Email?
Subject: Re: test
Well, as for the test, it's now 10:35 on Tuesday morning, and I got the last four messages all at once.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: test
Me too. I replied yesterday and just got the replies.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: test
Seems to be working for me. . .
If we can't find anything more substantial by tomorrow noon (like a wandering goat, or a cow. . . :) ) Mission will take Rennick's advice about grubs and such.
List Test
Subject: Test
Making sure I added everybody back in. Here's the list as it stands:
[Edited for privacy.]
I know that I'm missing one address for Karl. Any others?
Wazzup?
Subject: Wazzup?
Who are we waiting on?
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Wazzup?
I think we're just waiting on Ty to write up the next turn.
I'm going to have to mull over my spell list, but I don't need to do that in public. :P
From: Scott
Subject: Mission's Actions for Camping
Mission takes first watch.
He will ask Cadfael to watch Promise during his watch.
After his watch is over, he will take Promise back, and keep him through the night.
If the cleric is able to summon some food for Promise, fantastic. Otherwise, Mission will continue trying to feed him rainwater whenever he feels like Promise needs something to eat.
If they are attacked on his watch, Mission will tumble back to camp, fetch Promise, and give him to Rennick ASAP.
From: Ty
Subject: now the list is back up
Turn coming out today if dan gets back to me.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: now the list is back up
Woo! Just got out of a meeting and closed my last project of the term. I just need to write the reports now, but that sees me sitting at a computer all day instead of being in the lab, so I'm going to be in front of the computer a lot more often.
Since I know we're chomping at the bit to get going, I'll skip this turn as a write up. No, Cadfael cannot summon food this evening. Yes, he will be able to summon some in the morning. Yes, he can summon water.
Silent Fliers
Subject: Argh!
The mailing lists got deleted again. If this keeps happening I may look into a different hosting service. Mailing lists should be working again. Sorry for the inconvenience.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Argh!
Mike, you are a prince among men, and a Chow Yun Fat lookalike.
I want to be you when I grow up.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Argh!
I appreciate the compliments, Ty, but I'm not going to sleep with you.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Argh!
Oh, yes you are.
From: Ty
Subject: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
This being the second night the group has spent in the jungle, some of the more uncomfortable aspects don't come as a surprise. The bugs, damp earth, and slime dripping creepers are all old friends by this point. However, in what is clearly an attempt by some angry nature god to show you that you haven't seen everything yet, a new discomfort makes itself known. Sa'id sits down on a large patch of moss that looks like it might add some cushion to his sleeping place. About five minutes later he leaps to his feet itching furiously. When Cadfael examines him, he finds a nasty rash breaking out all over the wizards back and rump. A few minutes after examining it, the cleric breaks out all over his hands. Both the wizard and cleric then break out on their faces where their hands had brushed away bugs.
Rennik examines the moss from a distance, and declares that he is unfamiliar with it. Sa'id and Cadfael are banished to a quarantined corner of the camp where this sit and itch in misery. Cadfael tries one of his minor healing prayers, and while it does close the open wounds that the itching has caused, it does nothing to remove the rash itself. It makes for a very unpleasant night.
The rest of the group spreads out, carefully picking sleeping spots that are far from the dangerous moss. Mission sits up for the first watch, rocking Promise in his arms till the child falls asleep. The tiny gurgling of the baby's empty stomach breaks the monk's heart, but he has nothing but the water that Rennik provided to give the child. The priest had promised that he could make food in the morning, but Mission wondered if that would be soon enough. How long can a newborn go without food? He has literally no idea.
After a few hours, Garyth takes over. He sits on a fallen log, eyes unfocused and ears wide open for any sounds outside the drip of vines and the constant buzz of insects. Occasionally, a distant splash can be heard, and some of them are disturbingly large, but nothing moves toward the camp. After an hour or so, he begins pinching the flesh next to his thumb. It is an old trick he learned while standing watch on the walls of Nesalin. A sharp pain gives about five minutes wakefulness. It's just a matter of spacing the pinches out-
And then he jerks to his feet abruptly, the hairs on the back of his neck standing straight up (phenomenal spot roll). No sounds, really. Nothing nearby that he can hear. But something... He looks straight up through the canopy of trees. A few stars can be spotted through the thick layer of leaves. Something dark moves across a star. Something silent, above the trees. No sound of flapping wings. No sounds of something actually in the trees. Something that can fly without noise.
[ok, mike. Its all you baby.]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Garyth's ears strain to hear the slightest sound, but to no avail. He hunches over, trying to keep low to the ground, and makes his way as quietly as he can to where Rennik sleeps. Still no sounds but his companions' breaths. He reaches out and touches the halfling's shoulder. As he awakens, Garyth touches a finger to his lips, then points up.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Oh, I forgot. Matt is up in Vancouver BC right now. Not sure when he'll be able to check his email.
