Monster Mashup - Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master CaveToad

Yeah but as a marine you didn't have magic to take your fatigue away :) I would say you wouldn't craft just to be more vigilant on watch being so close to a possible enemy.

Yeah but as a marine you didn't have magic to take your fatigue away :) I would say you wouldn't craft just to be more vigilant on watch being so close to a possible enemy.

Yes ... yes ... I see it now. Catching up with less pain drugs in my system.

Day 15 - middle of the night

Day 16 - Morning

The group rises after a solid sleep, the night watchers reporting no abnormal activity. Ready for a new day of pursuit, the group hastily breaks camp and prepares to move out after their quarry. Kiki examines the tracks picking up the trail. The group seems to be pushing hard, moving swiftly, in turn chasing the other group of your fellows. Will you be able to catch them? The chase is on!

"If our estimate are right we should find them before fatigue settles in. If we need to press farther as it seems they have picked up their pace we can decide then. Is everyone agreed on this?"

Xanya is excited when she wakes up. She quickly wipes the drool from her mouth. "I have a dream!" She shouts out at the others as she bounces around. "Asheranti spoke to me in my dream. She should be in the group up ahead. They are heading to Kao-Lor's monastery! It's exciting to hear what they have found. Maybe the giants are trying to stop them from going there? That would be an interesting and worrying development. We must stop the giants from stopping them from going there. I wish I could dreamspeak such as she. Or contact them at all. Writing words in the sky like was done at the goatling camp would be one way. Does anyone know how to do that?"

How come no-one have learned silent image yet? :( It's such a useful spell. Do anyone have any other way to contact them?

"Either way, we should hurry to follow after the Giants. I'll save my armor spells for the first 4 hours of today, then they'll last until hour 12. Hopefully that'll be sufficient. I still got one of each of them after that."

I had to include the drool part because Xanya is such an intense character, I figure she slept intensely as well.

I don't have a way to message them but I did find this [url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/m/marching-chant]Marching Chant[/oob] You get to hustle as if walking. If CT lets this work without the increased DC to track then we could catch up way earlier today for only a second level spell.

"Interesting. So they are after another group of our brothers and sisters. They probably don't know they have a large group in pursuit of themselves. We should hurry."

Depending on what CT says I will pray for the spell in place of Tremor Blast

Xanya shakes her head vigorously. "No, I think they have found a lead to find Goodwin. Kao Lor was basically the only information we had to go on before we came here, remember?"

About Hustling/Tracking, isn't it sufficient to know the direction they are going?

"But she did tell us where they are going. Follow western edge of mountains north from fort until black ice. If we aim to follow their path we don't even need tracking, though we could check for tracks once in a while to verify we are going the correct way. That would let us make up quadruple the time of what's normal. In that case I think I would want to cast my spells after 3 hours of travel."

We should be 8 hours behind I think, which means we need 8 hours to catch up if hustling and using Marching Chant.

You are throwing a lot of meta knowledge in your post. Goliath didn't even mention the spell was possible.

Uh, we can still hustle and heal even without the spell. But yes, it would make even more sense if she did know about the spell... My idea was that your reason for not suggesting the spell was because we couldn't rush and tracking. Now that you know we can rush from Xanya's words, you are free to suggest the spell.

Day 16

With renewed vigor and the revelation of Xanya's dream message, the group has a twofold purpose now. They are pushing hard to intercept the group that is pursuing their adopted siblings, and also the information that the Temple of Kao-Lor was located spurs the group even more.

Let me know what movement rates you will be using and what spells you are using. If you use the marching chant to hustle at x2, the DC to track as mentioned jumps by 20. Kiki's DC to track would be at 29 with all modifiers factored in ( number tracked, time, ground, size of tracks ). I can then calculate if/when you might overtake the enemies. Depending on timing and speed we can determine if a forced march would be added. Normally the 8 hours of travel time includes some rests, so you need to decide a little bit up front if you are plowing straight through without rests to pack in that first 8 hours in a single block, to allow the opportunity to add a second 8 hour block in. Otherwise your normal 8 hours of travel usually takes closer to 10 or so.

My idea is that since we know where they are going we won't need much tracking. Why do we need to micromanage time so closely, can't you just go with something that makes sense. I suggest that we travel without much in the way of huge breaks, maybe a short one here and there and maybe a stop to eat. Still waiting for others to provide feedback to my plan.

I am still waiting for my question to be answered before I move on to the next.

What is your question? About crafting? You decide what you want to do with night 15 of course.

