A warm light assails your sense of sight and begins to recede. As it recedes, shapes come into view. First the floor upon which you stand, a large expanse of polished marble. As the light continues to pull back, you breath. A breath of fresh cool refreshing air.
Even as more of your surroundings are revealed, you notice that the floor goes on for fifty plus feet to your left and right. There, large marble pillars reach skyward nearly another fifty feet, and from them, ornate buttresses cross above you, connecting them. Past the pillars is only an enveloping impregnable mist.
To your left, right, and rear, a throng of others stand, as you do, in a myriad of clothes and colors. By the hundreds, nay, thousands, they look about and at each other. Even as your vision clears, so does theirs.
A voice draws everyone's attention. To your front, some seventy feet ahead, rises a large marble dais, and upon it sits two thrones. Occupying these thrones are a man and a woman, who appear to be in their mid to late twenties, dressed in plush finery. They both cast a faint aura within the soft light of the amphitheater. His' appears brighter, more golden, while her's is more subdued, whiter, and almost even pale.
It is his voice that draws the attention of the crowd of hundreds, nay, thousands. All attention falls to him. He sits lazily, a leg cast casually over the arm of his large throne while he twirls a stout staff in his opposite hand between his thumb and fingers.
"Welcome," he says not looking at anything but his staff, "I am... well you can call me Asair, and this," he said nodding to the adjoining throne, "is Eluna. And we, are the purveyors of life."
"What my brother means," Eluna said as she leaned forward in her throne, looking at all present with a slow sweep of her gaze, "is, we gave you life. A life you must now live. To succeed or fail, that is yours to decide." She frowned slightly at the thought of failure, and leaned back for the support of her throne, but continued, "You see, a large beautiful, expansive, world has been laid out before you. In it you will find trials and tribulations, love, joy, sorrow, and pain. But, that can not be helped. With one comes another. All things must be as they are."
"ENOUGH!" boomed Asair, "The time is before us, and it is now!" With that, he stood, bringing up his large staff and arched it across the expanse. As he did, your view began to slowly recede. Collapsing in on itself. As it did, you hear hushed murmurs come from around you, that fade as quickly as the light.
You shiver as your sight completely fails you. You have the sensation of floating, gliding down an invisible river, and with a whoosh you feel it, substance. Beneath your knees and toes.
Once again your sight returns and before you, you see a very different vision. One of rolling hills, trees, skies, and much more. It all is as common to you as anything you have ever known. You don't really know how you know, but you know what it is, home. The purveyors saw to it that if you were to fail, it would not be from a lack of instilled knowledge.
Even as you looked about, you saw the items of your trade, cast about you. You knew them, and better still, how to use them.
After donning your gear you have a moment to assess your surroundings.
The sun is just climbing over the rolling hills off to the East, somewhere in the neighborhood of nine or ten in the morning you would think. The wind blows lightly from the Northeast and you catch the sent of moisture, though it doesn't appear that it is going to rain today.
You gather that you are on a ridge of hills that runs Northwest to Southeast. Yes, you are certain, the hill you stand on and the ones that are Northwest and Southeast of you, are a bit higher that the ones to the North, Northeast, South, and Southwest of you.
There appears to be small thin clusters of trees to the Northwest along the ridge, about an hours walk away, that run off down what might be some type of draw to the Northeast of there, and can be seen continuing out onto the lower hills North of you.
Ray stands on the hill top feeling strangely free and content. He breathes deeply as the wind washes lightly over his body and through his hair before he checks that his equipment is secured and begins walking along the hill, heading towards the trees Northwest of him.
He mumbles quietly to himself as he walks. "Purveyors of life? What has happened to me? Who were those... people?"
He shakes off the thoughts that were troubling him "This land is beautiful, the least I can do is enjoy it." Ray continues on enjoying the morning sun, the grass springing up instantly after his light steps.
You continue traveling Northwest along the ridge. The sun rises high in the sky and the clusters of thin trees come and go, replaced by others. You push on without incident into the early evening.
You find a secure quiet place to rest for the night and take stock in your surroundings:
Northeast: Here too, the hills should taper off into plains
Southeast: Whence you came
South: The hills should taper off into plains
Southwest: The hills continue, but seem to become more barren (less trees)
Northwest: The ridge continues and the woods seem to get thicker
As you settle in for the evening a tingling passes gently through your body causing the hairs on your arms and neck to standup. You don't sense danger so much as a 'calling'. Something, off in the un-perceivable distance beckons you. You sense it draws you further along the ridge and into the woods beyond.
