warm him. It has been a very long time since he was warm. Again, he feels that odd disconnect, as if he could take this one moment and stay in it forever. Each moment since the ring came off is so sweet, he hates to leave them and move into the next. To his right, wizards mumble under their breath. To his left, Rennik and Garyth mutter about hunters. But he stands in the middle, and for this one moment, he is warm. It's enough.
Farron finishes his incantation, and the party feels a shift in their perceptions, as the world around them seems to slow down. There is a odd sensation, as if the blood fizzes with bubbles, that is not entirely pleasant. Sa'id immediately begins his spell, making sure to speak and enunciate clearly. It is difficult to cast while hasted, though all students were trained to do it at the college. One can not speed up a spell casting, so it requires a conscious slowing of the process while hasted.
When his spell is finished, Rennik says to Garyth, "Lead them south." Garyth begins to move off at a blur, but Sa'id catches his arm. "If you move too far away from Mission, he will be seen." Garyth nods, and slows the pace to match what the monk can manage without the spell (base move for party 40'). Rennik remains at the rear, using trail craft to cover their passage as best he can, knowing that any true hunter will not be fooled for long.
The two spells accomplish their purpose, and the party has moved far enough into the jungle that they can no longer see the mountain when the magic ends. Now it is just a race.
[Ok. You guys got a hundred feet or so into the jungle before the spells ended. Your default setting will be full movement south unless I hear otherwise. If you are doing anything other than that, I need details. I also need to know if you plan to hustle to gain extra ground. You can hustle up to one hour per day without fatigue affects. Additional hustling causes fatigue. See the rules I sent out for details on the effects of fatigue. Anything else, other than "walk south" must be detailed out for me. I don't want any "But I would have been doing this!" later on. :)]
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Spells and more spells and some running
Beneath the cover of leaf and branch, Mission finds himself breathing again. The echoes of Farron's and Sa'id's spells caroom around in his ears-- he shakes them off.
"We should hustle on," he says. "We've got a lead on them now. We should take as much advantage of it as we can."
OOC: We should hustle now as much as we can. Let's get beyond our trackers as far as possible-- if they catch up with us, it will be too late to hustle.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Chase; Spells and more spells and some running
Sa'id nods. "I have no desire to be caught," he says, though internally has to stifle some disappointment. He avoids looking at Promise.
OOC: Yeah, I agree, let's make with the hustling.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Spells and more spells and some running
Farron remembers the invasion of his brain and how near he came to an unforgivably traitorous act and shudders. He wants nothing more than to put as much distance between himself and the mountain as possible as quickly as possible. He nods at Mission's suggestion, but does not look at him. He takes only a few seconds to secure his pack and check on Jack who at some point slunk back and was sulking in one corner of his pocket. He gives the little guy a tentative stroke then a reassuring pat as he stretches out across the bottom of Farron's pocket.
Too ashamed to look at anyone in the group, he takes his assigned place in the line-up and watches intently for any sign of swamp dragon or giant snake or pursuing terror.
(OOC - I agree on the hustle for as long as we can without getting fatigued. Ty, is there a penalty toward any spot checks (i.e. against swamp dragons and the like) if we are hustling??)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Spells and more spells and some running
That's actually an excellent question. I'm not sure.
Logically, of course, one would think that running would result in lower perception. However, I don't know how the rules handle that.
*back from checking*
Ok. You get a -6 check to your spot rolls while hustling, and a -3 while just walking fast. It's -1 per 10' of base movement while moving.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Spells and more spells and some running
Sorry I asked.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; Spells and more spells and some running
Rennik stares hard at the half elf and the Murrkat surrounding him before setting off toward the woods. He doesn't know our numbers or our condition, and he doesn't know Rennik's own skill as a woodsman. If he made the right moves, they might very well have an advantage.
He is sure to have Tichenor walk out in front of them much of the way so that his trail will be most hidden. If worse comes to worst, he might prove an effective surprise for their foes. Before they set out, he gives rough instructions to the group.
"While we are on the rocks, try to avoid stepping on any small plants or patches of soft soil. Stay to the hardest and most solid path. I will cover our trail as best I can, but this is our greatest advantage - they don't know where we are entering the jungle. Once in the jungle, try to move under or past branches and leaves, rather than breaking them, at least for the first hundred feet or so. Let's make them work just to figure out what became of us."
When they approach the jungle, Rennik will search for the easiest entry point that would cause the least disturbance of the foliage. Again, he would do his best to cover their trail. Once well within the jungle, far from sight of the mountain, he would set in motion another plan of distraction.
"Friend Garyth, I need you to pretend to be a scout. Split off our trail into the woods for thirty feet or so, and then come back to us. If you can, try to move on hard ground or rocks, or stay on large roots of trees. I know you will leave tracks, but it is my hope that they will take time to investigate each trail - they don't know who is carrying Promise, or if we might try to send one runner to get him to freedom."
"But be careful, and keep your eyes open. Don't step on anything's tail thinking it's a root." With a smile, he continues to hide their trail.
Whenever the ground is too soft to truly cover their tracks, or foliage so dense as to make it impossible, Rennik will walk with a heavy limp using the haft of his axe as a sort of cane. If they think one of the party is injured, they won't have a good estimate of their movement speed. And surely they wouldn't give Promise to the wounded halfling, which would provide one more layer of security.
If they reach any streams, Rennik will also take the party through the running water. He will move downstream 20 feet or so and disturb the opposite bank with footprints to make it seem like they exited there, then take them back upstream 50 yards or more to hide their trail before continuing on in the direction they were moving.
When they reach any sort of small clearing, Rennik will also ask the group to perform another trick. Sending Tichenor on ahead to the other side, he will walk the group to the middle of the clearing. Each will choose a different direction and walk outward in a starburst, making an obvious trail into the woods for ten feet or more before turning and moving through the foliage toward the far side of the clearing and Rennik's birdcall whistle. Rennik will cover Tichenor's tracks as best he can, but will leave his own visible. Again, any confusion on their trackers part will buy time.