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Cornelia tips her cap to Arisira Yeah thanks. You lot seem like you can handle something like this. We might need to be careful around you.
She chums it up with you for long enough that several other people come up to her and give her short updates on some kind of situation. In particular however, she sees Lucca and one of the race's organizers walking off together, looking as though they are in cahoots.
Arisira is able to piece together that their team is actually planning to cheat!
Perhaps she could follow them?
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Excusing herself from the conversation with Cornelia, she ducks around behind a wall and takes a deep breath.
Still need to check out these trail hounds more- but if anyone is going to cheat, it is going to be the Cheliax...
She pulls out a small, amber stone, with a small eyelash displayed inside- rolling it between her fingers, she mumbles some arcane words and she flashes out of sight.
Turning back, she heads off to follow Luca and the race organizer.
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As Arisira rounds the corner she finds some nice thick scrub brush to hide behind and is able to listen to a hushed conversation.
Okay I left your package right where I have it marked on the map. Memorize it and destroy it! If anyonr found out we were cheating....but after last year we CANNOT have another year where those filthy profit mongering Trail Hounds win by killing people. the chubby sweaty official comments desperately.
Luca hands him a heavy looking bag that clinks of coin and jewels Don't worry - our kind are noble. Winning is in our blood and I know how to cover our tracks.
With that the official hustles right past Arisira as Lucca waits a moment studying the map and then as he passes Arisira, casually dumps it into a nearby cookfire.
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Given that she was able to retrieve it so quickly the map carries only superficial burns.
Following the official around he glad hands with many and it quickly becomes clear how controversial last year's winner, Philt, is. Many believe he should have been disqualified for OBVIOUSLY murdering so many competitors, but since there was no proof...
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As the spell's magic fades, she steps away from the official, and heads back to the party.
I know what needs done, but the others should have some say in this
Arisira pulls the others aside, in quiet whispers asks them to join her in a private place.
"I have proof of conspiracy. The cheliax and at least one race official have made plans to drop supplied on the course. I see two paths forward. Either beat them to the supplies ourselves- equipping us for the journey ahead. Or, we use the VC to alert the race officials, who will surely eliminate the team and confiscate the materials. "
"The just thing to do is report this and continue with fair competition."
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Having turned the evidence over to Finze Bellaugh he sees to it that the offending team is expelled from the race - but it's mere hours before start time by then.
The entire town is abuzz with the scandal and the official announcement - The Ashen Leavea have been disqualified. This instantly makes the Trail Hounds the overwhelming favorites, though some still think the Song'O or you might be able to upset them.
Soon comes the pre race rituals. You are all asked to abandon your clothing and armor and your....well everything.
You are provided with race uniforms - simple white and red affairs that are a form ditting racers singlet.
The remaining teams are all lined up in a short parade processional... and the race begins.
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Mak'da goes along with Arisira to hand over the information. It is only right that cheaters be expelled from the competition
As they are heading to the race start she muses out loud, You know, that cache of stuff is probably still out there. We didn't put it there and we are permitted to make use of anything we find on the way. We could head in that direction and see what might be useful there for us?
Mak'da makes sure that all of her equipment is securely stored in the lodge. She gives the porters a stern look, I WILL be back and I expect everything to still be here.
Arisira, my magic can enhance your speed so that you can keep up with the rest of us if you wish it. I will also be enhancing T'Kemba's speed, perhaps you could ride on her back although it would be...uncomfortable.
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Setting aside her possession, Arisira takes one last drag from her flask and stows the remaining supplies in the chest and wearily closes the lid and sets a lock.
*sigh* Hard to let this stuff go. Harder to think how badly I may need it in just a few short hours.
As they make preparations, she smiles as Mak'da approaches. "That is quite thoughtful. My dad was nearly 3'6", but unfortunately I didn't get any of his tall genes. If you are willing to devote some of your power to me, I will not refuse. Thank you."