As you set camp, you feel the sense drawing stronger, slightly, as the hours pass and the sun begins to wain.
Ray sits down letting the strange feeling prickle across his skin. He studies the hairs on his arms as they rise and the goose pimples that quickly follow. It does not feel evil or threatening in the least. "Yet why can I not shake my unease."
Finally after a short amount of time curiosity got the better of him, he rose and headed off in the direction of the woods. As the world gets darker he will remove a torch and risk lighting it.
You decide to press on, though you feel the weariness in your legs as you rise. It is probably better, considering you probably would have gotten little rest with no sign that the strange prickling feeling would subside.
You pack up all your gear and head out Northwesterly. The moon is full and only casts light shadows in the small valleys of the lush hills.
Something about the moon jogs your memory, and your thoughts, as you continue on. A bit further, you realize that the glow of the moon, has a vague resemblance to something, but you can't decide what, and realize now is not the time to deliberate on it.
You press on, and you begin to ache. First in your legs and then your back, followed by your shoulders. But something drives you.
You shift your pack, take a deep breath, and continue on as the night begins to settle in, the aching subsiding some as you do.
At the peak of the moon you see the forest's shadowy edge before you and advance in through the brush. The brush soon gives way to an open forest floor, devoid of brush for the most part, due to the thick canopy of the trees. You stop and light a torch...
You go no more than a half hour...
...and you notice the leaves being gently blown about. They rise twirl and settle, again and again about you as you move forward. You sense something is following you and glance back. Nothing. But the leaves remain motionless as you do. It is not until a few yards farther, after resuming, do the leaves begin their fluttering dance anew. Something, someone is following you, just out of reach of your torch light. But there, again, a pull. A subtle nerve tingling sensation... what could that be?
Ray feels fear trickling down his spine and a cold sweat seeps into his clothes he screams into the forest. His nerves are raw and he does not know how much more stalking he can take. However he knows his body is weak and that he will need rest if he wishes to ever survive in the wilderness.
He begins searching for any sticks, twigs or leaves that he can make a fire with.
If he finds enough he will make a fire in the centre open clearing, making sure to keep it lit through the night. Also if he finds enough sticks he will light several and form a ring of lit sticks around his camp.
As you start to set up a hasty defensive position of several outlying fires, you catch glimpses of movement along the edge of the light. There only seems to be one, and though small (three and a half feet tall or so), it is quick. You figure you could keep pace with it, but it would be difficult to overtake if it didn't want to be caught.
Before too long you have a center fire and a ring of outer fires, but the little beast stays just out of the light, always moving as if waiting or probing for a weakness. You glance skyward, based on the moon, you guess it is around two in the morning. It's going to be a long night.
Ray will rest his back to the fire watching the creature run around, while he does so he removes his Crossbow, inserting a bolt into the mechanism. Once the weapon is prepared lays it on his lap for easy reach and begins eating some of his rations, however he is always ready and waiting in case the creature attacks.
He eventually plucks up the courage to call out "Reveal yourself. I wish you no harm...All I want is to sleep and then carry on my journey." He thinks for a moment before speaking again a cool bead of sweat dribbling down his forehead. "I would welcome you into my camp...Aslong as your not evil that is."
No response is heard from your hail, but motion continues just at the fringes of the outer fire's edge.
Seconds pass into minutes, minutes into an hour - the wee hours of the morning.
Your eyes feel heavy, but you shake it off. The ever present stalking humanoid removes any thought of sleep from your mind.
The leaves begin to stir again, and from the darkness the small humanoid glides down from the height of some distant tree, to land in a single knee crouch, effortlessly, just inside the ring of your outer fires.
As it rises, it raises it head. Small beady eyes sparkle like polished onyx. It is dressed in drab garments which match its pale gray, leathery skin. An unkempt shock of short black hair frames its bat-like face and slightly pointed ears. Its long and slender arms end in four-fingered hands that are thrust down and back at a forty-five degree angle from its wiry frame. Its right hand clutching a ragged edged short bladed sword.
It releases a high pitched, barely audible, scream. You see its intention immediately in the reflective surface of its eyes...
You realize you have only scant moments to react before it does...
Ray quickly rises from the ground raising the Crossbow from his lap as he does and fires.
The bolt releases and carves through the air...
