Monster Mashup - Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master CaveToad

Oh boy, Fauns. Someone's going to have to hold Simon back...[/sarcasm-but-kinda-actually-true]

Having lived with and been raised by Fey for most of his life, Simon can't help but give a smile as the wild haired man steps into the glade, much like someone reminding one of one's father, after said figure is long dead and buried. A sense of once again being at home.

The arrival of the faun, (oh gods how he missed fauns, even a satyrs on an especially adventurous day) beckons other feelings(not to mention organs) from his deepest and warmest places. The guitar practically flies into his hands, plucking small riffs as soft accompaniment to the performance of the goat man as Simon doesn't even attempt to pry his eyes away from him until the very last moment that he needs to turn his attention to business at hand. His quiet strumming stays squarely in the field simple countering to the faun, never touching a volume that would match or overshadow the fey's beautiful performance, but just loud enough to hope to be noticed as a kindred spirit to the cloven hooded hedonist.

His furtive admiration is only broken after the queen has made herself quite visible to the group. Simon, having lived in fey culture, of the olden days at least, quickly attempts to remove the dull leather clothing he had on, knowing it shameful to hide oneself in court, tearing off straps and bursting laces if they don't cooperate. After so long with humans and other primitive races using the excuse of conduct and humility to reason to themselves and their children as to why they must cover themselves against nature while the superior races went free of bindings, being part of the nature the humans distanced themselves from, the Wyvaran had become too used to conforming and covering himself to set their minds at rest. He stands on full display, wings spread wide as if showing himself as the canvas he had made his body for the queen (and collected audience) to inspect.

Your majesty, I must clarify one point or two. We cannot speak for the dwarves or humans, only what we wish they were to wish, as we have been given no power of Diplomacy on their behalf. We are but simple travelers offering them our assistance in their time of need for the hospitality they shown us. Everything my companions have said is true. The Giants do threaten not just your territory, but that of the humans and dwarves. It is our hope that if you were to assist us in our quest to assist them that it would show a common interest between your peoples in the preservation of all life that may open a channel to discuss the human's lack of respect for your woods. The humans and dwarves are but simple people and we hope that showing an olive branch on your part in their time of need will be the start of peace between you. Starting with helping them be rid of your common enemy in the giants. It is at times neccesary to demonstrate that you can be the bigger people. Humans tend to be more willing to cooperate after having been assisted once. And in your great power, we understand that solving their problem would be but the most simple flex of your collective might.

Goliath stands proud as the queen touches him and says the kind words.

"You honor me your majesty, but I believe you have been misinformed. We do not seek and alliance or aid from you or your people. We simply rested in your woods while on our mission. Upon meeting and heeding the challenge of your people we decided it best to alert you and yours of the situation. If an alliance can be struck then we will seek it. What we ask for is passage and information if any is to be had on our foes. I believe you and your people can handle yourselves as you have for centuries. We will defend the lands for we have pledged to do so. Regardless of if you and your people stand with us we will defend your lands from this threat as well. Thank you for seeing us and gracing us with your beauty. In a thousand life times I would not see such a beauty again, but we have been delayed enough and the giants move. Stand with us or not your lands will be protected by our actions."

Quassine shudders and goose pimples arise as the Queen grabs his tentacle, and of course he responds to the reflection of him, "If you have or know of a fix for my personal quandary, it would be most appreciated ... your maj ... majesty?" Quassine bows still showing goose pimples.

