DM: Dave the Dwarf's Shattered Star

Game Master Gandrik Th-kar

(Who has the highest survival skill?)

After dealing with the illusionary orcs, the party is able to travel for most of the day in peace. Following the map is relatively easy.

After the you have followed the map for most of the
day, the sunlight begins to fade and a cold wind begins to rattle through the leafless forest. There is now no sign of civilization in sight.
You are far from home and no one is going to come to your aid now if you get in trouble. Establishing a safe camp is the first order of business. You find a suitable site. A nice level spot, surrounded on three sides by a thicket.
There is plenty of dry wood to be found to start a fire, and the rations can be cooked into a fine stew if everyone contributes. As you are sitting around the camp, you hear howling off in the distance. Over the next hour, the howling seems to grow closer before becoming eerily silent.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

During the first hour, Mark and Maggie collect firewood and Mark addresses Kira. "Kira, when you're finished with your bedroll, could you unroll mine while Maggie and I collect some wood for a fire?" He piles the wood next to the center of camp, in preparation for the fire - but he hears the wolves coming closer just as he finishes collecting small stones to form a fire pit.

He drops the stones in a heap next to the pile of sticks and orders Maggie to hide herself in the woods near the campsite's only entrance to keep watch.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Maggie growls her understanding and slinks off into the woods, keeping low to the ground. She melds into the shadows silently.

Maggie stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Maggie perception, with low-light vision: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Mark perception, normal vision: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

I'll update you when I get a few more posts.

Mark and his knowledge of the wild made it possible to find such a good camp sight.

Mark, I think for building campsites and such you might be able to just take 10 or 20. Nalun contentedly reads "Terrific Tigers and other Tales" while Mark and Maggie do their thing.

I know, but he asked who has the highest Survival, so I rolled it. :)

The mod calls for a DC 10 survival check to find a good place to camp. Since this is pbp I'm not gonna stop everything on a skill check you are surely gonna pass. I wanted to flavor text someone doing the work though.

Nalun begins thinking that perhaps since Holgast played a trick on us, maybe others in town might be doing the same with the wolves. He perhaps remembers a passage from "Everflame Explained" that mentions wolves and Kassen.

Kn:History: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

The mod calls for a DC 10 survival check to find a good place to camp. Since this is pbp I'm not gonna stop everything on a skill check you are surely gonna pass. I wanted to flavor text someone doing the work though.

Thank god my skill mod is +5 then, or else we wouldn't have found it! Maybe. I'm gonna take credit for finding the camp regardless of whether my roll was actually needed. :)

Nalun begins thinking that perhaps since Holgast played a trick on us, maybe others in town might be doing the same with the wolves. He perhaps remembers a passage from "Everflame Explained" that mentions wolves and Kassen.

[dice=Kn:History] 1d20+8

You without a doubt know that there are hungry wolves in the forest this time a year.

Nalun moves closer to the fire. Umm, Yorn. Those wolves are real, I don't think those are Holgast at all. Nalun watches Maggie disappear into the forest. Hey Mark, are you sure Maggie is going to be ok

"She's a tiger ...she'll be fine."

Mark flashes his toothy grin at Nalun, and winks. "If there are wolves nearby, it's them you should worry about."

Yes, Shalee she is a Panthera tigris. Buh uht she is a young tiger. A pack of wolves might be too much for her. At least thats what it says in Tolmey's Terrific Tigers and other Tales Nalun casts prestidigitation to begin cleaning off an area for sleeping.

Mark turns his attention back out into the silent forest, sitting down slowly on his backpack on the ground. Anyone looking at him sees him mouth "Panthera whatsit?" silently to himself in confusion as he grips his battleaxe.

Ok enough time has past I'm going to advance

Following normal animal behavior, upon detecting the wolf Maggie would likely attempt to scare it off in order to avoid an actual fight.

Maggie moves forward and growls a warning at the wolf.

Maggie Intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 6

The wolf upon being found quickly runs off.

Make that nature check for me still.

A half hour later 3 wolves appear at the edge of your camp.

Roll initiative and post your first combat action.

Mark initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Maggie initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

You said you wanted me to roll a Nature check? You mean Knowledge: nature?