Rayalai's shaft smashed into the lithe beast's shoulder, twisting its torso as it did. A similar blow would have fell a beast twice its size, but it kept coming, toughs of earth and leaves rising behind it in small plumes.
It did not charge headlong into Rayalai as an unintelligent beast would have done, but skirted by at arms length, just in range of a slashing blow. The attack, as unorthodoxy as the approach, did not go for vitals, but rather came in low projected at Rayalai's ankle.
The attack struck surprisingly hard, striking Rayalai in the achilles tendon. The pain quickly, and sharply, ran up his calf and though his thigh, bringing him to a knee.
A staggered creature may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can he take full-round actions). A staggered creature can still take free, swift and immediate actions. A creature with nonlethal damage exactly equal to its current hit points gains the staggered condition.
Which I think is fair, but would like your input as well. I think attacks should be able to be done with the intent to impose a condition rather than damage. Such tactics I would consider usable by both PCs and NPCs. Thoughts?
So, he is still in range, just over you left shoulder, but you have no melee weapon drawn and that counts as a move action (so no attack if you draw a weapon, you could have stuck your sword in the ground in preparation and I would have allowed an attack with it.) You are also kneeling which would take an action to rise. You could attempt to hit it with the crossbow from your position, but that would be an improvised weapon (-4 to hit). I'll rule it a 1d4+Str damage bludgeoning weapon, but if you crit you may damage it. Fair?
Again, I am approachable to input, just wanted to put this out there so you can see where I am coming from and my thoughts behind my rulings.
Ray grunts in pain as he is brought to his knee, his crossbow flies out his hands as he falls he growls in anger "So much for been nice." Quickly he strikes out with his fist trying to get a lucky shot.
Ray pivots on his knee and uses the weight of his body to power a vicious backhand that catches the beast behind the left ear. Its head snaps, breaking its neck, and it tumbles head first into the soil of the forest floor. Tearing a furrow in the ground where it skids to a stop.
Ray takes a quick look around, and seeing no other opponents, slumps to the ground on his rear. The throbbing of his Achilles tendon forces him to take his boot off before it swells to the point where he wouldn't be able to remove it later.
He had been hurt far worse than he had thought... it immediately began swelling. A torn tendon perhaps. It would take some time for it to heal properly.
Any attack can either cause HP damage or a Conditions. Normal damage is assumed unless specified before the attack that a Condition is sought.
A regular success (hit) means that either HPs are reduced normally (the default) or the stated Condition is applied for a number of rounds equal to the HPs that would have been done.
If a critical hit is scored, the damage multiplier is applied to HP damage as normal, but if a Condition was the intention, it is longer lasting. I am thinking a critically applied condition lasts until it is magically or normally healed.
So, and yes I use the word 'so' too much, since you got the condition rather than a 4hp wound, it will take you four days to loose the condition with the default healing rate. (heal rate = 1 hp : lvl : 8 hrs of rest), though I am considering going with a heal rate = 1d4+con hps : lvl : 8 hrs, which means it might take between 1-4 days to heal. If it wouldn't have been a critical, it would have been for four rounds.
Thoughts about the Conditions Option and alternative to the Healing Rules?
That out of the way, I can not find any reference to non-lethal damage in the PFBB set, so broken neck it was. Nice kill!
Ray hears the snap of bone and smiles wryly, Harder punch than I thought. Then he grimaces as the pain arches through his leg, he flexes slowly feeling how bad the damage is, eliciting a sharp grunt as he does. "Won't be able to walk... for a day or two at least."
He stretches out on the ground recovering his breath before slowly crawling over to the creatures body. He inspects it to see what type of beast it is or if it holds any useful equipment.
After looking at the creature he tries to find any large sticks that he could maybe use as a walking stick or splint. He is careful not to put any pressure on the leg.
Finally he will return to the camp and roll out his Bedroll, sleeping and eating periodically through the day. If nothing happens during the night he will rest until morning before setting off through the forest once more if possible.
Rayalai finds enough sticks to splint up his ankle. Though it supports it, Ray does not have much confidence that it will speed the recovery any.
He pulled himself over to the creature and began to rummage through its material possessions. Other than the jagged edged short sword he finds a few small items and trinkets. Perhaps these beasts us these for trade?
As he set up to rest, Rayalai gazed once more at the beast.
