DM Beyond the Grave's page

Mornings grow more humid and turn into long days as the days become hotter and turn into the insect song filled nights. Days turn into weeks and the weather is as fickle a b@!+@ as she ever was. Progress being the priority, the two of you have reason to be proud of the work you've gotten accomplished in the last month despite lack of skill in such areas.

Lathar finished up the chicken coop with some wood found behind the barn. The chickens, happier than ever; are producing an egg or two a day each. There just enough wood left over to finish up the fence repairs. Between the goat and cow it doesn't take long before the fenced in area begins to look like a manicured lawn...might have to let them out to a larger area before too awful long...and are giving steady, healthy tasting milk.

Modoc works hard getting two whole acres plowed and ready for seed. Stalking the area at dusk and early morning he has had some measure of luck hunting felling plenty of rabbits and a couple of possums. He's seen no wolf tacks nor heard any howls late at night when they are most abundant...could they really be gone?..

Between the two of you, you're little garden got planted and is showing a few sprouts! The dog days of summer are upon you and the wise will keep in mind that winter is ever getting closer.

Lathar - you have the rare opportunity to see a shooting star over the mountains in the distance. Otherwise the night sounds are normal and the you can smell no rain on the wind.

Modoc - the goat butts you more playfully this time and doesn't try to sneak up on you to do it. You see Lathar heading back to the house from the shed.

Lathar - the chicken probably earlier this day so is still edible...if cooked properly. On the way back to the house you see your partner playing with the goat in the yard.

Lather - With no coop in the yard the chickens have been 'cooped' up in the barn. You do find four brown eggs amongst the moldy straw and one of the six hens dead.

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Modoc - Even with no fresh game for supper the sight of the farm even in the dark reminds you that you will never really be empty handed again. You clear the fence and find the animals seem to being doing well and grunt at your appearance.

Its fully dark by the time you make it back to your new home empty handed.

Modoc - Your skills persist and a half mile later you are able to catch up the wily turkey. He's about 80' away in a small clearing. With the rapidly fading light you know this will be your last chance to bag this bird.

DM Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 15

The turkey whips his head around at the loud 'snap' of the branch you inadvertently stepped on. It belts out a gobble, gobble, gobble before speeding off into the woods.

Survival to keep tracking?

DM Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Modoc - Your hunters instincts are on point. The turkey is grazing, is neither moving away or coming closer and is unaware of you. It did stop eating for a second but it was looking the opposite way of you when it did. You were able to move closer and the bird is now just 70' away.

Modoc - you follow the tracks into the woods. You almost lose them over some dryer ground but are able to pick up the trail again. Ahead of you in the midst of some viny looking undergrowth you can make out the turkey. It's about 100' away.

Oops! Sorry Lathar. The survival rolls are for Modoc's hunting. You still have the evening to do with as you please while he is gone.

Lathar - Both the cow and goat are happy to see you coming with the milking pails.

Modoc - you spot a small game trail running west and north.

two more Survival checks

Hello?! You guys are at almost 3 weeks since the last post. Do we need to bump up the action or something?

...bump...

2 month bump.

you guys still with me?

Your evening begins with cricket chirps and bird song as the sun sets toward the horizon. With the sky a dull red glow; a familiar saying is brought to the Lathar's mind ...'Red sky at night, Sailor's delight...

It takes you half the morning to figure out how to hook up the plow. The sun is shining and the same steady breeze as the day before promises to keep the emerging bugs off of you. Working together you are able to get about a half an acre furrowed out before night starts to fall.

All's quiet on the homefront and the night passes. The day dawns promising abundant sunshine with enough of a breeze to keep the bugs off of you.

You make your way around what you think is your property line...does anyone have the map?..You find a nice sized pond fed by a small creek in the north east. Its not too far from the homestead but is still too cold for swimming but you both heard the splash and saw the ripples of what had to be a large fish jumping. The day is sunny with just a passing cloud or two and you can see trees and shrubs beginning to bloom with fresh growth. Birds chirp, squirrels chitter and many a rabbit bolts in front of your path. You make it back in sight of the cabin about an hour before dusk.

@ Lathar - you dont hear anything besides the natural sounds of the woods. Your memory serves correct as there are indeed druids who are able to change into the form of animals but a wolf of this caliber would only be within the means of a powerful druid.

DM Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Lathar is the first to spot a familiar set of very large wolf prints not far from Modoc's tree.

A quick bump to let you guys know about Elder Scrolls Online coming out.

Lathar arrives in the small clearing just a few minutes after Modoc makes his discovery.