My idea is that since we know where they are going we won't need much tracking. Why do we need to micromanage time so closely, can't you just go with something that makes sense. I suggest that we travel without much in the way of huge breaks, maybe a short one here and there and maybe a stop to eat. Still waiting for others to provide feedback to my plan.

It boils down to when and where and if you catch the group you are chasing as well as other factors that are secret ;).

Also, you have a rough idea of where the other group told you the temple was in a dream, and you are comparing on a crude map, that doesn't ensure necessarily that you will be following exactly the enemy group as well. Although I did think of another factor that will lower the DC of Kiki's track to 27. I'm still not sure if she can hit that with a take 10 or not. Perhaps with several successful Aid Anothers.

I am still waiting for my question to be answered before I move on to the next.

You can craft the night of day 15 for 4 hours but you only net 2 hours worth of work, keeping in mind you are increasing the DC by 5 to require only 4 hours of work per 1000 gp of the cost. Hopefully that answers it :)

No I was asking if the spell made the DC jump still if it does we will go with the normal plan of staying on their trail and catching them at the end of the day as they break for camp. If we don't run into them after we have gone the 8 hours this means they improved their pace and we will go hour by hour after managing our resources until we catch them. Sound good?

@Goliath: I do not understand your numbers. We are aproximately 8 hours behind them since we rested now where they rested last night. That means after 8 hours of normal travelling we would still be aproximately 8 hours behind them. If we are travelling same speed as them that would mean we would catch then in the evening after 16 hours if we travel at normal speed. If we hustle we would catch them somewhere in the 5-8 hour range. Hence my suggestion is that we hustle.

Cryxial survival aid with guidance: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Xanya survival aid with guidance: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

No I was asking if the spell made the DC jump still if it does we will go with the normal plan of staying on their trail and catching them at the end of the day as they break for camp. If we don't run into them after we have gone the 8 hours this means they improved their pace and we will go hour by hour after managing our resources until we catch them. Sound good?

Yes the DC of tracking increases by +20 by going double.

@Goliath: I do not understand your numbers. We are aproximately 8 hours behind them since we rested now where they rested last night. That means after 8 hours of normal travelling we would still be aproximately 8 hours behind them. If we are travelling same speed as them that would mean we would catch then in the evening after 16 hours if we travel at normal speed. If we hustle we would catch them somewhere in the 5-8 hour range. Hence my suggestion is that we hustle.

There are a lot of factors at play. The 8 hours is about an estimate, but since you are probably a slight bit faster under normal travel you may catch them eventually, maybe not in a day. With forced march and or hustling (via marching chant) most certainly, IF they only travel at regular speed. If they are hustling and/or forced marching as well, which it seems that they are based on Kiki's interpretation of the latest tracks, then catching them will take longer. It probably depends on their access to magic and their ability to mitigate nonlethal damage and fatigue as your group has been doing. Some of this is why I have been somewhat nitpicky about what methods you are using.

CT posted that Kiki and I figure them to be 24 miles ahead when we started tracking. We cover 16 miles in 8 hours while the were moving at 12. So day 1 we make 4 miles after the first 8 hours and then we traveled 16 more to make up 20 miles. Now day two we will make up 4 miles at then end of normal travel to catch them, but they may be moving a little faster. All you have to do is read the post all the numbers are there. ;)

Can't everyone with survival assist in tracking?

We can, I already rolled, you can roll as well. If all of us (including Aster and Simon) succeeds then taking 10 won't be much of a problem

Before Day 16 Summary

1. Quassine thanks the Queen for her hospitality with words, a bow, and waves to her when they depart.

2. Quassine thanks the Atomies for their assistance and tracking with words and a bow. He also waves to them goodbye when the groups separate.

3. Quassine gives an update on Crafting - Quick Runner's Shirt completed and already given to Xanya. And Simon's Headband of Charisma is half-way completed.

4. Quassine acknowledges to Xayna that he only needs two hours of sleep and can do the same thing after force marches if Goliath blesses them all with a channel.

DAY 16

"We should catch up with the enemy force close enough to attack that same day but far enough from any of their patrols and downwind from them so they can not smell us. The reason being, we can be rested up and at full strength when we attack. We can worry about Kao Lor after we make sure our kin is ok unless both occur at the same time. As we proceed today, I will help track."

Track(Survival): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

(+2 Assistance to Goliath)

Your giving the assist to Kiki

Oops, I mean Kiki

"I couldn't agree less Quassine. I think we should surprise them while we can. Heal our fatigue and buff up, sure. But another night of rest will more than likely be unecesarry and it'll give them much more time to mess up our plans."