A Test of Will
Subject: Re: Argh!
Must . . . refrain . . . from . . . comment. . .
Rennik Awakens
Subject: Um...
So, yeah. I checked the game email while I was in Vancouver, and of course they didn't archive on my machine. Soooo.... I don't have the last few game emails. Could someone send them over to me so Rennik can respond?
Thanks bunches.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Um...
Done.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Rennik wakens quickly to look at Garyth, figuring it is his turn to take watch, but the human's face is taught and concerned, his finger over his lips. A rush of adrenaline surges through the halfling's body, tensing his muscles and focusing his senses. His eyes follow Garyth's finger upward, scanning the treetops and listening with every fiber of his being.
A threat from above? He heard nothing, but Garyth's face told him there was danger. This was no dream or figment. The dark god has many servants and powerful magic, and Rennik feels the familiar lack of control and anxiety when faced with the magickal arts.
Straining his eyes upward, he keeps a keen ear all around him. The image overhead could have been to distract the sentry for an attack from the woods. With dark magic anything was possible, and he gripped his bow and one of the arrows embedded point down in the dirt beside his bed.
[Ty: What does he see or hear? How many hours is it until daylight? What's the weather like, and how soon is it likely to change? (I'm guessing it's stopped raining if there's starlight) How far are we from the borders of the other halfling tribe?]
Everybody Up, Mission to Scout
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
It is about 1 in the morning. It is not raining, and in fact a few stars can be seen through the trees, though the ground is damp. Rennik believes that he could hustle to Kalama territory in half a day (four hours) or so.
IDM:
Rennik looks up, scanning the section of tree cover that Garyth is pointing out. After a moment, something black moves across a patch of stars. It is silent, and far too slow to be a bird or a bat.
He listens to the jungle around him, but hears nothing other than the drip of water and the buzz of insects.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *snrk* zzzzzzz...
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Seeing the shape and knowing immediately that it is unnatural, Rennik springs into action. Using hand gestures, he motions to Garyth to wake the others silently and move them further under the densest of canopy, closest the trunks of the trees. Looking upwards, Rennik estimates what area would give them the best coverage from above, while still avoiding the itcy moss, and points to Garyth to move them quietly into that cover.
Four hours into Kalama territory, more traveling at night and avoiding any more patches of the itching moss... and the jungle gives them better cover anyway. Best to keep them quiet, still, and under dense canopy until they know better what's going on.
Once they are all assembled, Rennik again reinforces silence with a finger near his lips, points upwards into the canopy, then motions with both hands like a flapping bird. He'll then motion for them with one hand to stay put, and with the other to remain silent while he he looks again upwards into the night.
Getting Mission's attention, remembering the monk's abilities at climbing ropes and the rock wall in the cave, he asks silently if he could (and would) climb the tree to get a better look (motioning climbing, then motioning with his hand flat at his eyebrow level while turning his head back and forth). Knowing the monk is also more agile than the rest in case he needed to drop down suddenly, and knowing he (meaning Rennik) should remain on the ground to watch the edges of the woods, Mission seems like the best choice for treetop scout.
Rennik will look at him questioningly, waiting for a response, and would gladly hold onto Promise if the child is offered.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
OODM: I am going to assume everyone wakes up and moves to the location pointed out, unless someone wants to say otherwise.
We are just waiting on Scooter for Mission's move.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Mission places a dry, silent kiss on Promise's forehead, and turns the boy over to Rennick. And then he turns to the trees.
He'll try his best to stay in the cover of the trees, while getting closer to the thing above.
A Witch! A Witch! Burn Her!
Subject: Test
Sent 9/2/2004 at 9:26 AM
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
As quietly as possible, the party gets up and moves under thicker cover. Mission hands Promise to Rennik, and after trading hand signals for a moment, finds a tree that looks climbable. A few seconds later, in spite of the slippery slime covered branches, he is halfway up (climb 23 vs DC 20).
Rennik keeps the rest of the group together, under a particularly thick group of trees. No sky is visible above them, so he assumes they are well hidden. He considers drawing his bow, but with the child around his chest, this becomes nearly impossible. If he is going to have to fight, he'll need to give Promise to someone else.
Above, Mission has moved as high as the narrow branches will let him. There are still a lot of leaves above, and visibility is pretty poor. By grabbing one skinny branch and pulling it aside, he is able to create a small gap in the canopy above.