The new day dawns sunny and somewhat warmer than it has been with a slight breeze. A good sign indeed.

@ Lathar - all is quiet on the homestead.

@ Modoc - you wake a bit cramped from the unusual sleeping position. The trap you reset the night before is gone and there appears to be some discolored dirt scattered about where it was. You'll have to climb down and get closer to determine more.

when you do -

@ Lathar - Sue grumbles and moos a bit until you get going and start filling a pail then she calms down quite a bit and even nudges yo with her head when you go to wakl away. You do indeed get two pails out of her. A quick look around the yard and everything looks exactly like you left it. Crafting the temporary bee box takes up the rest of your day and you can tell it will need more work. Craft check please next time you work on it. You fall alseep in the chair once again...

@ Modoc - The afternoon and evening roll on and nothing happens beyond maybe an appreciation for how quiet it is out here. The weather stays pleasant and night falls. You finally succumb to sleep strapped securely in the tree.

DM Rolls: 1d20 ⇒ 3
DM Rolls: 1d20 ⇒ 8

as promised to Lathar -

Doomed Hero's guide to PBP's

to create the link remove the *'s inside the []'s

[*url=http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2nr91?DHs-Guide-to-Play-By-Post-gaming]Doomed Hero's guide to PBP's[*/url]

@ Lathar - you make good time getting home and are reasonably assured you can find your way back with little trouble. The house and yard are quiet except for an uncomfortable cow who is mooing and stomping her hooves as the bees buzz with quite a bit of aggression in the bag.

@ Modoc - not long after Lathar leaves the forest returns to its natural sounds of squirrels running through the trees and birds chirping and singing. Your secure in the tree and settle in for the afternoon.

@ Modoc - you bear witness to a beautiful landscape ripe with heavy forest and mountains to the north and northwest and rolling hills and plains to the east and south east. You spot a hawk diving after prey but otherwise nothing stands out.

@ Lathar - you find nothing on your search that you wouldnt normally find in a wooded area. You are able to get the bees in the sack with just a couple of stings and can hear them getting quite agitated once the smoke disperses.

@ Modoc - the rope is unecessary as there are plenty of branches on the tree. You are able to get up 30' before the tree thins considerably and threatens to sway to the point of breaking.

No worries at all Modoc.

the world is yours gentlemen.

You make your way through the sodden fields and into the woods proper following the same trail Modoc took before. Along the way Lathar spots a beehive that could possibly be harvested for honey.

At about midday you reach the spot where Modoc set his trap. The trap has been sprung with a large tree branch sticking up out of the traps teeth.

The rest of the night passes uneventful with just the steady patter of rain as a backdrop to your conversation. The morning dawns and the rains have ceased but the skies remain cloudy for the most part.

Dont get too excited...or ahead of yourself Lathar. Next time we'll use initiative.

Grapple

Your song has virtually no effect on the cornered coon and it growls right before biting at your hand when you go to grab it.

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Damage: 1 = 1

You get a firm grip on the small mammal but it still has some fight left and bites at you again.

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Damage: 1 = 1

The raccoon squeals one last time before you snap its neck and falls limp.

Lathar enters the backroom just in time to see the mother racoon disappear under the bed.

Modoc -

Modoc - The second arrow thunks into a rafter and the mother coon screetches even as her kits squeal. All three scramble through a hole in the floor.

Lathar -

@ Modoc - the arrow misses and the raccoon mother screeches and rears up in defense of her young.

@ Lathar -

@ Modoc - after supper your search of the house doesnt come to much fruition. Besides the basic furniture youd normally find there isnt much else in each room beyond the normal sundry items. Its apparent that the house has been picked over by looters. In the two sleeping chambers there's blankets on the beds but most have been chewed through by mice or some other small animal. There is a small hand mirror in the larger of the two rooms along with a brush and comb. Theres an assortment of plates, bowls and cups in the kitchen cupboards, some are shipped from use and a large iron pot.

In the attic however you come face to face with a very upset raccoon that has taken up residence with its two kits.

@ Modoc - in your excitment or mayb eeven in fear you make quite the racket while you back off of the wolves' hunt. Luck is with you as they are most likely too caught up in the deer to take up your spoor. You return to the homestead to find the fence prepped for repair and a lazy swirl of smoke coming from the chimney just as the sun drops behind the hills to the west.

@ Lathar - The well is effeciently located about halfway between the house and the barn. You fall right into making the place a home but beyond some mouse chewed blankets and small sundry items there isnt much of worth. You arent able to get much indoors before night begins to fall.

check out this ancient die!