Quassine continues after Goliath finishes, "Your majesty, my brothers speaks the truth, which he is bound to do by duty, we were not actively seeking your allegiance but since the opportunity has presented itself, it is only logical to ask. And like my brother stated, it is apparent that you and your people are quite capable of taking care of the enemy forces. In addition, after we eliminate the greater problems, we will focus on the smaller problems such as the Dwarven and Human actions of greed. Our number one greatest concern above all others, is locating our father and master for he is missing in this timeline but we are set on another path until we hear more regarding his whereabouts. For as I or we can see, family comes first for you as it does for us." Quassine bows ... "Your Majesty." Quassine continues, "Now you know our greatest concern, maybe I can continue with your permission in describing our father to you for maybe you have heard about him and where he might be?" Quassine bows once again, "Your Majesty"

The queen smiles at the group again, and you feel the blood flush to your face and elsewhere. "So polite all of you. I would scarce have imagined it upon first sight. This lost mentor of yours that you seek must have had quite the impact on you. I have considered your words carefully, and you have each in your own way, convinced me to render aid. Go go diplomacy! My people, are not the sort to enter conflict directly, but we have our methods. I will have scouts far and wide, and I will send word to the Head Marshal of the fort. He has honor. We will not enter into an alliance with the town, but we will also not stand idly by while these giants work their way through our lands." As Xanya has her hand outheld, the queen pulls something from her hair. She places something in Xanya's hand and it appears to be a golden pin of some sort, artfully crafted to resemble a butterfly. She steps from one member to the other and bestows a pin to each of you. "Call upon these in your darkest hour of need. May your quest to defeat these intruders succeed. I would also be heartened to learn if you ever discover your mentor."

Quassine takes the pin and bows low three times in succession, "Thank you your majesty, I do not turn away any type of alliances nor any gift. Thank you for both! I am sure your scouts will report to you when we find out master, which I am more than confident we will, but out of respect, we will make sure to visit in person to report our success. Perhaps later, we can work towards an alliance between you and the humanoids? Among my other life goals, I strive to balance out the world which may be an impossible task, never-the-less it will be a rewarding path to follow." Quassine bows again and continues, "Before we move on with our quests, with your infinite wisdom, do you know how I can repair or fix my quandary of being a broken Illithid? Perhaps have the best of both worlds of being more human and more Illithid at the same time because I must admit, I can not let go of the Illithid powers? What I can get rid of is this face and their disdain for balance." Quassine bows low one more time.

Goliath takes the pin. He looks down, not wearing a shirt and only a simple leather skirt he places it in the cloth of his head wrap.

"Thank you your majesty. If your scouts find their advanced scouts we can hit them hard and fast. The real battle lies ahead. My service and fealty is to my master Goodwin and to find and return him safely, but if you or a person of your court should need my aid they only have to ask. How long will it take your scouts? If you have no further need of me I will retire to calm my mind and prepare for the battle ahead."

"The scouts have already been dispatched. The travel swiftly now, to every corner of these rugged lands."

The gathering breaks up a little to something less formal. The queen's 'throne' returns to a regular log and the satyr begins again with his flute accompanied eagerly by Simon. The satyr jumps from his rock and begins dancing with Simon as they play a tune. The other small rugged man, begins dancing a peculiar dance to the tune, moving energetically in almost at random, his zeal for the dance a distinct surprise given the creature's initial demeanor.

Aster appears to have hit it off successfully with the other animals that initially made way into the clearing. The large wolf, panther and bear all tussle with Aster through the small clearing, bounding over log and stone, crashing through the brush in a chase or hunt of some sort, wrestling and bounding over each other and rolling about.

The queen reclines on a soft bed of moss, lying on her front kicking her feet up at the knees and watching the fey revelry, her physique framed by the verdant greens about her. A hummingbird zooms in occasionally and hovers above her shoulder, only to whisk away after a brief moment disappearing again into the forest.

Xanya accepts the pin gracefully with a huge smile. "Thank you." She then struggles to place it in her hair, trying to replicate the grace with which the nymph wore it. She keeps getting distracted by looking at the nymph, but finally managed it after a bit of mental direction by Cryxial.

"It truly is awesome that we can work together this way. I feel that together we'll be successful!"She comments to the Queen before turning to her companions.

First she addresses Quassine. "While balancing out the world might be a good thing in an idealized world, I strongly feel that we'll have other more important things to undertake. To rescue Goodwin and do Good should be our primary focus in my opinion. We shouldn't impose ourselves on others too much, just to bring balance. The contact the fey now establishes with the city might be all that's needed to let them negotiate on their own. Still, it's hard to know what the future will bring, we should not focus too far ahead, the two goals we have is already one too many."

