Monday, June 12, 2017

On the Move

As you're trekking along, generally following the high ground with the lake, Store Stokka, on your left, you begin to hear a swell of movement coming up behind you.  At first, it sounds like a rustling, but this is soon supported by an occasional boom that Lothar first identifies as the sound of a large drum being struck.

After this, there is a distant cracking and tramping, of many things moving through the woods, perhaps as close as two hundred yards.  It is coming up faster than you are moving.  "We have to run," shouts Bergthora, but this seems desperate, given that you know that these creatures can move faster through running and hopping than you can.

The party looks around and sees only the thick forest, the clumps of shrubbery and fat pines, obscuring the inevitable that is coming . . .

45 comments:

Lothar Svensson said...

I think we have to try to hide. Are the treetops thick enough to obscure visual contact?

Alexis Smolensk said...

Odd question. Thick enough to obscure visual contact from what?

Alexis Smolensk said...

From something moving mid-level or high in the trees? No, the treetops would not be obscuring.

Lothar Svensson said...

I'm thinking more along the lines of if we climbed up there how well hidden would we be?

Alexis Smolensk said...

Impractical. It would be very hard to climb the spruce trees, given their nature, and the deciduous are mostly poplars, not thick enough to hide you. As well, you've seen that these creatures leap comfortably into treetops, and may right now be hopping above the ground.

There are places, however, where you could wedge yourselves into thickets of spruce trees and undergrowth. It would be uncomfortable but you would probably not be seen, even from above.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

7-12 people can't possibly hope to climb atop trees on time for effective concealment, we'll have to think of something else...

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Ah, Alexis beat me to the punch.

Yes, let us go for the undergrowth.

If anyone wishes to give me any weighty loose equipment, please do so: roughhousing an estimate of 30-odd feet per round of amphibian progress, I'll go stand behind a bush copse and work my Sanctuary spell, discharging it only once the noise gets close enough.

It is my only spell left, apart from Light, which I actually should have cast during the last combat, as a means of evening the odds in our favour.

I then intend to come out of hiding and get a good long view of whatever is pursuing us and where they are headed. The spell now lasts 8 rounds, but do tell me if this too is impractical, Alexis, the lay of the land can be ever so subjective.

Alexis Smolensk said...

No, not impractical. As the party loads their equipment onto Engelhart, I suggest that the cleric stand on the outside rim of the cover; whatever is coming may need more than 96 seconds to pass, the real time of the spell's duration. In which case, Engelhart will have to withdraw back into the thicket; until then, yes, a good long view is possible.

Does anyone else have some final preparations? Whatever is coming, it is a mere 12-20 rounds away (by Embla's heightened sense ability).

Embla Strand said...

Does my skill as a sneak help us find (more) effective hiding spots? Regardless, I agree that we need to hide.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Now feels like the part where the ring either proves of benefit or the path to our undoing. Has it occured to you fellows that it may be a tracking device of sorts, that a centralized divination may know where each patrol is positioned?

I'd stash it somewhere, but making it look like it fell on the ground.

Lothar Svensson said...

I just want to make sure that Pandred gets my healing salve in hand before they are upon us. Then, into the bushes.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

(sp: *occurred)

Then again, wearing it and going underwater is another gambit... or it may serve no purpose at all.

Though I remember that "rings of X Control" were a staple of the classic gameplay, you could try to point it at the waters and beg for assistance before stashing it away.

I'm just ticking off boxes, tell me what you think...

Alexis Smolensk said...

Individually, Embla, your stealth would mean they had to come within a certain number of hexes to spot you (usual calculation); but since you're standing with a lot of other non-stealthy persons, they would give you away. Stealth always depends on the worst person's stealthy roll when people are working together.

Remind Pandred tomorrow that she took a healing salve.

I'll argue at this point that you're as hidden as you're going to get . . .

Alexis Smolensk said...

It appears to be an attacking party. Engelhart estimates about 150 froglings in sight, some moving on the ground, some leaping from mid-tree to mid-tree. It is plain, from the movement of the trees in both directions, that there are perhaps three times as many as can be seen.

What's more, the froglings are supported by (as many as Engelhart can see) about twenty giant frogs, ranging from 200 to 500 pounds in size. These are bounding along beside the froglings, but not being ridden by the froglings; they're not mounts, but apparently pets or their version of frog hounds.

