Into the North - Shrub Squadron - (Inactive)

Game Master Matt, Garnished Game Designer

Gamplay thread for Shrub Squadron

Dotting, GM? Can we get the map linked in at the top of the page here too?

Look at this fine, glorious, heroic dot: °

Please don't forget to shelve the old thread... :)

We're still keeping the old thread no? For when the group gets together and for general information and updates.

I second Tik'Klik. On the account of the map as well as making this a full campaign so it appears in our campaign tabs. I suggest marking the original thread inactive until our groups meet up again, otherwise it's unnecessary clutter. Then mark it as active for the duration of the joint adventure, marking it inactive again as we split up.

Craw stands with his hands on his hips, cigar hanging loosely in his mouth as he considers the cliff side.

So what are the climbing conditions like? How tall is it, how difficult does it look, are there many handholds, are there ledges where we could take a break, etc?

"Tik'Klik!"

The golem moves next to Craw, and it's hand splits open multiple times with little snick noises. From inside his arm, a steel piton emerges, and the golem holds it out to Craw.

"Tik'Klik!"

I chose right. Quiet and useful.

Are we just getting fast-forwarded to the cliff then? O_o I was thinking there was a hex's worth of beach to cross before that... IDK what scales these hexes are, but in my Kingmaker-style games they've been 12 miles across. I'm assuming these aren't THAT big, but I'd be surprised if literally nothing happened on our way to the cliff.

I'll tag in once GM confirms we're at the cliff base.

Before I advance anything, I just want to know what the group's base land speed is. Everyone is currently still in F8 before we do anything. Without going by watercraft, the only accessible hex without some serious climbing is G7, also known as the Shattered Wall as mentioned previously. I just want to make sure there's no confusion, so I added a sample drawing showing the hex division heights.

So I just want to know by which hex you're going through to get to the top. Sorry again but I want to make sure everything's clear and simple. Base group speed and hex by hex description of movement/travel including F8 (if you're exploring it or just moving out of it).

Going to explore on our way to E7 and scale the wall there.

Medium Armor => 20ft /x4

Going to explore on our way to E7 and scale the wall there.

E7 is already above the fjord wall. The only hexes under the wall are the blue water hexes. F8 and G7 have a beach lining the fjord wall as mentioned. Are you exploring F8 and then scaling up the wall (F8) to reach E7?

Yup.

Also 20 ft here, so base sounds like 20.

Yeah, until we get horses we're at 20.

30ft

You spend the day exploring Winter Morn's Landing. The cliff face itself is so steep and abrupt that you doubt even with equipment the climb would be feasible.

However, you do spy on the opposite edge of the fjord what looks to be a a cairn indicating a route. However, following this passage would take you up on the opposite side of the fjord, into G9.

As mentioned before, walking to G7 (6h walk) would reach the Shattered Wall, your most likely course of ascent to the western fjord-summit.

After a few minutes of examining the cliff face Curden shakes his head. "Ain't no gettin' up that. Let's go to this Shattered Wall that was mentioned."

Banny shades her hand with her eyes, staring across the fjord, to note the cairn.

"Someone set those stones up on purpose to mark a trail. That's worth exploring, later. But for now, let's get to the Wall."

She starts trudging.

Starting the six hours to G7/Wall it is, then.

"Tik'Klik!"

Unlike the mortals, the golem seems to not be bothered at all by the trudging. Nor does it seem to get bored. It simply pumps along on it's wooden legs, it's head bobbing and twisting, sometimes completely around.

Sometimes it even walks backwards, it's head spinning around rapidly every few seconds as it does so.

After six hours, it still doesn't seem bored or tired, instead, it is still pumping along.

Craw blows smoke up into the cold air. I like that thing. Don't talk much, don't whine about the cold or walking, and he's useful as hell.

Banny thinks the golem is gods-be-damned weird, and tries to keep Craw between her and the wooden thing.

This nice stroll in a rather nice weather after having spend that much time cooped up on a ship

'Course the elf wants to talk, Banny thinks sourly. On the other hand, she can't argue what he's saying.

"Suits me," she agrees. "Don't care for ships. Clean, crisp air an' a light snow, tho'? I'll take that. Keeps you feelin' alive."

"Tik'Klik?"

The golem just looks at the three as they babble along as they walk, perhaps wondering why they need light snow to feel alive, when the pulse and body temperature should do that for them.

The trek takes you around 12 hours, as you maneuver around the mud, rocks and rushing waters around the beach.

Arriving at the Shattered Wall, you see that the fractured fjord wall has been carved and weathered over the year into a winding ramplike stair.

The climb looks arduous but hardly unfeasible.

