Black Tom's Serpent Skull

Game Master Black Tom

Torch? Ralf? ... though I doubt either are very intimidating ... otherwise it's back to camp for maybe Isharou?

Ralf is in favour of seeing if they can pick off another group that is investigating the disappearance of the first group. Maybe one of those will be more talkative.

Between his Cha 7 and his complete lack of interest in helping with this course of action, I wouldn't count on Torch being much use here. I seem to recall that Surkoff was pretty friendly, but I can't remember if he had much in the way of Intimidate...

Not getting anything out of the captive, Aerys dons her hat and looks around. "So I say we tie him up and make him walk in front of us, then we can use the paths and hopefully we'll miss the traps, or he'll find them? So?" though she seems less than happy with her suggestion, it will at least mean they can travel faster and not skulk around in the undergrowth.

Torch turns his head at that, and something that might be a smile crosses his ruined face for a moment. It is gone almost immediately, though, and he looks away again.

Need to gag him if we try that, though, or else he'll call out to anyone we might be hoping to sneak up on.

Hrakar slaps Aerys on the back:"GREAT IDEA, lassie! This time our resident hero won't be falling in even more traps!, the dwarf concludes giving Torch a smile.

Realizing that nobody will be able to see him while he's in the bushes, Gelik shouts out, "Since I'm hiding, you can't see that I'm frowning right now, but I am. I don't like the idea of marching into cannibal territory when we can just sit here and let the bad guys come to us! It worked once, we should give it a chance to work again."

[ooc]Of course, if the group starts moving, Gelik will join them. Otherwise, he sits in the bushes, frowning.[/b]

Hrakar just stares at Gelik's bush with a flat stare...

"NOW the plan is all right, eh? But you don't want to bait them anymore..."

Gelik stands up, but is still shorter than the fern he's standing behind. His voice floats out of the underbrush. "Does your mind-set not allow for changing a plan as the situation changes? Because if it doesn't, then I can't explain why I'm no longer needed as bait."

I'm going to be out of town for a few days. Expect to be able to post again Tuesday evening. Hope you can agree on a course of action before then.

I agree with Gelik... Let's wait and see what happens when they realize they lost a whole scouting party

And what do you plan to do with the captive?

Tie him down and use HIM as bait this time...

Aerys is OK with that....must be a tree nearby we can tie and gag him.

Ralf looks amenable to whatever is going on.

We're still on the other side of the island, though. By the time the cannibals would reasonably figure out that they'd lost their scouting party, and then sent out another one, we're talking at least two days, and probably more realistically three or four...

We can hunt and forage in the meanwhile...

We're still on the other side of the island, though. By the time the cannibals would reasonably figure out that they'd lost their scouting party, and then sent out another one, we're talking at least two days, and probably more realistically three or four...

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the distances. Are you saying our big smoky fire is a day's walk away (or more) from the cannibal camp?

Several hours, at the least. Tom confirmed that earlier, when the plan was first put forward and I raised the objection. So given that the party wouldn't be expected to return until sometime tomorrow, and then more time would have to pass before they decided the scouts were actually missing, they probably wouldn't head out until the day after, and then would have several more hours of travel before they got here. And that assumes they sent the party straight here from their camp, and that they were supposed to head straight back. If it was a hunting party expectd to be gone for a few days...

And there is no way in the world Torch would consent to just sitting here for two days while the group lays another trap. I'm actually having this conversation OOC because if I switch to IC, Torch is going to bail on you all and head off by himself, and I'm trying to avoid that.

Could Torch maybe suggest a course of action that he'd prefer?

Torch's preference would be what he argued for before: sneak up to the village and do some recon, then decide what to try next. (That's what he'll try to do if he leaves, even though the likely end result is death.) I, however, am less concerned with that happening than with something happening; even the torture we were discussing before would be enough to keep him from leaving. Anything that justifies the fight we just had or that seems to be making progress toward the village would keep him from flipping his lid.