Something meanders into his thoughts. A Silid he recalls from some dark recess of his mind. That is what they are. A form of bat-like-goblin, a small subterranean dwellers that enjoys ambushing and waylaying their opponents. They slay their victims, steal their possessions, and leave their bodies to what ever happens to wander along looking for a meal. Cruel, mean-spirited creatures, silids care nothing for themselves or anything else. They seem to take great pleasure in bringing misery to others, particularly adventurers. Silids rarely interact with other races. They are an untrustworthy lot, and most other races avoid contact with them.
Strange it glided down if upon wings, but yet it had none...
Rayalai's eyes grew heavy and sleep over took him somewhere in the early morning. He occasionally had fitful dreams of Silids.
Sometime around mid-afternoon, Rayalai woke with a start. The tingling that he had experienced before was back in full force. Sitting up he could sense a new presence. He immediately looked at where he had left the corpse. Squating over the dead creature, with her back to Rayalai, was a young woman with her arms resting on a blade sitting in the fold of her lap. She did not turn to even look at Ray as she spoke.
"About time you woke. You have been sleeping for some time." She finally rose and sheathed her blade and turned. She was tall, athletic, and quite pretty. Her green eyes almost sparkled as she continued, "I came as soon as I... sensed you. It appears," she said gesturing to the corpse, "that you did not need my help. You have been hurt, how do you feel? Can you move?"
A dull pain hums from his leg however upon inspection the swelling had noticeably dwindled, he tested it by standing up and putting weight on it. Ray tries not to show any pain or discomfort.
"I can move." he growls when he has fully stood, resting his hand on his Rapier.
He looked into her eyes, [b"]The last time I tried to show kindness...this happened."[/b] he gestured to the corpse. He sighs She has offered her help why should I distrust her.
Ray studies the woman a while longer before removing his hand from the hilt of his blade and softly speaks "I am feeling ...better but I have a multitude of questions and I would hope for answers. Firstly what is your name? I am Rayalai." He rubs his arms "And what is that strange tingling all over my body? Are you doing this?"
The woman looked Rayalai up and down, "You can stand, but you won't fight well, should the need arise," she said bluntly.
She walked toward him, "I am Navaris, well met." She knelt and took a closer look at your ankle, then rose again, "As for the sensation... I think it is a form of link. I imagine that it binds us all, all of us..."
Her face went strange. An expression of thought crossed her face and she took a step back, "Where have you come?" she asked eying him suspiciously and turning sideways to him.
Ray notices her hand go to her sword, he slowly raises his to attempt to placate her. "I don't want a fight...I think we can help one another." he thinks for a moment "In truth I do not know where I come from...There were people Asair and Eluna, they spoke strangely. Of creation...They said they created us." He shakes his head and takes a small step closer "I then 'awoke' on a range hill about a days walk from here. This bond was what brought me here."
"Trust me and we can watch each others back."
Navaris relaxed some and took her hand off her sword hilt with the mention of Eluna and Asair.
"Then you stood as I and others had," she said as she went and placed a few pieces of wood on the main fire. "There should be many more I suppose, if they met a similar fate as ours. I am uncertain of the outcome of similar chance meeting however. Do you think all the... others... are as we? I mean... as genial?"
She turned back to Rayalai, and without waiting for an immediate response, looked him square in the eyes. "Trust, is a thing earned, not given. But, for now, under the circumstance, we should... as you say... watch each others backs."
Navaris pulled a morsel of food from her belt-pouch and took a bite, "What might your plans be then, if we are to travel together?" she asked.
He thinks for a moment before speaking once more "I would not count on others showing us warmth, yet I believe in trusting someone until they break it...A vice of mine I suppose."
He hobbles over to collect his backpack, crossbow and the rest of his things, making sure everything is secured before swinging the bag onto his back. "As for plans, I have none just whims. At the moment I would wish to explore the forest in detail, search for others maybe find some Game." he studies her a while "Do you have plans"
Navaris looked up to where the sun lay in the sky, then back to Rayalai, "You have been asleep longer than you may have realized, perhaps we could move into the forested hills some, if that is what you mean. Back the way I came, about fours hours walk, to the Northwest? From there, I only know what lies to the Southwest, which is where the forest begins to thin again, and a days walk the wooded hills turn to an expanse of mountains with thin vegetation."
She thought to add, "The mountains are where... I arrived. But whatever you feel inclined to do, we only have about four hours of daylight to do it."
Okay, when you said, "... I would wish to explore the forest in detail," did you mean you want to clear the hex? It would take 2 days to completely explore a 12.5 mile forested hill hex. I was confused if that was your implied intention.