Xanya starts walking over to the Queen, but she looks over to Goliath. "Come on dear Goliath, don't be so stiff, or be it in the right way at least. We might not get another opportunity to spend time with the fey again and you want to use this time to meditate? Your body is awesome, you should use it well."

Xanya kneels down by the queen. "May I join you? I find that my performance heavily depends on my emotions. How can you be sure of your strike if you are sad and doubting yourself? We got a brief respite before we have word from your scouts. Let's use that time to make each other as happy as can be."

diplomacy with the Queen: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

Do we get any experience for this? Only awarding experience for combat incentivizes finding violent solutions to every problem.

Do we get any experience for this? Only awarding experience for combat incentivizes finding violent solutions to every problem.

Yes there will be some, I have to check on a few things, and also get a reply post in. Stepping out of office now for a bit, then a meeting.

"Go on little sister. If the queen wishes to lay with me she will ask. I do not beg for such pleasures. Her beauty is grate but nothing gets the heart pumping like the thrill of battle."

Stated loud enough for the queen to obviously hear.

Goliath is playing hard to get. ;)

As Xanya and Goliath rib and jest with each other, The queen motions silently for Xanya to join her on the moss. The queen seems to be lost in a train of thought at the moment, as it communing with the plants and animals about her. Nearby Simon, the satyr and the korred dance and play their music. Quassine moves through the group wondering about comments made by the queen regarding his illithid nature. The atomies flit about and dodge and divebomb Kiki, who jumps from tree to tree scrambling about making the world nearly as three dimensional for travel as the flying fey. Aster, Cryxial and the beasts crash about the underbrush and circle giving chase and mock hunting each other.

It would be easy to live this life, to push away the troubles of the world and retreat to a simple world of pleasure and joy like this. So far removed from the dramas and intrigue of the politics and battle.

Everyone gets 460 XP for this encounter. I have updated the tally above.

I'm not sure how appropriate further roleplay would be in Xanya's current situation. We are waiting for a report from their scouts right?

After some time, while they are simply resting after some activity Xanya inquires. "While we wait for words of the whereabouts of the Giants, maybe we can talk? We've been gone from the world for some time and much has changed. It would be nice to know more about the world we currently reside in. What topics interest you the most at the moment? Besides this issue with the giants that is."

The queen turns on her side, and faces Xanya, giving an even better view of the queen's body. Xanya feels a bit feverish but presses on. The queen replies, "Tell me of your time away from the world. I would hear of it."

Quassine ignores Xanya's balance statement because that would be like him telling her not to charge into combat since she almost dies each time. He then thinks to himself since the queen did not answer, "Perhaps, the root of Illithid power is within me?" He finds a nice place, good for meditation and falls deep into meditation reaching far to see if he can activate the powers the Illithids are so famous for besides the Psionic Blast.

If this is a trap I finally get to put Xanya's 6 wis to good use...
Xanya reaches out a hand to stroke the queen fondly, ignoring the feverish feeling, as she says "Sadly I don't remember most of it. I was asleep for a long time. But most of it was wonderful, though alien and new for one such as myself. We all lived together in the Archmage's realm in harmony. Beasts, monsters and others from normally wicked races, like the crazy Derro I hail from. Somehow Goodwin had managed to convert each and everyone of us. For me it was astonishment and curiosity at first, but now I truly believe in the ideal of freedom. What is my mind if not the ulitimate expression of freedom? And now I seek the ultimate test of liberation. To somehow free our mentor which should have been too powerful to imprison, yet obviously was not. What if your realm? Is it very different?"

Seems we are all ready to move forward whenever you are CT. Nothing really to do until the scouts report back.

Seems we are all ready to move forward whenever you are CT. Nothing really to do until the scouts report back.

I second this statement. There are other things more important to Goliath and Quassine than what appears to be sex at this time.

I'm fine with moving on. No reason to hold up things just for me.