Aerys would be more interested now making their way towards the village, but is more likely to want to go by paths as speed seems to be more important, now we've made contact so to speak.

Let Torch suggest he wants to explore the cannibal village, Hrakar will suggest it's a foolish endeavor, but if Torch insists he will let him go. And after some time will probably tell the others they need to follow torch before he ends on the cannibals table as the main course..."

OK, I'm back, so just tell me what you're going to do.

Yeah, let's go with Torch's plan then. Gelik's fidgety ayway. Gelik, under no circumstances, will have anything to do with the prisoner. If it were up to him, he'd leave the guy tied up in the dirt.

Let's take it as given that Torch flips out and storms off then, and everyone eventually follows along.

Ralf will happily follow along, although he keeps an eye out for traps.

How about the cannibal then? And are you going by the path?

Leave the cannibal tied tightly to a tree. Come back for him later.

Yeah, let's go by the path, and let's leave the cannibal tied to a tree (I'd gladly redo the checks by the way)

CMB check (to retie the savage, help welcome):1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Edit: Definitely not hrakar's forte...

Seeing Hrakar's knots, Gelik says, "I think I'd prefer to walk toward the front of the group for this leg of the journey."

Gelik walks toward the front of the group for this leg of the journey.

As Torch is traveling along the paths, but very slowly, trying to keep his eyes open for traps, it doesn't take long for the rest of the group to catch up with him. He gives them all a level look, turning away without saying anything at first. Once they have all fallen into step, though, he says - not looking at any of them directly - "...Thanks."

Perception roll for the inevitable snare trap: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14. I don't suppose I could get a circumstance bonus, since I'm looking for the snares specifically?

Aerys seeing Hrakar making a mess of the knots, reties all the knots. She then rejoins the rest as they make their way down the path.

CMB Tie up the native to a tree 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Yes, Torch gets a +2 circumstance bonus for being familiar with the snares.

Moving along the path is much faster and you manage to get to Q8 before trouble hits. Perception rolls and initiatives, please.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12.
Not sure if you want a new Perception check or not, but if so: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17, +1 for traps.

Sight only perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22, -4 if hearing is involved
Init: 1d20 - 6 ⇒ (15) - 6 = 9

Perception 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Initiative:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

perception1d20 ⇒ 7
initiative1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

As you make your way along the path, Ralf has fallen a few steps behind, and suddenly a spider the size of a large dog drops down on him from a nearby tree and bites him for 5 points of damage and a DC 14 Fort save.

Aerys is up, then the spider again.

Sorry, boards ate my post.

As Ralf falls slightly behind, suddenly a giant spider the size of a large dog drops down on him from a nearby tree and bites him for 5 points of damage and a Fort 14 save.

Aerys is up, then the spider again.

Aerys charges at the spider attacking her friend.

Longsword power attack 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 1 = 9
Longsword power damage 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7

Aerys storms at the spider but her attack is more eager than accurate. Undaunted, the spider bites Ralf again for 6 points of damage and another save.

Now you can all have a go at it.

Fort save #1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Fort save #2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Owooo!" Ralf howls in surprise and pain.

With a scowl of distaste toward such a large vermin, Gelik stabs at it with his longspear. He stays as far from it as he can as he does so.

atttack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
damage 1d6 ⇒ 1

Torch, leading and brooding both, spins in surprise at Ralf's first cry of pain. By the time the second has escaped the old sailor's throat, Torch has begun rushing toward the spider, his scimitar already out. Move up to the spider, drawing the scimitar as he goes. Scimitar attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5, damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5.

Hrakar swipes with his warhammer at the spider:

Attack roll:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Critical confirmation:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Damage roll:1d8 ⇒ 2

Ralf takes 2 points of Strength damage from the poison, and Ralf and Aerys to go, then the spider.

Aerys swings her longsword, putting her back into striking the beast.

Longsword power attack 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 1 = 19
Longsword power damage 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

Ralf steps back and heals himself a bit.

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6