Modoc -

Your skill is unparalleled and the tracks are almost too easy to follow as you can tell that you are getting much closer. The deers tracks are getting more chaotic and almost desperate looking. Which is understood as you can now see that there are several wolves chasing it and criss crossing the spoor. Which is the way of wolves. You might begin to second guess the wisdom of continuing this hunt.

Lathar -

Its late afternoon by the time you've cut down what you think will be enough wood for your work and gotten it tied to your travois. You havent seen any worthwhile herbs. Perhaps its too early for them to have bloomed yet. You have no problem finding your way back but you are completely soaked through and shivering by the time youre ready to return to your home.

---------------------------------

Modoc -

The brief spot of sunshine mustve been yoru imagination since you surely dont see any more of it as you make your trek across the country side. It doesnt take you long to cross over several hills and get to where the map showed your property line to the north. The rain has the double effect of obliterating most tracks but also causing enough mud to distinguish the more recent ones.

With the new day you can see a good portion of your land despite the heavy rain. The landscape is a mix of fields with a scattering of trees here and there, some even look like fruit bearing type; and bordered by hills that are topped with thick woods. The barn apparently sits in the back corner of a large fenced in yard. Roughly an acre or so is fenced in with the house sitting smack in the middle. The yard is mixed with tall, yellowed winter grass and lush, green sprouts interwoven together. Should make for good grazing and your confident the animals wont wander off if left off a lead. The fence is in need of quite a bit of work but the carpentry will be fairly simple just labor intensive. The rambler house looks pretty much stable minus the broken windows and busted latches. At least the roof doesnt have any holes.

Inside the house you move through the kitchen and dining area and come into the main room of the house which takes up most of the front area. The hearth is to the right and theres a rug on the floor topped by two broken chairs. There is a skittering coming from above the ceiling.

All the nails in the pail are good; theyre just rusted but manage to scrape a good portion of that off. The night and early morning pass with nothing more exciting than the horrendous storm that tears the roof open a little more. Its still raining in the morning but at least the thunder and lightning have moved off to the south.

spoke too soon about saturday. Came down with a pretty bad cold. I'll be checking the boards often though.

Sorry for the delay. I actually had that post written early this morning and the boards seem to have eaten it.

also I'll be free this Saturday if you guys are up for some realtime gaming.

Lathar is able to light his lantern for you two to work by and the double doors are propped shut with a bail of moldy hay. Once the animals are unhitched and taken care of you get the fire started and a good look around. The barn is a tad larger than the house (about 60' x 40') albeit quite rougher in make. You can both hear and at times, feel the wind weeping through the cracks in the wall and the floor is earthen. Mice have taken over the place and skitter out your light.

To the right of the doors are three stalls and to the left is a workbench with various items. A well made hammer, a bent saw and two buckets. One decent one and the other rusted out and half filled with equally rusted nails. Theres also several leather horse leads,a lantern, a couple of feed bags that mice long ago ate through and a pitchfork leaning against the wall nearby. The rear of the barn is open and meant house a wagon much like yours is now doing. Past the workbench about halfwy down is a ladder leading up to a good sized opening (6' x 4') which leads up to the hay loft.

The hayloft is much as youd expect it to be. A solid planked floor about a quarter filled with wet, moldy hay.here you can see clearly the hole in the roof which looks to have just rotten away. rain continues to pour in and lightning flashes brilliantly. Another pitchfork lies abandoned on the floor.

Modoc is able to easily open the barn door as this latch is also broken. The barn yawns dark and quiet but Lathar is still able to get the oxen to pull the wagon into the shelter. Rain is sleeting down on the roof and another flash of lightning is seen through the now apparent hole in the thatched roof near the back where rain is pouring in.

@ Modoc - you move right through the main room and into the kitchen and dining area. There is a door in the back wall but its too dark to see any tracks on the wooden floor.

@ Modoc - the door easily opens and knowledge from your 'past' tells you that the catch is broken. You come into the main room of the house which takes up most of the front area. The hearth is to the left and theres a rug on the floor topped by two broken chairs. A doorway in the center leads into the back which a flash of lightning reveals harbors a table. There is a skittering coming from what has to be above the ceiling.

@ Lathar - With the lightning to your back and the curtains in the way the room inside is dark but you can just see a bed inside. Your elven heritage helps you to spot the stains of old blood sheathing the broken glass.

You can both hear the oxen and goat braying in apparent fear of being in the open during the storm.

Holy action packed today! Effin awesome!