Either way, moving back to a center of a hex would make mapping and time recording much easier on me ;)
Based on how we have been moving about the map, I would suggest that we go with one of three movement rates that you would choose from and could change as you see fit;
Travel: day-to-day travel, one 12.5 hex per exchange or there about. (What we have been doing)
Exploration: or a thorough search of a 12.5 hex that will cause one to five days to pass depending on what terrain it is. Higher possibility of finding 'dungeon crawl' type adventures.
Weekly: where I would expose the surrounding six hexes and you could chose any of those to be your ending point. I would still roll random encounters which might interrupt the week. Think this would be good to open up the map quicker.
I think this would allow you to control the tempo of the game and give me idea what you are in the mood for.
Oh, and I forgot, I am awarding you 135xp for the combat.
"Hmm I believe I guess I was tired." He looks around "I do not wish to stay here for another night, I say we scratch the whole forest I idea and get a lay of the land. Maybe travel north." The pain from his leg throbs at his words "Slowly."
Rayalai and Navaris set out North. The hills becoming less prevalent and less steep as they went, as well as the woods thinning slightly. Rayalai kept an eye out for any game that could provide sustenance as they went.
Here and there along the way they found berries and mushrooms and stored them. Just as the land opened up onto flush grasslands, the small party spooked a small group of wild boar. With quick reaction and deadly aim, Rayalai fell the tusked animal with a well placed crossbow shot.
Navaris gutted the animal and took the hocks. She tied them together at the ankle and slung them over her pack.
As evening fell, the duo found themselves out in the sprawling green fields North of the forested hills and set about setting up camp. Navaris began slow cooking the hog's hind quarters over a small fire. Though they had eaten today, the hog smoked all night would provide them dried food for another three days.
Navaris adjusted the hocks, "So how do you propose we handle the night?" she asked. "It will be drawing dark soon."
So for food, you now have three days each of trail rations, and in the morning will have three days worth of dried hog meat (Six days of food divided by two). I am not too worried about water in this part of the world. Rivers, streams, and artisan springs are common.
Now, you find yourselves in Hex3931 and night is setting in. If you want to, you can clear the four adjacent hexes of the FOW (Fog Of War), since your Condition will be done in the morning assuming you have a restful night, I just need to know what hex you would want to end in after the four days of travel and I'll spin it all up (encounter, descriptions, and such).
I also need to know how you want to tackle the issue of rest.
He thinks for a moment while eating some of his rations "I suppose here at least we can spot if anything is coming. But they can just as easily see us." He looks around for any sort of cover that they can hide in, maybe a dip in the ground or something of the sort.
"I would suggest that we take it in turns on watch and keep the fire low while we do so." He rubs his hand through his hair "I will take first watch."
If he finds any place to hide he will move there.
Yeah they can travel the 4 adjacent hexes and will end in the 4032 hex east of them assuming they don't get assaulted :)
Rest I don't really know what you mean?
Evening of Day Two
Rayalai and Navaris found a shallow dry creak bed that ran to the North to camp it. I was dry, a little rocky, but as long as the weather held out a good place to camp for the night.
"Very well, wake me when you need a spell," Navaris said as she turned the pork and settled into her bedroll...
Rayalai's Perception
Navaris's Perception
As Rayalai was waking Navaris something scuttled out of the dark and caught Rayalai unaware.
A chitinous worm like object shot out and bit into Rayalai's leg.
Looking down, he saw a Giant Centipede trying to get a better grasp on its prey, but it had already injected its weak poison.
Giant Centipede
Navaris
Give me a response and Initiative Roll please. If you beat the other two, go ahead and take your actions.
After the encounter I will plan on pushing on with the map opening travel.
Ray cries out as the centipede bit into his recently healed leg.
He manages to resist the insects poison but is not quick enough to react to the creatures initial attacks. What is it with that damn leg!!!
Navaris came out of her bedroll in a flash, sword gleaming as it reflected the moonlight.
"I hate bugs!" she screamed as she brought the blade down in a blindingly fast light.
The blade struck true...
... lopping of the Giant Centipede's head. It wriggled for more than a few heart beats before it came to rest in the dry creak bed.
She shivered violently, then looked at Rayalai, "What? I really hate bugs," she said shrugging. "Perhaps we should look around? Do you think there might be more?" She was obviously concerned that there might be.