Something dark moves slowly across the sky, almost invisible in the dim moonlight. Then, there is a glint from two eyes, and the shape above suddenly makes sense. It is the witch. The one he'd seen back at the temple. She is slowly flying around above the tree cover. Something faintly shiny is held in her right hand. However, the glint of her eyes means that she is looking in his direction. Fortunately, she looks as surprised to see him in the gap in the trees as he is to see her.
[Mission is hanging onto a narrow branch about 45 feet off the ground. The witch is floating about 30 feet away and above. Initiative Mission 23; Witch 12]
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Get me up there. I'll freaking roast her, damnable witches and their flying.
Off and Running Again
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Can Mission see what she's using to fly?
If he can load and fire his crossbow safely, then drop down further into the trees in one round that is what he'll do.
If he can't get a shot off, he'll climb down fifteen feet, then slowfall to the ground.
Man, I wish he was Mu Bai Li. I'd lay a Crouching Tiger bamboo jump on her like nobody's bizness.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
She does not appear to be using anything to fly. Just, floating around.
There is no way he can take out his crossbow, load it, and fire it this round.
Once you slowfall to the ground, what are you going to do?
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Mission plummets through the trees, kicking off of one sturdy trunk as he nears the ground, to land next to Rennick.
"It's the witch. She saw me."
Promise. . . He can't. . . Swallowing, he takes the child from Rennick's arms. "We can move more quickly if I hold him. I don't need my hands to fight."
He catches the halfling's eyes. A bit defensively, he adds, "I'll stay close to you."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Player check in and responses please...
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Sa'id whispers quietly "I would offer my magics, but it might be best to conserve them for the end of the chase in case they catch us. Mission, were her eyes glowing?"
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
OOC: Flying enemies and me without a ranged weapon.
At Mission's report, Garyth looks up, scanning the sky. The witch must be some kind of advance scout. She knew they were here now, which meant that the rest of the hunters would soon know as well.
"We have to take her out before she can get word back to her hunters," he whispers, anxiously fingering the hilt of his sword.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
OODM:
Ok. You guys should know me well enough by know to know that I hate random events of incredible unlikeliness. The odds that the witch just happened to be floating over your section of jungle long enough for Garyth to notice her, and then only notice *you* when Mission pokes his head out would be a terrible plot device.
What is entirely more likely, is that she knew you were here all along, and has in fact been hovering overhead for some undisclosed amount of time (thereby giving Garyth many spot rolls in which to get lucky) and is in fact guiding the troops in as we speak.
You know. This being a very large jungle. Occam's razor and all.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Garyth is quite willing to let other, smarter characters think of things like that.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Cursing, Rennik immediately looses two arrows straight up through the trees into the night to give the witch something to think about.
Whispering to the others, he outlines his plan of escape.
"We must move. Now. Friend Garyth, lead Mission and the others though the forest in that direction as carefully as possible, trying not to disturb too much of the foliage. Caller Farron, is there any way for you to call a creature not to fight the witch, but to hold her in place, to keep her occupied directly over this spot for a minute or two? Maybe just herding her back to this spot if she tries to run?"
"I plan to set fire to the itchy moss once you are all on your way. If she stays put, she will inhale the smoke of the burning oils in the plant and no longer be a worry. The smoke from the moss should create a pretty decent sized wall of polluted air for our pursuers to run though - and hopefully they'll be breathing heavily from their forced march through the woods. If nothing else, the oily smoke in their eyes should keep them off our trail."
"If it all works, we should enter Kalama territory by dawn, and they will help us against the Murrkat and their allies." Hopefully, he doesn't add. He's still not totally sure they will not shoot them all during their flight, but it's a risk they have to take.
Still whispering, he nods to Garyth and points in a direction that is *not* downwind of the party, still heading toward Kalama territory. "Now, go..."
With that, he'll start a fire in the moss and run like hell as soon as it's lit.
OOC: If Farron is calling some sort of flying sheepdog, he will wait until that process is complete and Farron is on his way following the others before he lights the fire.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
OOC: To clarify, his first action is to Rapid Shot two arrows blind toward the witch. He's not expecting to hit, but miracles do happen.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
At Rennik's request, Farron will summon a Celestial Hippogriff and send it to (hopefully) tear the eyes out of the witch.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
I need to know if the witch's eyes were going. If they aren't glowing, I'll cast Invisibility Sphere before we start moving.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Mission is bouncing on the balls of his feet, clearly eager to move away from here. "No. The witch looked surprised to see me, but her eyes weren't glowing at the time. She had a little light in her hand, though."
Invisibility
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
"Good. Everyone, do your best to stay within ten feet of me. If you stray the spell will be broken."
[Invisibility Sphere]