Quassine settles down nearby and begins to deeply meditate. He ponders his state wondering about the conundrum and how to tap his illithid power. After some deep though, he realizes that perhaps since the transformation was not complete, he would never be able to realize the capabilities of a full fledged illithid on his own. He would need some external facilitation, perhaps some magical aid or a way to complete the transformation. Somewhat disappointed at the realization, he nonetheless continues to ponder it and is determined as ever to seek answers.

Xanya sits with the queen telling her about her life and that of her adopted siblings with Goodwin. The queen appears genuinely attentive and notes many details about the story. Finally she marvels aloud, "Your mentor was truly a unique individual. Few would have expended the time and resources in such an endeavor. Some day I would like to meet him. Your group seems very devoted and driven, and I have no doubt that you shall succeed."

Several small sparrows land nearby and the queen rises to taken them upon her fingers as small perches. Even the sparrows flutter excitedly in her presence. She utters an incantation and begins warbling and tweeting with the birds at length. Before long she sends them aloft.

Returning to the group, "The scouts have sent word far and wide, and the plants and animals of the land have spoken. It seems a large attack group had been coming in this direction, crossing the large river to the west we call the Alhuviel. After a day or so, they turned direction and began to head northerly. It seems also that another group such as yours had passed through this region in a similar time frame, defeating a giant led troop of bugbears. It may be that the enemies now pursue your fellows. If you wish, we can take you forth so that you may follow their trail."

Quassine exits his meditation and stands, then bows, "Yes, your majesty, we would like that very much just in case our brothers and sisters need assistance." Quassine bows again.

I hope this goes better than last time we ran into another group. I wonder how it'll work out timing and experience-wise, but that's not my problem to solve.

Xanya is quite disappointed to not get to hear of the wonders of the Fey world of this age If she did hear something that you didn't mention I could use it in knowledge checks later? Still, she's happy to tell about Goodwin. "Yes, he is a wonderful man. And while I too am sure we'll find him, any help we receive will make it faster and easier. It would be very nice if you could help us out after this ordeal with the giants is over. We don't know what tidbit of knowledge might lead us down the right path"

Take 10 on diplomacy for 26 with guidance

After the Queen's scouting news are dealt out Xanya's eyes blaze with renewed passion. "If our companions are chased down by an army too large for them to handle then we must come to their aid. We can pincer them between us and catch them unaware. Yes, I think that's the right thing to do. What will you do while we go after them, O fairest Queen of them all? Will you hamper their actions?"

The queen smiles at Xanya, "After these affairs are over, I would only be too happy to help you in your quest to find your lost master." Her eyes sparkle, and your head spins a bit. "There is also much I would share with you, but alas the pressing needs of battle interrupt us. While our scouts lead you to their trail, I must coordinate and reach out to others in my realm, and I will contact the Head Marshal at the fort town. There are many matters to attend to."

"Thank you for your hospitality and aid your majesty. We leave now to make safe the land and help our brother and sisters. Gather your things now. Let us march to war."

Goliath gathers up all the things he carries and is prepared to move out.

Quassine bows, "Yes your majesty, thank you for all of your aid and I look forward to future meetings with you. Obviously, too many current pressing distractions ... Your Majesty" Quassine bows again and picks up his backpack. "Ok, I am ready to move out with the scouts leading the way."

Day 14 - late afternoon into evening

The group assembles themselves quickly, forcing themselves through willpower to break off the peaceful rest and fun they were enjoying. You gather your things and the queen with her satyr, korred and animal friends wish you safe travels and a successful battle. The queen speaks privately with several atomies who move to escort you flitting ahead of you as they follow some path. Being able to fly they often forget that the terrain, which does not impede them, creates potential challenges for the group. None the less, you manage to get into a routine and begin trekking north to pick up the a trail.

The atomies fly ahead and keep leading you further north, indicating that the trail you will eventually pick up still lies ahead somewhat. You begin to lose daylight, which has little effect on the group in terms of normal visibility, but it still impact seeing fine details and picking up a trail as well as noticing other signs even in the dark.