Ray kicked the centipede head away from them and quickly moves over to Navaris trying to calm her down "Navaris thankyou for the help, but I don't think wandering off in the night searching for bugs is a wise idea." He wanders over to the body and drags it away "I will check the perimeter you sit down and calm yourself."
Ray wanders the perimeter with his Rapier drawn trying to spot any creatures in the darkness.
Rayalai scoured the perimeter and found no further signs of bugs or anything else. As he stepped back close to Navaris, she had seemed to calm some on her own. She sat in deep thought that she popped out of when Rayalai came near.
When she saw him return, not frantic, she knew there were no more bugs, "I know it is late, get some rest Rayalai."
Ray smiles at Navaris "Thanks" He lays his bedroll down near the fire and climbs in. Quickly falling asleep.
Day Three
Rayalai found himself rested and recovered when Navaris and he broke camp on day three of their arrival to the new lands. He could hardly make out where he had been bitten the night before, and his ankle had mended as well.
The set out early, packing up camp and the food that they had procured the proceeding day, to the Northwest.
They traveled almost half a day when they ran into a large river that ran from the West to the East and broke for lunch. As they ate, Navaris spoke of what she thought the river was, or would be, named. Something was eating at her, but whatever it was, she would not offer it up.
The pressed on, following the river for an hour, or two, into what became forest again. It was not long before they found a ford site, and crossed and turned North for the rest of that afternoon.
Night Three
They setup camp, and shared another meal, in a small clearing with a rock cliff at their back just two hours North of the river. Once again they decided to sleep in shifts...
Navaris woke you and before she could say a word, you felt it. The same tingling sensation that you had experienced before, when you met Navaris.
Now that you thought about it, you had almost forgotten, seeing how the sensation faded once you had met and spent some time together.
"It has been a couple hours, just faintly at first, then the feeling grew and has been subsiding for about the last half hour. I believe it emanates from the Northeast, further into the wood." she said casually, before laying down on her bedroll. "Wake me if it grows stronger."
As the night passed, the sensation did in deed diminished and Rayalai concurred, it was somewhere to the Northeast.
Day Four
The two broke camp again on day four and instinctively began traveling Northeast. The median forest they found themselves in continued on as they traveled. Along the North-Northwestern edge, they notice that the larger trees got small and more shrub-like and to the South-Southeast they where thicker with denser underbrush.
Stopping for the evening, they set up camp, and as they did Navaris broached the subject, "I have not sensed them again since yesterday when I went to bed. Do you think something happened to them, or perhaps they moved on? I wonder if we would sense them if... if they were dead," she said absently as she settled down with her back to a large tree. She enjoyed some of the hog and berries they had found while hunting before asking what was on her mind, "Do we stick to the plan and turn back Southeast, or take another course? We might be able to find a trail, though things like that typically elude me." She took another bite and waited for Rayalai's reply.
---------------------
---------------------
Ray grabs some of the berries aswell, sniffing at them before popping several into his mouth. He thinks for a moment It would certainly be good to find some extra people. He looks directly in her eyes before speaking "I hope that they have maybe just moved away..." He finishes up his food not saying much more, then he packs his things and takes his crossbow from the back of his pack. He glances sideways at Navaris and shrugs "Just in case."
He sets off when everyone is ready in a north easterly direction, 2I suggest that we explore this area thoroughly."
He will try to find any trails or signs of a human passing.
::NEW MAP - HEX 3930 at 1/2 MILE per HEX::
Rayalai and Navaris spent the next two days going over every inch, or just about, of the entire area. They discovered several things of note while they explored. Namely, the trail of a lone individual that came into the area from the Northwest and departed to the Northeast.
Of equal note, they found a large spider web to the North, a cave in the swamp to the South, and a peculiar rock formation to the East. All of which the duo gave a wide birth.
Navaris and Rayalai found themselves back at their camp at midday of the second day of exploration, and the sixth day after their arrival to Ukarea.
Navaris finished off the last of her smoked hog, "Well, back to standard rations. It was good while it lasted. We found their trail, but I haven't sensed anything for days. If they kept moving, they have at least a two day jump on us. What do you have in mind to do... Ray?"
This was the first time that she took to using his shortened name. Perhaps she has come to trust you in the past few day?
Also, again I appologize for it taking me this long to do this post. I wish I had time to do better but work will be hectic for the next couple weeks. I do want you to feel that this is as much your game as mine, so if there is anything I can do differently, or that you want to see, perhaps in the way of your character's experiences, please let me know. I intentionally left this up for very fluid changes if need be. That said, I hope you are enjoying it. I am! I have been thinking of the big strokes of Ukarea for probably two and a half years. It has only now begun to feel like an actual place for me. Thanks!
