I am assuming that the group does not want to chase down Arianna. If you do thats fine. We can split the group into two different chases. When Arianna left she took with her the following items that need to be deducted from the party roster:
So I have to ask, what are the groups intentions?
It looks like Mikhail wants to chase down the messenger and Barnabas wants to go to the Manor House. Where is everyone else at?
Kaynen has no issue with Arianna's departure, and would go so far to even wave as she disappears over the horizon.
Kaynen will ride out after the fleeing guard with Mikhail - if for nothing else to size up and get a sense of just how zealous Mikhail may be.
Since Arianna didn't take one of the horses we'll need, Drisella (and Walker) will let her go.
The first thing to do when a chase starts is to determine the baseline speed—the movement rate of the majority of the chase's participants. In most cases, this is a land speed of 30 feet, but in some cases you'll start out with different assumptions. This base speed sets the “distance” of each chase card, so in most cases, each card represents 30 feet of space.
In some instances, such as a chase between two sailing ships racing to reach a distant island, or a long overland journey through a desert that separates a bounty hunter from his quarry, you'll want to adjust the timing of a chase. Doing so alters the distance of each card, and also gives the participants multiple options each turn to do things like cast spells. You can still use these chase rules, though—simply decide on how long each round of the chase takes and adjust the distance of each card as appropriate.
At the start of a chase, each participant makes an Initiative check to determine the order in which he moves. (If a participant triggers the chase with an initial action, such as a prisoner suddenly making a mad dash for freedom, that participant gets to go first in a surprise round if he successfully surprises the other creatures.)
While a character's actual speed doesn't directly affect how often he moves between cards, it does affect how quickly he navigates obstacles. For each 10 feet slower than the chase's baseline speed a character moves, he suffers a cumulative –2 penalty on any check made to navigate obstacles. Likewise, for every 10 feet faster than the baseline speed he moves, he gains a cumulative +2 bonus on these checks. Significant mobility advantages over the baseline speed type (such as flight) grant an additional +10 bonus on checks made to avoid obstacles, simulating the character's use of enhanced movement to bypass obstacles entirely. Used properly, extremely powerful effects (such as teleportation) allow a character to instantly move forward a number of cards (use each card's distance to determine ranges).
Using the base assumption of 30-foot cards, it takes a move action to move through a single card. When a character exits from a card, he must choose one of that card's two obstacles to face as a standard action before moving to the next card. Success means the character moves to the next card, while failure means the character must face the obstacle again on the next round. Instead of exiting a card, a character can choose to take another action not directly related to navigating the chase's course, such as casting a spell or drawing a weapon.
A character who wants to attempt to move three cards during his turn can do so by taking a full-round action. That character must overcome both obstacles on the card he is leaving. In this case, if a character fails either obstacle check by 5 or less, he only moves one card forward and his turn ends. If a character fails either obstacle check by more than 5, he cannot move at all that turn. A character unfortunate enough to fail two obstacle checks in a turn becomes mired in his current square (he might have fallen from a ledge, gotten a foot stuck amid roots, or got caught in a crowd, for example). A character who is mired must spend another full-round action becoming unmired and effectively loses his next turn in the chase. In some cases, becoming mired might impart additional penalties (such as falling damage).
A character can also choose to make a ranged attack or cast a spell during his turn in a chase. If the action is a full-round action, he can't move at all. Use the number of cards and their established distances to determine ranges as necessary. The terrain where the chase takes place might provide the target partial or even full cover or concealment, as you wish. A character can only choose to make melee attacks against targets that are on the same card.
@Everyone: I have posted the chase rules for easy reference. Upto four of the forsaken can take part in the chase. (upto two per horse) but by putting a second person on the horse it will cause negatives. My current list for people who will be chasing include Kaynen and Mikhail. The horse could also accomdate upto two lighter riders, so someone like Drisella, Barnabas or Oswald? Not Grumblejack however. The second group will be splitting off and making their way through the moors towards the old manor house. That group will be led by Barnabas. When I get off work I will make two posts, one for the group heading cross country through the moors and a second for the group that will be chasing along the road.
Questions?
I think that works. I don't expect that Arianna would be going to the authorities and she doesn't really have any information that could be used against us.
Walker cannot keep up with the horses and must stay within 100 feet of Drisella, unfortunately, and she is unwilling (at present) to dismiss him. She would prefer to go with Barnabas.
@Mikhail and Kaynen In order to keep the tension high, I will not be posting the guards location until you are one card behind him. If he somehow manages to escape however, I will post some sort of cut scene.
Everyone else I will post a scene with you beginning your trek from Branderscar, through the moors to the reputed manor house tomorrow morning-ish.
Oh and is everyone having fun? I think all of your roleplay has been great so far and I am looking forward to seeing the interaction once you are out of immediate danger.
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I am having fun.
However on a personal note, my wife passed a job interview on Monday in the Channel Islands, and if the package is right then we leave England mid August. Exciting but that means I'll be pretty busy between now and then, my time will be taken up with all manners of jobs here and there. By September things should calm down a bit but bear with me over the next couple of months.