The atomies are also not used to proceeding in the darkness. The three of them approach the group and in Sylvan, "Sleep time now. Morning go more." They take off tiny packs and flit up into the trees, more or less disappearing. Apparently you have little else to do but wait until the morning arrives and set up camp where you are, which seems like a reasonable spot.

You are still in the western foothills which are lightly wooded and the night a bit cool despite the approaching summer solstice.

You set your normal watch routine and Quassine takes his brief sleep before setting about his nightly crafting tasks, spreading out his tools and materials in a well lit area of the camp, shielding the sleepers from his annoying light.

Day 15 - Morning

The morning comes without any overnight events. The group rises and is breaking camp and eating a meal when the atomies appear, flitting from the trees and buzzing before you. "Go now." You hustle your remaining items together and start following them again as they flit ahead. Periodically one of them flits off to return later you hope scouting about and making sure you are in the right path and not doing something like planning an ambush. By mid day you stop very briefly for a rest, but soon are on the way again, eating as you travel and soon enough by early to mid afternoon, the atomies stop and point to the ground ahead. "There. Now we go."

The group steps ahead slightly and is able to make out a fairly clear trail left by a largish group. You see the telltale signs of foliage broken and also crushed moss, sticks and pinecones. You see large booted footprints of something giant, as well as paw prints, and other footprints booted and unbooted of various humanoids. You find other scuffs in the ground too. Clearly your trail begins here and should be reasonably easy to follow even to untrained individuals. You know that following a trail is usually something that slows you down, although you can move swifter with some risks. It is difficult to tell at this point how far of a lead the enemy has on you.

So starting DC is probably 15 probably 3 days old maybe two so +3 or +2 so a 18. If we want to go normal speed it's now a 23. With my aid kiki makes that taking 10. So we will go normal speed of 40' with Kiki riding along.

Yeah no 1's so I did 10 roles to aid kiki, thai is 10 hours worth of tracking.

"Finally the trail. I say we stay vigilant. With Kiki's knowledge of the forest we should be able to follow the trail at our normal speed. Let us hunt down this group and put an end to their plan."

Kiki nods at Goliath "shouldn't be too hard to follow, even if we hurry a bit"
survival(tracking): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22+2 for Goliath

Once the others are ready to leave

Kiki waves goodby to the atomies "Goodby, till next time"

Kiki you don't need to roll. Take 10 so you don't mess up and get too low. I didn't even add in the modifier for a large creature or for every 3 people in the party. So the DC will be lower by how ever many of them there are.

Kiki bids adieu to the departing atomies, and as they leave one of them bounces an acorn off of her in a fey trickster farewell. Kiki seems momentarily lost in the ancient past, her days of skittering through the forest, playing pranks on others flooding her mind. Goliath begins to look at the tracks and redirects her attention to the task. Kiki nods and rubs her four hands together and sets to work. Examining the multiple tracks left by many creatures, quite a few of them large, will be nearly trivial to follow. Goliath's assessment regarding time is probably close, and may even be overestimating. They seem perhaps only a day or two old at most.

The number and size of the creatures lets you travel easily at full speed and the group sets off at a decent pace with Goliath aiding in the tracking. You surmise that the heavily armored giants and other humanoids travel at a slower pace than you do, and when you do the math, you know you will gain ground on them. Even still, they have enough lead that it may take you almost a week of normal travel to catch up, assuming they are also moving with purpose for 8 hours a day.

As before, your rate of 40' nets you normally 32 miles a day, but through the trackless hills it is halved to about 16 miles for 8 hours of travel. Hustling and forced marches etc can tack on some more. A group travelling at 30' nets only 12 miles a day, so you gain 4 miles a day on them, but they may have at least a 24 mile lead.

At normal speed Kiki can take 10 without chance of failure even with an Aid another, due to extra creatures and large size ones at that.