As they walk through the crowds, to the starting line, she tries to take in the moment. She speaks in a low whisper to those walking beside her: Remember what this feels like. We will be back, and will be the champions.
Unarmed Strike: +5 (1d2+1)
Bardic Perfomance 16/16, Spells (no components) 1: 4/4, 2: 3/3
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Vera carefully takes off her armor, and puts it and her gear in the lock box. [b]"Cayden lead me to a tankard or this is going to be rough." she mutters as she dresses in the clothing supplied.
"I'm ready." She looks a little lost without her jaunty hat.
AC 12 Touch 12 FF 10
Fort: 7 Reflex: 3 Will 7
Speed 40
HP 43/43
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The short version:
You will travel (with the aid of longstrider) at a rate of 3. Mountains are worth 4, swamps 4, Mountains 6, Jungles 8.
You can move twice a day for free, but can hustle for a 3rd set of movement in a single day, at a risk of exhausting or fatiguing yourselves.
Along the way you can do certain tasks to improve your odds - such as building tools and weapons, gathering food you'll need to survive, or going out ahead to clear the way for the rest of the party.These will speed up your progress.
The full rules are below. The cache is in your current hex but is "out of the way" and will set you back 2 progress points.
Now that you have your racing map, we need to understand how the race will work. Each day has (by default) two travel phases.
If nothing else happens, the party will travel a number of progress points during each phase equal to the speed of its slowest member (each individual person's speed is equal to their normal land speed divided by 10). Example: A party of Amiri, Valeros, Kyra & Merisiel would travel at a pace of three progress points per phase, but a party of Amiri, Valeros, Kyra & Harsk would travel at a pace of two progress points per phase.
That pacing can be changed by advantages. During each travel phase, each party member can attempt one advantage check.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: each type of terrain allows a different number of maximum advantages per phase. If the party uses up all of the maximum advantages for the terrain type they started in during a given phase, the rest of the party will not be able to get any further advantages. Let's say that Kyra decides that she badly needs a scimitar and wants to craft one, but their terrain type only allows three advantages. If Amiri, Valeros & Harsk all jump in first and make advantage checks, Kyra will not be able to roll. THIS CAN GET PEOPLE KILLED (mostly if they don't get weapons & armor crafted in time).
If a player fails at an advantage DC related to traveling, they will reduce their individual speed by 1 for that phase. This might not slow the group down if (like Amiri) they are already faster than the rest of the party. If a player fails a travel-related advantage DC by five or more, they will slow the whole group down by 1 for that phase.
Because of the quirky nature of play-by-post, we need to enforce rolling order stringently: the first person to roll will use up an advantage if they succeed. However, we will also allow people to declare their advantage rolls to be low priority, in which case I will take all non-low priority rolls before theirs. Talk to each other to coordinate in advance what you are wanting to do. After a certain point, it probably won't matter too much who rolls in what order, but it can be important early on.
More about terrain: Each type of terrain hex has a different number of progress points needed to complete it, a number of maximum advantages and an advantage DC. Here are some general guidelines. "Harder" types of terrain will require more points of progress to complete a hex and have higher advantage DC but will also have more maximum advantages. "Easier" types of terrain are exactly the opposite. I'll tell you now that plains hexes allow zero maximum advantages. Since you are starting in Hills and jungle as well swamp is nearby, here is the terrain type data for that.
Hills Terrain:
Progress Points to Complete: 4
Maximum Advantages: 3
Advantage DC: <redacted>
Jungle Terrain:
Progress Points to Complete: 8
Maximum Advantages: 8
Advantage DC: <redacted>
Swamp Terrain:
Progress Points to Complete: 4
Maximum Advantages: 3
Advantage DC: <redacted>
You should come up with a plan for each day of travel before you get started.
Each day spent in the wilds will require each party member to eat one unit of food & water (typically gained via the Gather Supplies advantage). We'll be checking for food supplies at the end of each day. Hunger and thirst are bad.