Have we even decided on what we are doing? Goliath haven't rolled aid. Kiki and Simon might have spaced out from all this immersionbreaking ooc chatter...

The group moves and checks for the tracks again although Kiki needs little assistance at this point (only needing it if you hustle, which it sounds like has not been done).

The group moves as quickly as they can through the rugged hills ( 2 miles per hour ). Kiki despite riding with Xanya, is the one who has to do the tracking and thus has to skitter down from Cryxial frequently to check for the tracks, or perhaps cling to the end of Xanya's lance as she lowers it to the ground ahead, moving it to and fro. The DC is probably low enough that Goliath could take 10 and still meet it and thus not have to cause delays or logistical issues such as this though.

Day 16 - Midday

The group follows the trail of their comrades, finding their trail perhaps two days old by now, and seeing the runners of some sort of sled and the large hoofprints of Karkoran. The easily find the pursuing party as well, and note that they seem to be farther ahead than thought as they seem to be moving much faster now that they have found the trail of your friends and are traveling harder and long to catch them, probably unaware of your own pursuit. One puzzling piece is that you have not even found the enemy's camp from last night and you are well through the middle of the day into early afternoon, having used about 6 hours of time (and about 4 hours of actual travel).

Concern does grow that the enemies are actually outstripping your pace.

"Well brothers and sisters, it looks like another force march for us? Maybe we should go around them and catch up with our brothers and sisters so we can rest before they attack? Then again, a surprise from the rear would be brutal for the enemy. The only thing I am concern with is that Goliath taxes his healing just before we have to fight instead of all of us being ready at full potential but I guess sometimes we just need roll with what life gives us?"

"We march on then. It seems they have stopped resting. We may catch them tried and unable to charge or run if they do not have our same abilities. My healing is of little concern brother Quassine. Ragathiel will guide me to exact vengeance on any that fell any of you. If you survive then you will receive his blessings. To do so in battle shows the enemy weakness. Now let us continue our march."

Marching until all healing is exhausted or we see them in the distance. I don't know why I didn't think of it before buy Xanya has a point about us all aiding. Just as Kiki is taking 10, we all could be taking 10 to aid assuring our aid. Now I won't be able to if I cast the march spell, but the spell will keep the fatigue of hustling away. So that will be 5 aids and Kiki taking 10 for a 31 will be 2 less as Aster needs to be dismissed

"I will have to concentrate on this spell but it will allow us to march without fatigue. I assume all is in agreement. We need to catch them before they catch our brother and sisters. Lets move out."

After chanting a few divine words Goliath cast: Marching Chant targeting himself, Quassine, Cryxial, and Simon

Xanya shakes her head in dismay. She has an almost angry look on her face. "We haven't even seen their camp yet. Clearly they picked up their speed and I think it's time we do the same. It'll be harder tracking, but at least we know what direction they are going in right?"

She turns towards Quassine: "Goliath is not the only one who can channel, I can do it too. Even if we were to run out of channeling, we still have extracts and spells. We'll be fine. It will use more resources to travel double time though. We'll be in for a long trip, longer than my spells will last. I'll start spreading my protective magic from when we encounter their camp and keep it up as long as I can from that point. I'll cover myself, Kiki and Goliath. Quassine and Simon, I suggest you keep up Mage Armor on yourself as well for a similar period and maybe Simon should cover Aster as well?"

Since we haven't even ran into their camp yet, is it fine if Xanya delays her casting of mage armor further than originally planned? The original plan was to cast it after 3 hours, but since we didn't find their camp I imagine they are even further away. So my plan now is to cast mage armor on Kiki and Goliath and Ablative Barrier on Xanya when we reach their camp, then recast all 3 spells once they expire, that should be good for 8 hours. Hopefully we would have caught up by then, though maybe not.

Oups, corrpost with Goliath... @Goliath: You can't take 10 to aid. That's in the rules for aid. Otherwise it would always work obviously. Why would Aster needs to be dismissed? He can stay with us while marching just fine.

That makes sense, I guess I was thinking most aid rolls take place in combat where you normally can't take 10 anyways. Aster is free to stay but will get tired from hustling. The question is can 3 of you give aid constantly while doing this? Kiki is a 21 taking 10 so will need 3 aids baced on the DC CT put above. Lets go for it.

I assume this all happens before I cast and we move out.