The group moves in pursuit, everyone with a mix of tension and excitement, tied with caution and some trepidation. Your enemies are still powerful despite recent victories. You chat about your encounter with the fey and count yourselves lucky that it went as well as it did given tales you have heard, confirmed by Kiki and Simon. You chalk it up to skilled diplomacy and quick thinking as well as rational discussion about very real dangers facing the lands. Perhaps there is hope yet for your people. Maybe some day integration into some society is possible.

As the day wears on, the group, as expected has not caught their quarry but continues to follow the trail easily. The group also seems to be moving with purpose, stopping little and you find evidence of discarded food and garbage as proof that they are resting at times, but not stopping for long. Hopefully as the day winds down, and you look to make your own camp, you will find evidence of one of their previous ones. Your estimations are correct and well before night fall you find a camp of theirs possibly two days old. Very little remains other than the flattened area used to set up quarters and evidence of a large fire ring surrounded by boulders dug up from nearby.

Will your group make camp here?

CT can we get a bit of a retcon. Once we have an estimate of time Kiki and myself can prepare lesser restoration which will take away fatigue allowing us to Move for 16 allowing us to gain 20 miles on them the first day. Day two we can do the routine above catching up with them as they are making camp.

CT can we get a bit of a retcon. Once we have an estimate of time Kiki and myself can prepare lesser restoration which will take away fatigue allowing us to Move for 16 allowing us to gain 20 miles on them the first day. Day two we can do the routine above catching up with them as they are making camp.

It might be even easier than that as healing the nonlethal damage taken from hustling and/or forced march also removes the fatigue. What amount of hustling and/or forced march are you planning? Are you just adding another 8 hours of normal movement? It seems like the forced march lets you go longer and has con checks which if you guys make you can avoid the damage, although they get harder and harder. The hustle has no con checks but the damage starts lower and gets progressively more. Being fatigued assigns some annoying penalties but really doesn't come into play unless combat ensues. Also keep in mind you were doing a 10 hour camp cycle to allow Quassine to sleep 2 hours and work 8 hours. Sounds like math time and some rolls, but it could be a big advantage in catching up much faster. I will let you crunch the numbers and expend the heals/channels/restorations as needed. Clearly you don't have to decide everything up front and can take adjust as needed, but any hustling would need to be declared. You can hustle one hour for free it seems.

We can't hustle as it adds 20 to the survival check DC. Just planning on marching another 8 hours on day 1 and expending the healing to keep those that get fatigued going. Get a good rest that night so no crafting on night one but we should catch them on day 2 as they are setting up/camping.

I can't find where it's written that hustling add 20 to the DC. Even if it did, aren't we going through forest? That should be soft ground and with so many people the DC would surely be 0 or below, so -20 we should still be able to make? Either way, I don't see why we can't hustle for 16 hours per day... We got a metric ton of healing. We can channel 13 times per day for 2d6 a pop. On top of that every single one of us can cast cure light wounds a ton of times per day, not to mention that Xanya is basically immune to it due to her DR (in addition to her high fort save). Ideally we would time it so we catch up to the army at the same time they meet the other group, but we don't know where they are. I'm a bit confused though. We are quite close to the city, it certainly won't take them a week to go there, we can't follow them for long before the whole pursuit would be moot right?

I hope the following is ok: Xanya hugs the queen goodbye. "Thank you for your help. It's good to find a friend in this land. I hope I can call you friend. I'm looking forward to the next time we meet. Until then, we will do our best to help you deal with this threat to the land." Before moving onto Cryxial with a shout. "Yiiepie, let's be off!"

When the atomies part Xanya waves back at them with a smile expression. "I wish I could speak with them. You have to teach me their language, Kiki and Simon." Xanya probably spent quite a bit of their journey so far trying to learn the language.

You must not have read survival.

You move at half your normal speed while following tracks (or at your normal speed with a –5 penalty on the check, or at up to twice your normal speed with a –20 penalty on the check). The DC depends on the surface and the prevailing conditions, as given on table.