He smiles happily when she uses his shortened name Maybe she is starting to like me. He scratches his stubble "Hmmm...I was hoping they would remain fairly close, at least for a little while. They may be to far ahead now... Let us head back east towards that strange rock formation, that just didn't sit right with me. He packs up his stuff once more and holds his crossbow ready, however he hasn't loaded a bolt.
Navaris draws her Longsword as they walk.
I am really enjoying it I have no complaints so far :D
I will take baby steps with the CNPC thing just so I can get a feel for how it works. Let me know if I overstep anything.
::Image of Stones that I wish I had time to do better!::
Rayalai and Navaris trudged back to the East, circling around the small hills to the Southwest of the small lake. They approached the stones from the field Northwest of the stones. It was three and a half miles give or take, but they made good time. The journey not taking more than an hour.
Within the fields Northeast of the lake the peered upon the stones some...
hundred and seventy feet to there front. The field rose up in small mounds around the four stones. Three stones still stood, but one had toppled over. Tuffs of grass, weeds, and small bushes grew up randomly about the place. Barely visible at this range, in the middle of the four larger stones - that stood a good nine feet tall - was a much smaller stone.
It was a peculiar sight, but the duo of adventures did not see or sense anything amiss...
Ray moves close enough to study the stones but he is wary enough not to step straight into the circle. He remains about 10ft away and studies the symbols of each stone individually.
If nothing happens he will move up to the stones and follow the lines on each symbol with his fingers. "Navaris do you have any idea what this is."
If still nothing happens he will gingerly walk into the centre of the circle "Stay alert and before you ask no I don't have a clue what I'm doing."
He looks at the centre stone trying to see anything in particular that stands out.
Don't worry about posting if you are to busy at work. 12 hour shifts sound nasty!!!
Rayalai has an inkling of a thought as he studied the stones from a distance. Something, right there on the tip of his tongue. Somehow he knows that they won't hurt him, at least not in their current condition.
"I have absolutely no idea," Navaris said, watching as Rayalai stepped and touches the stones.
His fingers tingle lightly as he traversed around the circle touching the stone's engraved lines, all but the fourth at least. The fourth stone had tipped and provides no sensation in his finger tips as he touched it.
Along with the sensation, Rayalai got a vision when he touched the three vertical stones; the ocean when he touched the Southern stone, clouds when he touched the stone to the West, and flames when he touched the one to the North. He could assume that the fourth would provide an image of the earth, or something along those lines, if it was operational.
The stones seemed to be hundreds of years old, if not thousands. He did not recall more about them, but he could tell from the wear, that they were old and roughly honed stone work. Nothing of any technological ability made these marks. They appeared more like if someone might have rubbed them into the stone over a long period of time.
When he focused on the smaller stone in the middle, he noticed that the much smaller stone, perhaps only a foot and a half tall, had a deep hole bore into it. About the diameter of a spear shaft to fit into. Or, something similar.
Seeing this he checked the larger stone in the East that had tipped. On the top, or what would have been the top if it still stood, was a small recess, no more than a half inch deep and tapered. The outer edge diameter of the recess couldn't be larger than a large man's thumb.
Whatever it was, it was definitely old...
Just then, Navaris screamed, "Ray... look... there!" and she pointed to the South. Ray's gaze turn to the South and there he saw the ground of the mounds to the South moving. Moments later, through the earth, skeletal hands burst! First one then another. As Ray watched on, Navaris spoke up again, "... and there!" Turning to the West, where she pointed, Rayalai saw the ground begin to move in a couple places.
If reason held true, Navaris would elicit another warning to the North as well...
Plans?
Ray simply stands in shock staring at each of the mounds in turn. "There is to many..." He thoughts race wildly but one thought keeps pushing to the front of his mind We weren't here first. They created us and put us in this world but something...someone was here before. He shakes himself Can't think about that now. "Quickly Navaris help me lift this stone back up. I don't know what it does but might help us." He drops his crossbow next to the stone leaving it within easy reach.
She runs over and tries to help him lift the large stone back into place.
I don't know but I am definitely nervous. I was tempted to run but I am to curious for my own good ;)
Navaris and Rayalai, heave on the large Eastern stone. Slowly, painfully slow actually, the stone begins to come up. Not so much from a brute force lift, but more from in sliding some into a furrow whence it stood.