This scenario uses a modified version of the pursuit mechanic, and you already got Player Handout #2:
SAMPLE ADVANTAGES
The following advantages are just a sample of those possible. Each advantage lists the terrains most likely to allow it, though there are certainly exceptions. It is possible to choose more than one of the same category of advantage for the same terrain tile (for instance, a jungle with multiple know the terrain advantages might require different Knowledge [nature] Dcs).
Climbing Lead (Hill or Mountain): A character can attempt a Climb check to ascend ahead of the others with a rope to help his allies navigate the worst areas. The DC varies based on the difficulty of climbing.
Craft or Modify Tools (Any): A character can attempt a Craft check to fashion or modify specialized tools (such as footwear to travel over icy surfaces). Unlike normal, attempting to gain this advantage reduces a character’s personal progress by half (rounded down). Once she has succeeded on the skill check once per character, the advantage applies for the rest of the adventure, without further action on her part, unless the situation changes enough that she needs to modify the tools again. The DC varies based on the complexity of the gear, though it is typically 15 (for a high-quality item). A PC can create armor made of mundane organic materials or to create simple weapons, bows, and martial bludeoning weapons; at the GM’s discretion, other basic gear with non-metal components might be possible. Because the PC attempting to gain this advantage is assumed to have 4 hours in which to work, she can attempt two checks for each phase instead of one.
Evade Hazards (Any): A character can attempt a Survival check to recognize hazards and rough areas and ensure that the group skirts around them when possible. The DC varies depending on how devious or hidden the hazards might be.
Fancy Footwork (Any): A character can attempt an Acrobatics check to help balance in an icy or wet area, leap over quicksand or between rooftops, or move more rapidly. By using ropes, finding a safe path, or otherwise leading the way, the character helps her allies move faster as well. The DC varies depending on how treacherous the footing is.
Gather Supplies (Any): A character using this advantage can make a single Survival check to gather food and water while they travel. Using this advantage reduces a character’s personal progress value by half (rounded down) for the duration of the phase. A character can collect one day’s worth of food and water for one person by succeeding on a DC 10 Survival check, and can supply one additional person for every 2 points by which their Survival check exceeds 10. A PC that gathers more food and water than necessary for a given day can save these supplies for use on the following day. Alternatively, a character can use this advantage to gather material components for spells by making a single DC 10 Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (nature), Spellcraft, or Survival check. A successful check produces a collection of materials equivalent to a spell component pouch. The components gathered in this way are natural materials with magical properties only roughly analogous to those normally required by spells. To cast a spell using these components, a spellcaster must succeed on a concentration check with a DC equal to 10 + the spell’s level. At the GM’s discretion, a player can ignore this penalty for spells with material components that can reasonably be found in the wilds of Sargava. For example, a grasshopper’s hind leg (jump), fine sand (sleep), and a pinch of dirt (longstrider) are all materials one might find in the wilderness. Butter (grease), a drop of mercury (floating disc), and a cup of wine (identify) are not. The gather supplies advantage does not count against the normal limit of advantages allowed for a terrain tile, and it can be used even in tiles which allow 0 advantages.
Know the Area (Any): A character can attempt a Knowledge (geography) check to allow the characters to exploit nearby useful terrain features that he remembers while avoiding dangerous or obstructive features. The DC varies based on the feature’s obscurity.
Know the Terrain (Any): A character can attempt a Knowledge (nature) check to deduce something about the current terrain that gives her group an advantage. The DC varies based on the particulars of the deduction.
Notice Shortcut (Any): A character can attempt a Perception check to notice a shortcut or other hidden feature that grants an advantage. This advantage is not as helpful for pursuers in a direct pursuit unless they split up (see page 147) or deduce a point where they are sure to intersect the quarries’ trail.