So moving at double adds 20. Even if it is soft ground that's 30 then 31 or 32 for how old it is. Large creature drops it by 1 then another -1 for every 3 of them. So yes if there are 24 or so then we can follow them at a hustle but it is not needed as we can simply travel more than 8 hours on day one by healing our fatigue.

Just a few clarifications. The terrain is mostly hills. It is lightly wooded in some areas, so you do occasionally pass through some forested spots, but for the most part it is open and the ground is dry and harder. It has not rained actually in some time that you recall since you have arrived, you have noted very little precipitation. As Goliath noted the DC does increase quite steeply when hustling and you think that the group is not so large as to make it trivial to follow at that speed. Perhaps close, but not quite.

A second note. I believe that DR only protects you against weapon/natural attacks. It doesn't protect you from nonlethal damage from things like hustling, forced marches, starvation, suffocation, heat/cold from environment etc. Its pretty much just normal damage taken from injuries. It would probably protect you against say an arrow trap since most traps are 'attacks' in some form. I didn't google for any in depth clarifications or discussions though.

And to follow up on Xanya's farewell.
The Queen gives Xanya a squeeze and the physical contact has quite a memorable effect on Xanya. The parting goes quickly and when the group is away from the fey there is a bit of a return to their normal senses.

After learning of the age of the camp Xanya's face contorts in dismay. "That's really too bad. I had hoped we would be closer. We should continue pressing on to catch up. If anyone get too tired, my spirit connection should be able to refresh you just as well as it heals after battle." Suddenly she smiles, the thought of being able to do something about being late brightening her mood.

I can rework it a little bit based on the fact that you will press ahead. You would still encounter the camp at the same time of the day, but given that you will forced march another 8 hours into darkness, you will gain more ground on them. Prepping now...pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

So since Simon doesn't have 40' move, I assume he is flying? I think that is what was determined previously correct?

Made an assumption that you could channel every other hour to relieve nonlethal and fatigue. It more or less worked out well except in one case in the middle and a few at the end. The group has more than enough channels, but may wish to save them for battle. Clearly in hindsight they weren't needed for battle, but also since no battle occurred you didn't need to waste extra. let me know if you would have preferred an entirely different process. One nice demonstration of working out the math is that this is an effective strategy for the group with even a fraction of your channel energies, and if combat did occur, one quick refresh would probably take care of the risk on round 1 or surprise round.

As you approach the end of your travel for the day you find the campsite. previously mentioned Realizing you are probably quite a few miles behind you decide to push into the night, forcing yourselves to travel harder, realizing you can stave off the fatigue by channeling life energy to the group. You discover not that much further the site of a battle, and as Kiki examines the situation, it appears the group you are following also discovered the site. It appears a large fight happened here with many medium (but larger than a man) sized humanoids as well as a large giant sized one. You discover the bones and scraps of a manticore and a campsite where it was partially cooked. Scouting further you see that a large body was dragged off and then buried a bit away from the camp. Someone killed and buried a fire giant, and it was subsequently exhumed and perhaps reburied again by the group you follow, who perhaps abandoned their own camp upon discovering this battle site. Kiki notes that animal paw prints frequently come and go from the main force you are following.

You are also able to discover frequent runner marks on the terrain as if a group was dragging something like a sledge, sleigh or sled. Large cloven bipedal hoof marks follow the same tracks as the sled. Many of the other tracks are mixed with the group that follows them, so it is hard to determine what the composition of the other group is. I believe you were told group 5 is out here somewhere, and you know the make up of that group. It seems you may have discovered that the group you are following is now following your companions in exile. Upon discovering the battle site and the tracks of your friends, the giants and other creatures you yourself were trailing at a forced march appear to have continued their march north along the foothills of the mountains.

Pushing on well into the night for another 8 hours nets you another 16 miles of travel. The effort is fatiguing for most of you, but you pause every few hours to refresh yourselves with positive life affirming energy, removing the strain on your bodies. Finally you decide to make camp so that you can recover some spells take a break. You find yourselves using the same campsite that the group used perhaps two days ago. You try to determine how far behind them their pursuers are and how far behind the pursuers you are. You recalculate your estimates and determine that latest trails you encountered were less than a day old now. You believe that the following day you may catch them or at least narrow the distance significantly. That assumes that they also do not hustle or force a march. Your review of their tracks gives you the impression that they picked up their pace upon discovering the battle site.