As the stone got to almost waist level, Rayalai noticed animated humanoid shaped bones rising to the South, the ones to the West were just coming through to the point that they could be identified as more of the same. Still yet, more hands and arms broke through the crust of the earth to the North.
The stone that the two labored with cleared the halfway point, when Rayalai sensed the tingle that he was familiar with. But Navaris was not...
Navaris screamed in fear and dropped the stone, leaving Rayalai to hold it up, or...
If you want to try and maintain what you got, give me a Fort Save roll. I will allow a quick sentence exchange, with a successful Fort vs DC15, if you want to try to motivate Navaris back in; perhaps your Bluff or Diplomacy vs. her Sense Motive. Or, you could drop it and do something else. If you fail the Fort save...
Ray manages to hold the weight of the stone but grunts with the effort, he manages to gasp enough breath to shout to Navaris "This will all be pointless unless you help me!!!"
I think Navaris would come back to help but correct me if I am wrong anywhere.
Navaris runs back over and helps with the weight they once more begin pushing the stone back into place. Ray tries to get a judge on how close the Bones are and how long they would take to reach them.
I wasn't sure if I rolled everything needed so if you want anything more feel free to roll it for me.
Hope your work isn't to hard on you!!!
::Stones Encounter Round 1 Map::
Ray and Navaris heaved and the stone slided further into its original resting place. The balance point crested and the stone went up to almost its prior vertical position with much less strain. Rayalai realized that it would take much longer to plum than they had. He had to hope that erecting the stone would help, somehow...
Navaris looked around in a circle, "I am probably stating the obvious," she said drawing her sword, "but they are rising in the order that you touched the stones. The last to rise, being the ones of this stone." She motioned to the stone they had just erected and to the East.
All around the stones the ground shifted. The animated skeletons to the South were fully exposed now, to the West they were almost free, to the North you could just make out that they were humanoid skeletal forms, and lastly to the East, hands were appearing.
"And Ray, why do I still feel like I am touching the stone when I am not?!" Navaris barked.
That was strange, you no longer felt it, but she seemed to, and she wasn't touching any of the stones... neither were you, but you no longer felt it!
Navaris Initiative:
Southern Bones Initiative:
This should be interesting to say the least. To answer your question on how long before they will get to you, see the map (each hex is 5 feet), you just don't know how fast they move!
He gets a moment of relief when the stone slides into place...then realises it was probably not such a good idea. He replies to Navaris's frantic question "I don't know why you feel it but it's I can't feel it. Step near the centre see if that helps."
He will pick up his crossbow and load it then move to the centre of the stones.
I wasn't sure if you would like me to take Navaris's move or not.
[20] Rayalai moved into the center of the circle, as he did he felt the sensation return. It must have been because he was outside the ring, and Navaris was inside...
[16] Navaris pulled her weapon as Rayalai moved into the center with her, "You have something in mind here?" she asked turning to see how it was unfolding.
::Round 2 Map::
Three skeletons from the South began moving toward the two companions. The ones to the West had just broken free, but appeared to be standing, getting their bearings. The ones to the North were sitting up out of the ground now, and the one to the East was barely discernible.
Ah yeah I picked up my crossbow. Well thanks for letting me off ;)
Navaris has her weapon readied and then quickly runs over to . Making sure to remain just inside the circle of stones, she gets her sword at the ready.
Ray looks around "Erm...No"
Ray pulls up the crossbow and fires at the skeletons to the west aiming at a Skeletons knee to slow it down further. Then reloads.
End of Turn Two Recap
* Raylai shot and missed at skeletons to the West as they stood.
* Navaris moved down to secure the Southern flank.
* Skeletons to the South moved North
Start of Turn Three
Rayalai's bolt had dug into the ground at the feet of one of the skeletons, "Calm yourself and aim true," Navaris called, taking only a moment to look at Rayalai as she did, before looking back at the approaching skeletons to the South.
I hope this makes a bit more sense. I got ahead with the skeletons to the South, since I didn't see any chance of melee happening. Let me know if I can do anything to make it clearer.
Ray: Round 3
"I don't think this stone thing is gunna work." He reloads his crossbow and aims at the skeletons south this time.
Guess not :P
Navaris: Round 3
Yep I say we get out of here. She runs to attack the skeleton at 1714. She swings her longsword with all her strength.