The froglings go by as a skirmish line ~ so surprisingly, it does take about a minute for the line to sweep through, so that you now find yourselves behind the attackers, listening to their sound diminish as they go away.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Soooo.......

Emigrate to the southern latitudes and come back when we're 10th-ish level?

Alexis Smolensk said...

[heh]

There have been green troops in every war . . .

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Did the cavalcade follow the direction of the rest of our troop? Can a runner go and link up with the soldiers or are they chalked as casualties to be?

I'm left thinking that this surge may have had little-to-nothing to do with us. Their now-unguarded camp beckons, and we can always make good our escape by making a sweep 'round the lake in the opposite (north?) direction.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Their direction of travel was generally the same as yours: they appear to be moving towards the group of soldiers you left behind.

Warning them? No, not possible. Even if you could get around their line to get a message, you're not capable of moving faster than they are. They'll reach the road before you could get a message there.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Much as I surmised, then.

What say you all? An hour and a half of hunkering down will see me sprout goodies for everyone, though we should find some sort of more secure shelter, lest the whole parade double back to base.

Pandred will have d10+1 additional hp, too, meaning we can probably handle one more patrol on a given sunday. If you want to skip directly for Stavanger, that's alright too.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Engelhart, you'll have to sleep 6 hours before you can recast any of the spells you used today. You can only gain the three new spells you've just acquired without needing that sleep.

Also, the 10-20 hit points gained is not a typo. The actual accumulation is 2d6+8, for an average of 15. I've updated the wiki to say so.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Yes, I'm aware of that, it was mere hyperbole.

Ah, yes, I was indeed wondering if I should read Aid's text as "11-20 due by d10+10", it is even better the way you spell it out, stabler results.

Embla Strand said...

I think we should scout out the camp. If this is most of their forces, we should be able to sabotage the camp and score some loot. If not, we need to let folks know the size of this invading force.

It might also be worth a look to see if that ancient druid who imprisoned these creatures left countermeasures behind in case some idiot let them loose.

Lothar Svensson said...

Here's a thought: Now that a huge force is between us and the soldiers we came down with, why not try to complete the mission we set out to do originally? While I'm under no illusion that their camp will be unguarded, they might let up on patrols around the (smelting operation?) fires. So we go back, scout out the fires, then head southwest to the road (hopefully avoiding further waves of frogs, and back up to Stavenger to report what we've found out.

Lothar Svensson said...

Instantaneous posting! Though I think the druid that locked the frogs away was a frog himself protecting his people, not a human agent looking to imprison them. So I don't think there would be countermeasures in place in case the frogs did arise again.

Two votes for going back to scout. Engelhart?

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Precisely, I was suggesting just that.

But then, I'm the one sitting atop a big fat pile of Hp, I would definitely understand if some among you were decidedly less enthusiastic about the prospect of returning to the wolves' den.

Now, if we can find a spot in the shade to grant me my spells, will you be wanting to do so or do you prefer to move right along?

Alexis Smolensk said...

While you make up your minds about that, I'm getting ready for work. We'll do some more running tomorrow.

There is room for the possibility of peaceably gathering your spells, Engelhart.

Embla Strand said...

I'm sitting on 20hp, so I'm good.

I'm concerned about waiting that long - I don't think our window of opportunity is that large.

Lothar Svensson said...

I'm at 9, so I've got a bit more risk tolerance for sitting around if there's 10 to 20 HP at the end of it for me...

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Yeah, I'm shaky on it as well; I consider the pay-off to be good, but then, of course I would.

Nothing preventing us from initiating rest while Embla scouts and interrupt it as if the need presents itself.

We do have to eat our enlarged portions at some point in the day, after all.

Which reminds me that we left the donkeys with the soldiery, along with a lot of our things. Curses.

Lothar Svensson said...

Oh, yeah... That we did. Maybe they'll eat the donkey and leave our gear alone?

Pandred said...

I return!

Pandred has indeed leveled, sitting tidily at 2948xp.

Her HP roll was 4, with +1 for her Constitution, totaling 5.

Salve roll was a 1.

