Thursday, May 24, 2018

The Scouts Return

After they've been gone 11 hours, Lothar and Embla return.  They're pretty tired; the last hour they've had to force their way to get back to the camp, rather than falling asleep an hour away.

They've found an audience chamber.  It's empty of anything alive, but it's been built out of polished, worked limestone and possesses two enormous stone thrones, yet clearly built for something the size of a frogling, whose feet would be about 8 feet above the floor.  They've also seen a huge, disturbing freize, a carving more than thirty feet along one wall that depicts froglings driving humans along to a place where the humans are shoved off a cliff.

The audience chamber is about two hundred feet up and about two miles away; but the way is easy going.  According to the images, apparently humans were driven along this ledge as some sort of sacrifice.  The bones were then retrieved and returned upstairs, where they were collected in the bone room.

There was writing in the room the scouts could not read.

The tunnel continues past the audience chamber; but this is as far as Lothar and Embla got.  It took a little more than four hours to reach it, at full move.  It would take the whole party twice that long.

Lothar and Embla need to rest.  They've eaten two pounds of raw food while gone, but they could use a hot meal if that were possible.  They need another two pounds each to be sated.


74 comments:

Unknown said...

I think that pretty much uses our food. I cast Flavor on the food for Lothar and Embla.

"My idea is Embla, Fjall, Engelhart and Rob go get food and supplies to set up a base camp in that chamber. Lothar and I can go there, rest, and I can see what I can translate."

Rob Munro said...

Our supply situation becomes complex.
I propose we let the scout rest and then head back to surface.

There we can assure the others that we are still alive and acquire enough provision to continue our exploration.

If I'm not mistaken, getting from the surface to where we are is a long day of walk, and going from here to the throne room is another 8 hours (so a second day).

Establishing base camp in the throne room seems the less worst option ( pros : it has room, is advanced enough to be useful ; cons : potentially insecure, many ins and out ).


Unknown said...

So we had 31.75 lbs. Day 1, everyone had 2 lbs. (-12, so 19.75 left). Day 2, Lothar/Embla had 2 lbs, everyone else has 1(-8, 11.75 left). If 3 people go for supplies and 3 remain here resting, our food will stretch 1 more day at half rations. The 3 that stay will only have 2.75 lbs for day 2, but we it can work.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Not quite right, Mikael,

Lothar and Embla ate 4 lbs. on day one, to support their going off without being weakened. Day 2, they have only eaten 2 lbs, but that's half rations for them, considering they've been working hard. That leaves 9.75 left. Everyone is down 5% in stats. You'll be down 10% in stats when the players actually head off for more food. They'll need to take 3 lbs with them. That will leave 3 for the gang left behind to eat, which will leave, at the end of the day, 2.75 lbs. left. That will leave the three underground with just 2.75 left, while they wait for the surface crew to return.

Rob Munro said...

And we'll need about 4 days to be back.

I vote we all go back to pick supplies ( we'll take that much more).

Unknown said...

Thst was why I stated it, was hoping for an accurate count. 9.75 lbs to stretch a day.

Some number of people must go topside and restock our supplies. I think sending everyone is really food inefficient, but it looks like anyone who stays is stuck on this ledge.

Unknown said...

Wait. This was how far we got before eating once. Anyone who goes up top shouldn't need food.

I could use the 2 days to get back here to cast Find Familiar,if you all just want to leave me here

Alexis Smolensk said...

Sorry, no. They need to eat first, then on the way. Technically, for them, it will be TWO pounds each for half rations to get to the surface.

Rob Munro said...

I'm not keen on letting you alone here.

Unknown said...

Let's see what others say, I am open to ideas.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Well, continue to figure it out. You need a strategy; figure out who goes, who stays, how many of each, and I'll be around for questions.

Embla Strand said...

I think we should all head back topside - we're going to need a lot of food to finish this, and that means a trip back to Stavanger. We'll probably want to hire some folks to build a rudimentary bridge over the crossing, too.

Rob Munro said...

I agree with Embla. We at least need to get back to the surface. Maybe see with the engineer what's doable.

Unknown said...

Works for me

Rob Munro said...

Now we need word from Lothar (Engelhart said he's be afk)

Unknown said...

[OOC: I created a purchase calculator that lets you put on items from the market and their quantities, and will tell you how much gp, sp and cp it will cost]

Alexis Smolensk said...

You don't have enough food for all of you to get back to the surface safely.

That would require a total of 12 lbs, for half rations. And you're already all down in stats. I would have to require some rolls, especially for the walk down to the bridge and crossing it.

Rob Munro said...

Fair enough. We'd still do the same thing with the rope

Unknown said...