Cheers
I've been having quite a bit of fun, yes! I'm not sure I'd have joined another campaign GMed by you if I wasn't ;)
Huh, my bad on the Jump vs. Acrobatics.
:)
Although I suppose it should've been the horse's check? Or a ride check to get the horse to jump?
Unless Kaynen is leaping off of his horse and landing back on it like Zorro!
Sure, but because the difference in your speed is 30 as opposed to the horses speed of 50 I'll say that it takes you an additional round to make your way through. So next round you spend it navigating your way past to low hanging branches while Kaynen is onto card 3.
I considered using the horses stats, but I wanted it to be a chase against the guard as opposed to two horses chasing a third, thats why I am doing the skill checks based off the PC's as opposed to the mounts.
Just to be clear, is Blackerly regaining consciousness, or was it just an unconscious moan?
Well, since Mikhail and Kaynen are doing their thing, I though I would present something for you to play off of. He is clearly more active then after he was stabilized, you might be able to wake him up at this point or just continue onward. It would likely be a heal check and the heal kit you recovered from Brother Harvin would contain smelling salts.
@Mikhail Based on your request I will describe you as having decided to walk your mount past the low hanging branches.
@The overland group I.E. Barnabas and Co.: So I have been thinking about how this conversation with Blackerly would go for a long time and I'll be posting today. All said, I am hoping that this will be a really cool scene. In addition also really like the ominous tone that you have taken and the way the Walker in Darkness has "perked" up to potential torture. That said, I think the group needs to address this situation. This is the first time that torture has been shown. While I am having some Zero Dark Thirty / Reservoir Dogs flashbacks right now, I am not sure if the group would be comfortable seeing you gouge out his eye "on screen". I have no problems with you skirting the edge of darkness, and I think it’s a really good chance for you to showcase how far Barnabas is willing to go to get answers, but let’s be careful not to upset anyone sensitivities. On the other hand this is also the Bastard that gave each of you your “F” brand and kicked, beat and spit on you as you were burned and chained. Oh he also clubbed Oswald, let’s not forget that too!
@Barnabas: That said I really want to play this part up.
My sensibilities went out the window when I wrote Drisella into this.
Walker is so very interested in Barnabas. So. Very. Interested.
I wasn't planning on getting too graphic, but I'll put the gore behind a spoiler.
Kaynen,
Each card is equal to ten minutes of travel. So Mikhail is lagging behind you by about ten minutes by horse. You may have to get creative. The daze lasts for one round and then the creature is immune to it for 1 min. Also he saw Branderscar Prison burning as he fled, so he is not likely to trust you.
Ah, I see. I was used to other chases I've been in or ran where everything was still measured by full round actions (so only 6 seconds between "squares").
So this means Kaynen gets 60 rounds with the guard before Mikhail is allowed to join in??
To the American players, Happy Fourth of July. I went back and reread the first five hundred posts of the campaign and it is a *really* good read. The amount of effort each of you have put into it so far has been staggering. I am really looking forward to seeing how the next "arc" develops.
@Kaynen: At a minimum it will be another hundred and twenty rounds before Mikhail is able to join you, unless you figure out a way to stop him or slow him down (such as trying to shoot his horse). I'm afraid that poor Bertram is not likely to believe anything you have to say.
Daze the horse as many times as it takes to drown the animal.
Great post Kergh! Does anyone need anything to play off of? I was waiting to see how Oswald decided to react to Barnabas's offer before I threw up another post with Blackerly. I am trying to make Barnabas the focus of this scene, but I don't want anyone to feel "left out". I assure you, that I have similar moments planned for each of you in the future, but if theres something you want to see developed, feel free to PM me so I can work with you towards it.
@Everyone: Heads up guys: If I don't see Oswald post by monday afternoon-evening I'll go ahead and DMPC his response, I don't want to drag this down.
@Mikhail and Kaynen: You guys can still act for your scene.
Ya I was hoping to have the good doctor chime in. Barnabas is pretty much done for the time being. I don't plan on having a drawn out interrogation scene at the moment (or really ever). So I'm good with a blind him, gag him and move on.
Sounds good then, like I said before, this was your scene Barnabas so I'll move it along unless Oswald gives us something to work with. What do you want to do with Blackerly? Bring him along or finish him off? It sounds like you want to take him with you, so unless I hear different I'll follow with that path.
I thought Mikhail was riding and still trying to catch up.
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How did Mikhail get 120 rounds behind Kaynen?
Got to say than what Blackerly did biting Barnabas in the mouth made my group laugh but it makes be wonder what else our GM has up his sleeve.
Once ran an interrogation at a Genconuk open event (1996? 2nd Ed definitely) when the players had captured a temple guard. One by one they had a go at the guard. It started with the dashing rogue used his rapier and stabbed his ear, but the guard didn't budge (good morale roll). The others all tried and failed thanks to a succession of great dice rolls on my part so that by the time that the bard stepped up, the guard had been promoted to fanatic.
Then the bard decided to sing to him. Something which earlier in the day he had failed at dramatically. Never one to tell a player no, I asked him to make a roll. 20! My "save" of course came up a 1! And everyone fell about laughing as this uber temple fanatic spilled the beans rather than listen to the bard sing.