"Xanya I don't think we will find a camp. They probably sensed they are close. By Kiki's estimate our brothers and sisters are only two days ahead. They probably think with not camping last night they will catch them sometime tonight. We need to do the same. We have superior speed and the blessing of Ragathiel. Let us fly to the aid of our family. Simon the spell will only let four of us move without effort. You will have to dismiss Aster until later or he will grow quite tired, I am sorry I am not more powerful my brother. I know how you care for him."

Aha, because you won't target him with the spell. I guess it's fine to travel without him for a while, at least until we think we are close, then he can hustle with us for 1 hour without penalty. Simon can use his summon monster ability if we end up in combat without Aster summoned. Should probably mention something about not being able to target Aster too IC though. About Aid, Xanya, Cryxial and Quassine succeeded already.

Done. Yeah only gets 4 of us. Kiki has to make the survival check every our so you have to aid ever hour.

"Fine, if we don't see the camp for two more hours I'll cast the spells. I just don't want to keep them up while walking only to not have them ready for when we do fight."

Suddenly Xanya smiles a wide smile. "It's a great thing you have this spell dear Goliath. It'll make our pursuit so much easier."

So after 2 more hours passes (8 total) or whenever we find their camp, whatever comes first, Xanya will cast the spells mentioned above.

The marching chant merely lets you treat a hustle as a walk, it doesn't stop the nonlethal and fatigue caused by a forced march. So after your 8 hours of travel are up, you are in the fatigue zone then, and Xanya's channels can start to kick in. It seems that channeling every other hour does the trick with decent rolls. Xanya yes since circumstances changed it makes sense that you could delay the casting of mage armor etc since you haven't encountered signs of them being close. In fact unless its a complete and total ambush you will probably have enough time to cast spells, although ambushes can occur.

The group pauses and discusses their options and then Goliath's deep voice begins chanting a travel march. You all feel a spring in your step as the magic takes hold, your leg muscles tingle with energy and you feel light and ready to push ahead at an easy jog.

With the marching chant you hustle now and move normally at 8 mph (due to 40' speed). The chant will cover Goliath, Cryxial, Quassine and Simon. Since you are in trackless hills, your rate drops to 1/2 or 4 mph. You will get another 4 hours of normal travel, for 16 miles, and then you enter forced march territory. You can travel as long as you want really within reason, you aren't necessarily limited to another 8 hours of forced march, we just use that because it slices up the days into easily digested chunks, but with the goal of reaching the enemies you push on. I will compare your travel with my secret maps of travel now ;)

Sorry true. I assumed it was implied we would have to make those checks and heal from that damage sorry for the confusion :) All sounds good the anticipation is building.

Day 16 - Evening into Night

The group pushes through the day huffing along making solid time through the rugged hills, following the tracks left by those who went before. With the assistance of the group, Kiki is able to keep tables on the tracks even at their quicker pace.

Nightfall comes, although for your group it is scarcely a worry, and often welcome, although it does reduce the long range visibility for Simon who frequently does aerial scouting. As you near the end of what would be a normal day's travels, the group nods to each other deciding to march on, as the trail seems to indicate they have made some time on their enemies. The group eats dinner on foot, aside from Goliath who resolutely continues his chant, focusing on his discipline and drawing strength from his vows. Several hours after nightfall and Kiki tells the group "We are getting closer." She points to a fresh, still steaming pile of poo that one of the beasts must have deposited.

The group proceeds with caution and Goliath still chants but tries to keep it as low as possible while still maintaining the magic and allowing his friends to hear him. His booming voice will be heard from a distance, but hopefully the hills and occasional copses of trees capture and muffle the sounds.

Some time before the middle of the night you estimate based on the stars, perhaps still a few hours even, you catch the whiff of smoke and somewhere ahead is a campfire. Goliath immediately ceases his chanting, ending the spell but hopefully having not revealed the group's presence. You see nor hear anything yet. Hopefully being downwind will have blocked your scent and carried any noises away. The wind is a solid breeze here in the hills and you pause nervously, but no cry or alarm is raised.

Simon flits into the air briefly and sees less than a mile ahead a campfire light. The area here is right in the foothills, the towering mountains not far to the east, and the hills are almost steppe like, long grasses and sparse trees.

You appear to have found either your quarry or the other group or both. It would make little sense that the other group was present however, but you will not know until you investigate just exactly who is responsible for the campfire.

Only 4 hours of forced march were required. Rather than roll a billion times and micromanage the nonlethal vs channels, I will just say that one channel cancels two hours of forced march since its 1d6x2 vs 2d6 and call it good. Xanya just mark down 2 channels used. Of course the hustle rate is for free due to your marching chant.