Professional Opinion (Any): A character with a relevant profession might be able to grant the party a significant advantage in a pursuit. For instance, in a pursuit through a mine, a character can attempt a Profession (miner) check to learn about the mine’s layout based on markings or other indicators the miners left for their colleagues.
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TACTICS
Tactics are the key to shaking competitors that are catching up to the party—or to overtaking a more efficient group that has a commanding lead. The following tactics present many of the most basic methods for doing so, but if the PCs come up with a new tactic, the GM should use these examples as guidelines. Tactics can affect a single character, multiple characters, or the whole group. There is no limit to how many tactics a character or group can use, but common sense prevents using two contradictory tactics. Characters and groups decide which tactics they are using for each 4-hour pursuit phase, though some last for multiple phases or until the characters using them decide to stop. Tactics that require the group to be either the pursuers or the quarries, and which can’t be used in races, have been removed from this list, while others have been modified to accommodate the specifics of this scenario.
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INDIVIDUAL TACTICS
These tactics apply to individual characters, and each character decides whether she’s using the tactic.
Recovery: A character can spend a phase tending to the health of her or her allies. This allows the character to cast healing spells, for example, which can be useful for removing nonlethal damage if the group has been hustling or making a forced march (see group tactics, below). A character that spends a phase helping with recovery can attempt to gain an advantage during that phase, but she takes a –5 penalty on any checks made to gain advantage.
Special Movement: A character with consistent access to a fly speed, swim speed, or the like for a full pursuit phase might be able to move particularly quickly over the appropriate type of terrain; though, for instance, a character flying above a jungle canopy would not be able to follow a trail below.
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GROUP TACTICS
These tactics apply to the group and can be used only if all characters agree to do so.
Forced March: A group using the forced march tactic gains an additional 4-hour pursuit phase at the end of the day. At the beginning of this third pursuit phase, each member of the party must succeed at a DC 10 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of nonlethal damage and become fatigued. At the end of this bonus phase, the PCs must make a second Fortitude save, this time at a DC of 14, or take an additional 1d6 points of nonlethal damage and become fatigued (or exhausted, if already fatigued).
Hustle: A group can hustle during a phase to increase its progress during that phase by 1 point. A group can use the hustle tactic once per day without penalty, but using the hustle tactic a second time causes each member of the party to take 1 point of nonlethal damage and become fatigued. Each subsequent time the party uses the hustle tactic that day, each member takes double the amount of nonlethal damage previously dealt. Unlike a normal pursuit, the group is not limited in what sorts of advantage checks in can make while hustling, but each member of the group takes a –5 penalty on any checks made to gain an advantage other than those specifically related to movement (such as climbing lead or fancy footwork).
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You find a simple ruin - all built far far too large for medium sized people.
Next to one mostly intact wall there is a cubby covered in cobwebs save for largish spot, where you see a chest is hidden from plain view.
Inside the chest is:
Six Cure Light Wounds potions, 4 Alchemist's Fires, two masterwork longbows with 40 total arrows, two masterwork longswords, a quarterstaff, a spell component pouch, 12 trail rations, 6 waterskins, 7 tindertwigs, and spellbook (which since there is no wizard I won't detail).
The group makes great time - erasing the backtracking they had to do and completely clearing the first hex.
Choose a heading and roll more checks!
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Rooting through the cache Mak'da says, Valin, you may as well take a longbow as well, I dont think any of the rest of us can use them
Mak'da selects a potion, some trail rations and a waterskin along with a pair of alchemist fires. Vera, you might want to take the staff, I have T'Kemba here to help me if it comes to a fight. One of you should also take the spell component pouch, I will scavenge up another.
The plains sounds like a decent idea.
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Picking up the bow, the Halfling smiles. "Not as nice as mine, mind you. But it will do in a pinch." She flexes the bow on the string, getting a feel for the tension and pull.