Happy memories.
Mikhail didn't do as well as Kaynen did on the skill checks, so he is a "round" behind. A "round" in the chase is measured in ten-minute intervals, so he is ten minutes behind Kaynen, who is now in six-second rounds with the guard.
Okay, this bloody sucks. Had my post all written up and ready to go and our network goes out. Now I've lost it and having to post this through my phone. Well, Oswald was going to cut the tendons in all Blackerly's limbs first then cut the eye out without actually removing the nerve bundle attached to his brain. So pretend that happened until our network is back up and I can try to reconstruct my post.
EDIT: Yay, I was able to recover most of it when we got connectivity back up.
Holy Mitra on High, that was evil.
Well, the question stands. Now that Blackerly is Blind and mostly paralized, how do you want to proceed? I assume you still want answers, so will you be taking him with you?
I'll be doing an update post for the Moor group this afternoon after work.
Funny enough, anything to do with the eye is about the only bit of gore/violence that can turn my stomach. I have to look away in horror movies if a victim is about to have their eyes gouged out. /shudder
You should see certain eye injuries, such as those due to blunt force trauma or puncture wounds, especially from up close. At least in movies, when the eye is gouged out, it is more or less whole.
I am hoping that Kaynen will follow up on my plan to daze the horse so that Mikhail can catch up.
And the good doctor comes through swimmingly. Gruesome.
The plan is to bring Blackerly to the manor house with us. After that we'll play it by ear. If nothing else Oswald can practice his vivisection indoors.
The horse would be immune to the daze for a minute after ever 6 second use, so that might take a while. I say use ghost sound to panic the horse to throw the guard. That would give plenty of time to have Mikhail catch up.
I am hoping that Kaynen will follow up on my plan to daze the horse so that Mikhail can catch up.
Yo, just got back from PaizoCon.
Would Kaynen be allowed to do this? Daze, as written, can only be used once per minute on a target. I'm happy to continue to try to keep a daze-lock up to give Mikhail a chance to catch up.
Or you can shoot him (or his horse) full of arrows.
Ok, I'm at work so I'll have to post the follow scenes in the morning. Kaynen you could try shooting the horse. It's a standard unarmored horse from the prd, or you could try to use a ghost sound to spook the mount and throw the rider? I would say that the mount would need to fail a save vs ghost sound. If that happened the rider would need a dc15 check or be dismounted. Think that's fair? The riders ride skill is +5
Doctor Oswald is seriously in need of assistance. One nasty witch.
Totally agree with Kergh on that. *Just* the right amount of insanity coupled with intelligence.
In other news we are about to wrap up the first "arc" of book one. Feel free to comment on any of the scenes I just posted. Mikhail at least needs to describe meeting up with Kaynen and then how they plan to proceed to the old manor.
For Kaynen and Mikhail you could continue along the dirt path skirting past Varyston and then follow the old moor road, or you could go cross country. For the sake of linking the groups back up I'll go ahead and tell you that there will not be any wander monster encounters as long as you don't head into town looking for trouble.
After we get another set of posts, I'll provide the opening scene for Act 2. Incase anyone was wondering, we should be leveling up in the next two weeks or so.
Questions?
Hrm, well shoot. I just realized that I left out part of my descriptive post. Basically the dagger that oswald was using was going to warp and turn into a scalpel. Now matter how hard he tried the blood would not wipe off of the blade, leaving it permanently rust colored. =/
Ooh, nice! Are you by any chance familiar with Bleach, the manga series? This kind of reminded me of a certain part of it.
So I have my own zanpakutō now? Awesome. Now to train hard to unlock its bankai.
Heh... Actually, I was referring to Ethaniel's vision of a man in black. But I do remember a character with a scalpel-like zanpakuto, at least in shikai, by the name of Hanataro.
Yep. And his was pretty cool, for a healer character 'Oh, let me heal all these wounds for you... then release all the absorbed damage as one giant attack!'
@F. Castor: I'm very familiar with bleach having watched it up to the 200th episode so far. I have based some of Ethaniels descriptive events on Bleach (and old man zangetsu) while his sword forms I have borrowed from varior blade forms from The wheel of time. When you desribed Ethaniels sword as a black katana the first thing I though of was a Tam al'Thor's sword only with a black blade. As a bit of a teaser, I'm planning to play up the bleach angle more with Ethaniel eventually learning "whispers" true name and unlocking additional powers during critical events.
@Oswald: I had forgotten that there was a character in bleach that had a scalpel-like sword. However I have always been a fan of Legacy Weapons and character specific items. Personally I feel that magic items too often just become +X sword or X ring of the Y. I feel like it takes something special away from each player.
@Lucent: I know I am handing out some goodies, and part of it is a reward for the players that have stuck through the first "arc". Don't worry though. I have something cool planned for you.. I might take a while to get there, but I promise it will be worth the wait.
No worries from me, I've got faith in ya no matter what's going on. :)
@Lucent: By the way question about Walker in Darkness. I am seeing him as a unique form of a Kyton. Is that what you were aiming for?