My thought:

Embla, Engelhart and Rob go (6 lbs, leaves 5.75 lbs).

Fjall, Lothar and myself stay at half rations for 2 days. I will try to go without food on day 2, as we are .25 lbs short.

If a trip to Stavangar is needed, then come back with food and we can discuss then.

Lothar Svensson said...

I'm up for everyone heading back, even with some extra rolls. There's quite a lot of clear space between the operations "topside" and anything interesting down here. But as there is something worth exploring, we might be able to convince them to build a bridge for us (and them when we're done).

Embla Strand said...

OK. Then after resting, I (as the one who can carry the most) should go get the rest of you food and perhaps get some people to make a bridge before a lengthier resupply

Unknown said...

If everyone is willing to take that risk, I'll go. But a slip up in the stream could easily kill someone.

Rob Munro said...

The rope should help keep the lethality of this prospect to a minimum.

Unknown said...

What does Fjall want to do?

Lothar Svensson said...

I'm pretty sure Fjall wants to go home and not have to worry about what's under this place for a long long while.

Embla, how much food can you carry in one trip?

Unknown said...

Can't say I blame her. Anywho, in thI t case, I am thoroughly outvoted, so let us eat what we can and head back.

Embla Strand said...

A lot. My -2 AP threshold is 120lbs, and I only need like 20 of that for my gear

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Welp, this panned out pretty much as I expected, given the last look I gave at the post before going out. I'm for going back, sure enough. I'll cast Bless once we hit the river crossing part, to lift our spirits.

I admit, when setting out, I absolutely did not count on having to look at my "rations" as "half-rations". Could have packed a few more.

I think, with a few carefully placed incentives and stressed words amid our report, that we should have no problem securing the help we need to build the bridge across the gap. Where there is a throne room, a treasury is never far by and the place is deserted at least up to that point so ensuring worker security ought to be a non issue.

Unknown said...

I just didn't realize how little food we brought. I thought we brought 60+ lbs. Live and learn, it seems we have found where the froglings actually lived, which should be massive (as I recall, there were hundreds). Set up a csmp snd a supply line, and we can get first shot st whstever is in there.

Unknown said...

Alexis, would I be aware that the froglings were found to be using adamantium weapons? I know we are on break for awhile, but I was perusing my sage abilities, and I had some ideas, but I need to know what would be reasonable for me to know.

Alexis Smolensk said...

To confirm, we are playing Wednesday.

Rob Munro said...

[noted]

Unknown said...

Here

Alexis Smolensk said...

[Here. Just waking up.

[Couple things. I'm not getting any notifications on my email from this wiki, so I have to check manually to see if there's a comment. That's going to be a pain. Blogger says they are updating their email feature. Supposedly.

[I twisted my ankle yesterday, and am waking up after 11 hours of sleep. Give me just a bit to orient myself and we'll get started]

Alexis Smolensk said...

Mikael, to answer your question. The party would have mentioned the adamantium use. So yes.

Reading the comments through, it sounds like everyone intends to head back as a group. I repeat. There isn't enough food for all of you to get back to the surface safely. I will have to roll some checks, which could ~ though not likely ~ result in death. An injury is much more likely, however, as someone could, for example, twist their ankle as they get tired, slip and hit their head, hit a wall with heavy pack in place and separate a shoulder, etc.

I suppose I should finally get down to writing some forced-march/starvation rules today.

Unknown said...

I thought we were accepting those risks?

As for the adamantium, well, I am no geologist, but if the froglings are using adamantium, there may be a vein nearby. I doubt the froglings were mining; they probably just used what they found. If we can clear their lair, we could hire an assayer to see if this is the case. Could be very lucrative.

I will also at some point have the ability to smelt adamantium.

Food for thought.

Rob Munro said...

It seems the idea is that we are willing to accept those risk, as we believe they outweight the risked associated with having only a few of us going to the surface while the rest of us slowly starve down there with less and less fuel in a (potentially) dangerous environment.

Personally, I am willing to accept the risks.

Embla Strand said...

We don't need to all return to get food, especially those of us who are already not doing well. I can, by myself, bring back a great deal of food. With another pair of hands as extra insurance, we should be able to resupply with minimum risk.

Alexis Smolensk said...

I hadn't seen anyone confirm that the party understood the risks, Mikael. While Rob agrees with Mikael, now I have to wait to hear what the response is to Embla.

Damn, it has been two weeks and I can't remember; I think, without certainty, that everyone has been on half rations for two days now. Can I get a confirmation on that?

Embla Strand said...

Lothar and I took full rations before our exploratory trip, so we have only been on half rations for 1 day, I believe

Alexis Smolensk said...

Understood, Embla.