As Mak'da hands her the spell components, Arisira bows. "You need'nt have, Mak'da. You could have used these yourself! I am honored"
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"The plains seem as good as any. Might be harder to find supplies on the open land though- need to make sure we have a good stockpile of things before stepping away from the bounty the jungle offers us."
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The group makes it south from hills to well...more hills but at least approaching the flat plain-ish terrain beneath it.
Makda's comfort in the terrain is quickly evident as she is able to acquire some divine focuses - not the holly and berries she is used to but she is able to acquire usable substitutes in this hilly terrain - sage and other herbs.
As you're on your way down this rocky terrain, you make your way down a particularly rocky downhill pass. It is actually rather pleasant. The weather is nice and you are able to catch a hint of the seabreeze coming up from off the coastline.
However, Mak'da spots up ahead the corpses of a couple fools who tried to do the race by themselves.
Mak'da and T'Kemba spot hiding behind one of the rocks, a long, almost eellike lizard waiting in ambush.
It's an amphiptere, a type of low dragon. They are best known for their brutal tail spike attacks wherein they impale opponents and claw the flesh from their bones from that helpless predicament. One more question per 5 you beat by
Surprise Round for Mak'da and T'Kemba
Initiative
Mak'da
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Red
Blue
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Vera
Valin
Arisira
T'Kemba
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Mak'da hurls a ball of fire at the nearest dragon creature and orders T'Kemba to attack.
T'Kemba slithers forward to strike at the lurking monster.
Mak'da steers the sphere again into the dragon thing and reaches out and casts a spell on T'Kemba.
T'Kemba tries to wrap her coils around the dragon creature.
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T'Kemba chokes the life out of his target dropping the dangerous dragonling in seconds flat.
The sphere then chars it good ensuring that it is quite quite dead.
The other flies out from behind cover whizzing past Valins head to try and impale the warning-halfling on its spiked tail
The tail now has the halfling pinned to the ground and she begins bleeding
However right on cue, T'Kemba comes to her aid and LEVELS the dragon squeezing it to death right over poor Arisiras pinned body.
It immediately dawns on you that dragon scale hide and bone might make great crafting materials.
Also As Tkemba squeezes the life out of one of the dragon it actually spits up the corpse of a Song'O halfling who by the looks of things was an Alchemist and has 2 cure moderate wounds infusion extracts.
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Arisira, are you alright? asks T'Kemba, You had best guzzle one of those potions to stop the bleedings.
T'Kemba looks over the crushed remains of the dragonlings.
Maybe but I am more used to building camp fires than constructing armour. We might be able to fashion you a set of scale armour of some sort?
With that T'Kemba will set to skinning the creatures.
Once the hides are prepared she will set to try and fashion them into something resembling armour. She whistles a simple blessing as she works.
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Arisira staggers under the blow from the dragon-like creature, crumpling and pinned to the ground. Before she can even react, T'Kemba appears overtop of her and wrestles the beast to the ground.
It takes a few moments for the shock to wear off before Arisira manages to pull herself up onto her feet. "I guess I should take my own advice..." she says with a forced laugh that ends in a wet cough- a small amount of blood visible on the edge of her lips.
Taking the extract handed to her by Mak'da, she slowly swallows it. "I never did like the taste of these things... but goodness does that feel good"
Looking at the Armor, Arisira quickly steps in for Mak'da as she begins to struggle. "I think we need to cut against the grain... here, let me show you.."
HP 32/32 AC: 14 Touch 14, FF 11 Init +5
Shortbow +6 (1d4)
Unarmed Strike: +5 (1d2+1)
Bardic Perfomance 16/16, Spells 1: 4/4, 2: 3/3
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Ok so the group force marches onward!
I need a pair of Fortitude saves from everyone - the first at DC 13 or be fatigued for your advantage checks, the second at DC 17 or be fatigued (or exhausted).
In between you pick your advantage rolls and try to succeed - you have enough remaining dragon parts to attempt a second item, but the breastplate is complete!