Total HP right now is 5, Maximum is 21. I want to throw down with some more frogs, I do, but if that happens it'll be me standing back with my crossbow from as far away as I can.

How is Oddsdrakken feeling?

Alexis Smolensk said...

Welcome back, Pandred!

Oddsdrakken is shaky but ready to go on.

That level of x.p. in comparison with Embla is really an indication of how much it matters that you take damage and that you give it. Pandred's strength helps with gaining x.p. and a couple of bad combats can make a big difference.

The subject on the table is still what to do. I'm sorry I haven't had time this morning, I've been managing some issues; I am off tomorrow, Thursday and Friday, though I have some appointments. We can get some play in, I can update Embla's heightened senses and perhaps something Pandred might gain once I roll her sage abilities.

Can I have a confirmation that you plan to head back in the directions of the fires, with intent to seek out the barrow? I'd like to make that decision very clear, if I can, before moving forward.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Aye, from my part.

Scouting ought to give us a clearer picture of whether we're heading back into more than we can chew.

Lothar Svensson said...

Back towards the fires at least, and see what there is to see.

Alexis Smolensk said...

I will have Valda ask if some of the followers, those most injured, shouldn't try to make it to the coast on the southwest, where they can find one of the fishing hamlets there and get a boat back to Stavanger. I think I should get a 2d6 roll for each follower who has taken 1/3rd of their hit points in damage.

[haven't got access to the list right now, but I will this evening]

Embla Strand said...

That seems entirely reasonable, Alexis.

I also want to head towards the fires.

Lothar Svensson said...

Valda and Fjall are in that camp. It might be risky to head off that way, but probably no more risky than hanging around with us...

Pandred said...

Blerg! If Oddsdrakken leaves I'm in a pickle, my lighter armor is back with the donkeys.

Still, I'm ready to make for Mimmarudla.

If it comes to it, I'll strip to Padded to help carry more loot, find somewhere safe to bury my cherished (if now well-used) armor.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Remember that Embla grants a +1 to Morale, as well as Bless, while it still holds.

Alexis Smolensk said...

[good morning. I'm here, I'm awake, I'm starting to work on the campaign]

I am going to discount the bless, since once the combat is over, the players discuss the events, the bodies are looted, repacking occurs, and then the decision making process is begun, I'll rule the bless runs out. At any rate, it will eventually, and decisions made by those who are considering long-range concerns will have to make a morale check without the magic.

I'll be rolling morale checks for Fjall, Oddsdrakken, Petar and Valda. Of these, Fjall makes his check; the others do not.

In game terms, this will play as Valda speaking for Petar and Oddsdrakken, asking to be allowed to make their way to safety as best they can, to meet up with the party again in Stavanger. Once having reached there, they will try to re-obtain your stuff from the soldiers, if they have it, while communicating that the party, acting on behalf of the soldiers, got caught behind the enemy's attack. Are you, the party, willing to let them do this?

Alexis Smolensk said...

Meanwhile, Bergthora, Fjall and Willa are willing to stay on. Fjall, who is heavily injured, offers to take on Oddsdrakken's duties for Pandred, if Lothar will permit. Does that seem acceptable?

Alexis Smolensk said...

Still trying to fill out that table I posted earlier, I am looking Oddsdrakken's armor class and his total action points. I am looking for the same information of Pandred, as well as what Pandred has in his left and right hands.

Does anyone want to change their weaponry? I am going to go over previous comments, then try to update the table accurately. I am bound to miss something.

Is Engelhart going to memorize spells, all of them or some of them? I need a clear answer on this before we can move forward.

Embla Strand said...

I am happy to let Valda & co. return to Stavanger.

I keep the same weapons (battleaxe and javelin)

Alexis Smolensk said...

The next post is up.

Pandred said...

For clarity I'll post it here.

Pandred is currently carrying her Battleaxe in her hands.

Oddsdrakken has an AC of 10, barring a high DEX (you only told me his Strength, which is 15).

He has my backpack and Crossbow.

His total weight puts him at 3 AP.

If he loses the Crossbow, Quiver of 10 bolts, and string, he's at 4AP, and only .33lbs from 5AP.

For Lothar and Fjall's benefit, the combined weight of those items is 9.63 lbs.