Map progress updated.

Quassine whispers, ::"Should we get closer and have a quiet camp tonight? Should Kiki and I go check out the enemy camp after I cast invisibility on myself to see who and what we are dealing with?"::

"About invisibility, how many do you have? I could make two extracts. It would be kinda cool if we could all ambush them while invisible or stealthed. Even Goliath should have no trouble sneaking up on them while invisible. I think that would be better than using my spells to empower my strength. Though maybe some of you have the capability to help me with that anyway? A campfire means they have stopped for the night. Message would let us talk to each other while unable to be seen. There is a slight risk that the messages would be overheard from some distance so we shouldn't abuse it, just use it when we have to. Either way I see no way that attacking tonight should not be done."

"An Ambush sounds like a good idea, but we should scout ahead first. Xanya, can you make Cryxial invisible as well?"

sorry for not posting for so long, End Term...

"Scouting first is a brilliant idea. Then we'll know if they are sleeping or preparing to march on as well as what exactly is there. Invisibility works on anyone, also on Cryxial. I can only prepare two such extracts though. Damn, I wish I had thought of stocking up on potions in advance in case we needed more, I guess I'll do that in the future."

Kikki scouting while taking 10 on stealth sounds like a good idea to me.

No problem Kiki, school first

Quassine continues to keep his voice low, ::"We should be a little quieter since sound tends to travel further at night and there are less disturbances to muffle or distort sound. As for invisibility, I have three available which is the max I can cast at 2nd degree (Level) Arcanist. With the scouting, we can also determine who we should take out first or focus fire when we do ambush. I like to see our brother and sisters faces when we surprise the enemy. We are already going to see the enemy's faces when we do.":: Quassine smiles deviously.

Goliath is stuffing his face with bread, meat and cheese. With his massive size he doesn't miss many of meals and chanting while the rest of you ate made it tougher for him. He simply smiles and nods as you discuss with pieces of bread falling from his stuffed mouth. He soon finishes and drinks a bit of water.

"So our resources are limited when it comes to the spell so we either send one or two scouts or we all attack under the illusion as an ambush. The spell doesn't not last long enough to advance and scout then back away to decide a course of action. Simon can simply fly over. It is night. If he stays high enough to elude their darkvision he will at least be able to see the part of the camp in the light. This may let us know who or what is there before we get close. Then we can ambush under the spell if that is what we choose."

::"We should still make Simon invisible just in case. And I suggest a slow approach to make sure whatever they have in camp can not see invisible creatures or further than we estimate in the dark. Flying can be a lot more quieter than walking through the trees and most things do not look up most of the time. Can anyone make him more quiet through divine power?"::

Xanya claps her hands together in glee when Quassine says how many uses he has. "Five uses is perfect. That's enough for Quassine, Simon, Goliath, Cryxial and me. Kiki is good enough that she'll be able to avoid detection without the spell."

Then she shakes her head with a suddenly sad expression. "Well, not perfect. It's not enough to bring Aster with us and it wouldn't hurt to let Kiki use it as well... But it's more than likely going to be enough for us to pull of an ambush. Though it means we won't have any to spare for prior scouting. Hopefully that'll be fine. Honestly I think it's less risky for Kiki to scout than for Simon to fly over. What if someone sees his silhouette against the moon? She'll also be able to provide much more detailed information. Hence my suggestion is that Kiki sneaks in, then on her signal the rest of us dons invisibility and follows up."

I'm assuming Xanya have a rough idea of how insanely good Kiki is at sneaking. I hope that is fine. We've been together so long that is plausible.

::"I did offer to make Simon invisible so his silhouette shouldn't be an issue with the moon."::

"That would mean one less person we could bring for the assault though. I would hate to have to go without Cryxial."

Quassine nods, ::"This is true, Kiki can pretty much sneak up there without any magical assistance. It would more resourceful for Kiki to check and then if we are making our invisible assault, almost everyone can be made invisible. Aster can always remain further away and then come in after the attack has started?"::

"I think Aster and Simon's bond is similar to mine and Cryxial's. If we get too far apart Cryxial will weaken considerably and need to heal up afterwards. It might be crippling for Aster to have to arrive after us. Simon could maybe summon help after we reveal ourselves like he did in the battle with the goatlings."

Another alternative could be for Simon to summon a small earth elemental and have it travel beneath us, then come up when we ambush them. Not sure if Xanya is aware he can summon earth elementals though. After all her archtype replaces that kind of summoning.