Unknown said...

Half rations for 2 days here. So at 90% of stats.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Good, got confirmation on that from the comments thread, too.

A third day would be -15% for all but Lothar and Embla. I'm going to write in the rule that the percentage loss from starvation/forced march stays in place until the party has had a full day of rest, with food, in a comfortable environment.

So ... everyone leaving the dungeon might be a wise plan after all, because comfort is not going to happen down here.

Rob Munro said...

identical to Mikael : Half rations for 2 days here. So at 90% of stats.

If I leave most my stuff here, I can carry about 100lbs back with me.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Well, actually ... there's always a chance of something happening, that can enable a full rest, but your perspective probably wouldn't include that.

Embla Strand said...

If we were to return and set up camp in the audience chamber thing deeper in, could we do stuff to make that comfortable?

Alexis Smolensk said...

Hm. What would you suggest, Embla?

Embla Strand said...

We might be able to bring wood down for a fire and hot food (depending on airflow in the cavern), and also blankets to make the ground more comfortable.

Also, if one of the workers topside has a good voice it might be nice to have some music to lift our spirits.

Embla Strand said...

Also, candles to provide low but long-term light and diminish the darkness of the area.

Lothar Svensson said...

Perhaps straw or rushes to make a more comfortable flooring?

Alexis Smolensk said...

I think those are good suggestions. I would say, two blankets per person, one candle/lantern per person for illumination, and hot food. I'm willing to count that as legitimate rest.

Embla Strand said...

Excellent.

I start removing my gear. The mushrooms I brought came in a 20x4 in sack, and I'll cram as much of the stuff I remove from my backpack into it.

We may need to take multiple trips to get everything down here, but we can definitely fix the food problem on this trip.

Alexis Smolensk said...

So ... who's going back? Final decision on this.

Embla Strand said...

I will go.

Rob Munro said...


ok so.

2 blankets : 7.34 lbs.
enough candle for 24 hours : 5.76 lbs. (granted, 16hours might be enough)
enough food for an active day : 2lbs.

10 days supply : 84.94 lbs. per person.
5 day supply : 46.14 lbs.
1 day supply : 15.1 lbs.

I can carry enough supply for 2 person for 5 days down there.

(NB : charcoal for a day : 2.425 lbs., isn't that interesting?)

Rob Munro said...

I will go. (Similar to Embla, I leave some things to my companions, I remove my armor and only keep the one club for protection)

Unknown said...

I stay.

Rob Munro said...

[ small question / remark : I have a kilt which weights 14.37 lbs. ; compared to the 3.67 lbs. of a blanket. Is it the equivalent of 4 blanket stitched together, so 8 ft. by 14 ft. of wool. , or 4ft. by 28ft. , or is it smaller than that but made of sturdier cloth? ]

Lothar Svensson said...

My carrying capacity is severely limited under the best circumstances. I stay. Does the area we're in count as natural caves (for the purposes of my Rock Foraging ability)?

Engelhart Askjellson said...

I go, leaving everything save the light source behind.

Alexis Smolensk said...

A proper kilt was typically between 18 and 30 feet long, according to my Scot ancestors. So, basically a blanket, and used as such. You may count your kilt as three blankets, if you wish. 4 ft. by 28 ft.

Leaving Lothar and Mikael behind, the rest of you go. How much do food do you leave behind, and how much do you take with you?

Unknown said...

Is Fjall going as well?

Unknown said...

Assuming "yes," they take 8 lbs. They leave us with 3.75 lbs.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Fjall will stay.

Rob Munro said...

using Mikael's old suggestion : Embla, Engelhart and Rob go (6 lbs, leaves 5.75 lbs).

So we take 2 lbs. of food each.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Two pounds each of us seems square with me.

Alexis Smolensk said...

They take 8 lbs., that puts them on half-rations also. Assuming it takes 1 day to get out, that means they're at -15% for checks.

Are we good to go? I'll start a new post.

Unknown said...

They take 6 lbs. I think we are agreed.

Rob Munro said...

[we are. Last question. When going down, how much can we charge ourselves. Will it be particularly dangerous to go with our maximum charge compared to, say, a -3AP charge?]

Alexis Smolensk said...

"charge"

I'm uncertain the meaning of this word in this context. If you mean the number of AP you have when returning, please speak in terms of AP.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

[I believe Rob meant load]

I'm good to go.

Alexis Smolensk said...

The next post is up.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Rob, I'm writing rules about travel movement right now, which relates to your question (I think). If you're seriously loaded down, yes, it will mean that it takes longer for you to reach your destination.

Rob Munro said...

OK thanks. And yes, I meant load, as in : a load that would reduce my AP by 2.