Ahead of you in the fjord you spot the fjord wall narrowing as it reaches a natural curve.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Curden blows out smoke, misjudging the wind as it comes back into his eyes. He blinks in annoyance and begins taking out his rope. "Let's do this the slow an' steady way. Don't want anybody falling."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

right then let's get to it.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Tik'Klik"

The golem begins to hand out pitons, rope, and a hammer to Craw.

Curden can't help himself and gives a small smile. "Yer more useful than the wheel you are."

"Tik'Klik"

The sound is mildly disapproving.

Mogwag suppress a smile.

Perceivin': 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"Right," Banny says with a nod, and digs out her own rope and grappling hook from her pack. She watches the golem warily. "We got, what, a hundred feet of rope here? We can tie off to it as needed..."

She straps her shield to her pack, to be sure it won't fall off and to free her arms for climbing.

(Without the armor check penalty of the shield, Banny's climb is a +5. Anyone higher?

How high is the cliff?

The cliff is around 300 ft. in height at this point, the coast sweeping up into the highlands.

No climb checks are needed but there is quite a high wind blowing as you move up.

My climb is also +5, but my reflex save is much better than yours.

"I'm going to assume you two aren't much at climbing." Craw says, blowing smoke out and looking at Mogwag and the walking hunk of wood. He piles up the rope and all the pitons. "Here's what we're gonna do." See Tik's post in discussion. "Gonna take longer than I'd like, but I prefer that to having one of you fall and die. Daylight's burning ladies, let's get movin'." Curden will take the lead and leave Banny in the back so their experienced climbers are on each end. Curden looks up again, then spots the red cloth. Huh. Suppose I'll pick that up when I get there.

"Tik'Klik"

Tik'klik moves with very slow and deliberate motions. Oddly enough, despite being fully equipped with climbing gear, the golem seems to be very bad at climbing. It moves with very deliberate motions, and slows everyone down as it refuses to move any faster than slow.

Oddly enough, had the original intended crystal been in the golem, it would have had a very high climb check. But, also oddly enough, climbing is not a class skill for a sorcerer.

+3 Climb Here

Mogwag is fine with being the last to go he says with a smile

"Mogwag gonna speak in third person th' whole trip?" Banny asks with an absent grimace up at the cliff's stretching face.

"Yeh, that'll work," she says to Craw's (Tik'Klik's!) plan. He's... not awful at this, for a human, she thinks with what qualifies as high praise coming from her. "Slow's better than a stupid splat."

To Mogwag, she adds on, "You go before me, yeah? I slip, I'm takin' us both down. You're twiggy enough I can likely act as a stopgap for you."

Banny smirks to herself. "Heh. Twiggy. See, it's funny cuz... ah, hell with it, let's climb."

So.... possibly a dumb question here, and if these aren't concerns we need to worry about, then never mind me, but:

It took us 12 hours to get from the ship to the base of the wall? Is there, um, still daylight? Are we entering forced march circumstances? Because as RAW, those kick in after like eight hours travel...

Notice we're on Day 2 now? I assume that means we camped and went another four hours the next day.

You spent day 1 exploring and you started day 2 in the early morning. After the climb it will be evening, so the sun will have started its descent. Theres no midnight sun or such at this region.

It is indeed Mogwag's custom Banny when traveling with non elves he says nodding to her. At the mention of going first he will go ahead and just do it.

Once camp is set up, Tik'Klik will settle into the center of the camp, on his feet, and set his head to rotating slowly 360 degrees. He will stay that way until something is seen, the mortals prepare to leave in the morning, or until he has some other reason to move.

Ah, no, I hadn't noticed the Day 2 bit up at top. Very well then.

"...alright, I'll bite: why's that?" Banny grunts to the elf as they hike up the cliff face.

Your group camps for the night and unless you set up a fire, nothing happens.

Current Hex is F6
Current Day is Day 3, early morning

The question of whether we're starting a fire would depend on how cold it is, I guess? I'm assuming there's no actual snow on the ground, and you haven't asked for any saves from us vs cold, so I'm guessing it's mild enough to not need a fire. Banny will take a watch, of course. What do we see from the top of the Shattered Wall?

"Tik'Klik"

The golem makes his typical morning noise indicating all was good with the evening. His head stops rotating and he straightens up. Obviously ready to go.

It is just custom, it represents the fact that one does not separate the way of the one from the way of the many or the few. he replied to banny

When Mogwag moves to ascend first Craw pulls him back. "My ass you're going first. I'm not holding you up by myself when you fall." He throws down his cigar and twists his toe on it. "We had a lazy day yesterday so let's get to it."