K: Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Shalee, shield in one hand, sword in the other, charges a wolf and attacks. "Bad puppy!" attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

[dice=Mark initiative]1d20+1

[dice=Maggie initiative]1d20+3

You said you wanted me to roll a Nature check? You mean Knowledge: nature?

[dice=K: Nature]1d20+4

Yes of course.

Wolves 1d20 ⇒ 11

Guys, these Canis Lupus are just hungry. I'm sure we just need to feed them.

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

"Nalun, us feeding them is exactly what they had in mind! Only I'm not interested in being dinner!" Mark readies his axe for the assault.

Don't we have some rations or food to give them? I can make pretty much anything smell and taste like raw meat

"SHUT UP AND HELP, NERD!"

Nalun shuffles his feet and mumbles something about the easiest thing to do....

Uh, ok Shalee. Here ya go.

Nalun casts Enlarge Person on Shalee on his action.

"THIS! IS! AWESOME!"

Mark gapes at the newly-enormous Shalee as a free action.

Nalun secretly hopes that Shalee's newly ogresized body will frighten the poor wolves away

Thanks, Shalee.

Nalun blushes with pride.

initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Kierra again draws her spear, feeling the same surge of excitement that she did when they met the illusory orcs. She recites the same prayer asking for Gozreh's blessing and his protection on her companions.

Kierra casts bless.

"Shalee! Mark! Be Careful!!"

Yorn dashes to flank a wolf being engaged by his companions. "Nalun, I hear ya, buddy, but I don't think they're gonna just stop attacking us!"

Yorn slashes down at his opponent with an overhand chop.

power attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
damage and sneak attack damage: 1d12 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (12) + 9 + (6) = 27

Initiative: initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Maggie, on her turn, will attempt to grapple the nearest wolf with her jaws. Grapple attempt: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

On Mark's turn, he will move and attack the same wolf that Maggie's attacking: Greataxe attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage, if struck: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Yorn! Be careful.

Wow max damage.

Kierra you worship Gozreh, tell the animals to go away.

Let me process all this and give you the results.

Order was Nalun
Shalee
Maggie
Wolves
Kierra
Mark ( he posted before Yorn)
Yorn

Nalun casts his spell
Shalee downs 1 wolf
Maggie is not able to grapple the wolf (cmd 14)
Wolf 1 attacks Maggie 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Wolf 2 attacks Shalee 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Kierra cast bless
Mark strikes wolf1 for 8 damage
Yorn flanks and deals a lethal blow to wolf 2

Maggie takes 4 damage from the wolfs bite.

The remaining wolf turns tail an runs away.

250 Xp gained

Yorn smiles as the last creature flees. He turns to Nalun and says, "At least we didn't have to kill them all. That's something, huh?"

Then turning to the enormous Shalee, Yorn lets out a long, appreciative whistle. "There's something you don't see everyday."

Remember when I said this was a learning game? I learned that was the wrong way to do a combat LOL. I may start rolling initiative for everyone or I will just wait until everyone checks in before asking for actions.

Also sorry for the lack of flavor. My wife has been in the hospital since Friday. I'm a little distracted.

The play by post is a great way for me to escape for a bit though. I'm really enjoying myself I hope all of you are as well.

I hope your wife gets well quickly. I am enjoying this immensely. Don't worry too much about the learning process. It'll smooth out further in that we get.

In the game I'm GMing on these boards, I as the DM roll: Initiative, perception checks if they're given one, and rolls that are meant to be secret from the players. Then during combat, I have everyone post their actions that they want to take, then I sort of gather all of what they said together into one descriptive story-post that describes how the flow of battle is going. You're doing great though, enjoying myself.

Mark and Yorn struck the same wolf within seconds of each other, killing it. Mark flashes a grin at Yorn across the carcass. "Nice strike, buddy. High-five!" and holds up his hand. Maggie does the tiger equivalent of rolling her eyes, and begins contentedly to rip off chunks of the wolf to eat.

"Yorn, that was incredible." Says Kierra, obviously impressed by the vigorous attack.

"I guess everyone should take turns keeping watch for the night, so that way everyone gets a chance to sleep, right Shalee? I can go first..."

Kierra then makes a minor incantation and the head of her spear begins to glow with a pale light. Taking a seat on a crumbling stump on the edge of the campsite, Kierra plants the butt of the spear in the ground, and begins her watch.