I remember reading that everyone only need 6 hours of sleep, we don't have any witches/wizards/arcanists beside Quassine (who only needs 2). With Simon and Quassine only requiring 2 each they should be able to take all the watches. Simon got 3 pair of eyes while Quassine got quite good perception himself. This still leaves Quassine 4 hours to craft, although 2 of them would be while standing guard. With double time progress that should put him 3/4 of the way towards the headband after the night is done. Does that sound about right? Also we really should channel before going to bed as the uses will refresh in the morning and it's better to have fresh people than more uses if we do get ambushed.

Xanya is quite happy while they finally stop to rest. She's glad they were able to cover so much ground. "Let's rest quickly then follow the trail in the morning. Quassine and Simon, you need less sleep right? Maybe you can cover all the watches so we won't need as much hours? It means we have to pass on the some of the crafting, but coming to the aid of our companions is more important, right?"

What skill is used to figure out if we can pincer them? Knowledge geography? Survival? I wish we had sending or a similar spell. Silent image like the other group used would also alert the Giants. I think it would be really cool if CT is able to pull off a mass combat with both groups, though not sure how that's happening.

"Yes we made great time and distance today. Let us get our rest. Tomorrow we should find our enemy."

I remember reading that everyone only need 6 hours of sleep, we don't have any witches/wizards/arcanists beside ...

What skill is used to figure out if we can pincer them? Knowledge geography? Survival? I wish we had sending or a similar spell.

Can you link me to where you read the 6 hours thing, or was that something we discussed here internally? In terms of battle concept, there isn't really a skill that would govern that, possibly knowledge martial for military tactics, but I am not sure how a skill would cover and result in any sort of complicated small group tactics that would need to be rolled out anyhow. What are you aiming for with this?

I'm not sure what your plan is CT but if we encounter them as they encounter the other group then I would prefer the battles to be split. So a separate encounter for each group. If one of us beats the challenge then they can be the cavalry for the other group. For example lets say we beat the challenge on round 6, well say round 7 or 8 we can come to the aid of the other group overwhelming the bad guys or something like that. I would prefer not to get into a battle with waiting on 10 other people to post. My opinion anyways.

No need to worry about it at all, I have it all under control.

Can you advise me regarding your specific travel, sleep and watch hours for night 15. I need a fairly detailed breakdown of what happens when and by whom. Thanks!

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unrelated (maybe ;) ) :

That's the first night right? Because day one we made up 20 miles 4 during normal travel and 16 for the next 8 hours. That night Quassine sleeps while Simon is on watch then Simon sleeps while Quassine is on watch and then the last 2 hours they both are on watch. Then we head out and should catch them at the end of day 2 with normal travel.

Yes, Day 15 (and night 15), the morning after the atomies took you to the tracks. It is the day we just finished where you pulled the super long haul. So assuming your 16 hours of travel was basically from 7 AM to 11 PM, camp setup done by midnight as people sleep and the Quassine/Simon watches go. Two hours, two hours and two hours of watches from 12-6 AM, break camp at 6 AM, and on the road by 7 AM on day 16. Sound about right? Also it is close to the summer solstice and you are reasonably north, so your daylight lasts until well after 9 PM, perhaps a curse for the darkness lovers. The birds start chirping around 4:30 AM with sunlight soon to follow.

Looks fine to me.

Sounds good to me. Though I think Quassine should still be able to craft a bit during the night, but if you won't allow it that's probably fine too.

Being a former US Marine and have been on plenty of force marches, I would say that Day 14, Quassine had plenty of time and on Day 15 he spent more time asleep recovering having really no time to craft.

Also, I had oral surgery today and should be able to post tomorrow Eastern Standard Time. Currently on some good drugs.