"Balzeros here, this little path is a bit easier to traverse, it'll save us a few seconds."
"Yeah! You can tell by the ... uh ... what are those plants called?" The addition of howling wolves did make herb quiz a bit harder then it usually was. Dammit!
Serena moves with the party, keeping the girl in sight. She knows little of the ways of tracking and trailblazing and relies upon the others to guide her.
"They are....um....aaveputki, you know...", the common name escapes Alia as well, but she remembers the Elvish one.
Looking at their surroundings, she then turns to Zokon, not slowing down:"Are you SURE this is a shortcut?"
"Oh, yes, yes, I see it now, of course," Balzeros mumbles as Zokon brings him back to focus. Shaking his head to clear it, he leads the way through the dark forest.
"Hah that's right! Ghost Pipe. Hmh. I think you and my mother would get along well Alia - should have introduced you ..." The skald muses briefly before the howling of wolves snaps her attention back where it should be.
Finding the elf flowers sets the group on their course down the highland deer trail into the darkening forest. That is until they spy a small whisper of light flickering ahead, like blue moonlight on a mountain lake. The light seems to be coming from behind a solitary old oak standing in a small clearing covered in thatch just north of their path.
Take a look? Will save DC 13.
and/or
Old Wives' Tales Knowledge (local) DC 20.
==========================================
Everyone needs to try and make at least one of these this time (though folk are of course welcome to try for more by the rules of the chase).
"Uhmm. Glowing lights in the forest at dark? That's not a good thing ..." The skald freezes briefly and tries to figure out what was going on.
About how far did Durgan have to fly to get to the collapsed hillside?
If he doesn't see Argentov, he would probably head back to the party pretty quickly without lingering too long (wants to Fly as much as possible rather than trekking through the woods to catch up) but if he heard the wolves he would obviously move on the double.
Durgan doesn't see Argentov, or any mysterious smoke clouds for that matter. The trolls seem to be unearthing fallen compatriots who stand up shakily, and noisily readjust what Durgan can only assume were temporarily broken arms and necks.
About how far did Durgan have to fly to get to the collapsed hillside?
If he doesn't see Argentov, he would probably head back to the party pretty quickly without lingering too long (wants to Fly as much as possible rather than trekking through the woods to catch up) but if he heard the wolves he would obviously move on the double.
That far?
It was only 3 rounds between when the chain broke and when Durgan heard sounds of battle. I know dragons are fast, but that fast? I concluded the battle had to be reasonably close and that is why I went with this plan.
With only 4000' of flight possible over 5 minutes, Durgan just would not have spent all 5 minutes flying to the site. He'd have flown about 1500' (about 2 minutes) and then back 2500' feet (3 minutes) to catch up to the party who had since moved on) as I posted here.
If my assumptions were so far off, then I think it would have been reasonable to tell me "You fly for 2.5 minutes and see nothing, your spell is halfway to expiring, what do you want to do?"
I generally post pretty quickly and so if developments occur that would obviate my original plan I would rather be given the opportunity to react to them rather than be botted to do something that I would not have chosen to do.
Alia looks straight at the lights, trying to verify if they really look as dangerous as Illthir things they may be.
"Balzeros, you mentioned you had some spells that could delay our pursuers?"
Serena pushes forward, trying to keep pace with the others. Only occasionally does she spare a glance behind her, looking for the wolves.
Zokon knowing a little about Fae decides that he does not want to go take a look
He also has his head lamp on.
Balzeros nods in confirmation to Alia. "Vines to slow pursuers and one that makes us harder to track," he explains.
Seeing the light, he can't help but to give it a look...
________
About how far did Durgan have to fly to get to the collapsed hillside?
If he doesn't see Argentov, he would probably head back to the party pretty quickly without lingering too long (wants to Fly as much as possible rather than trekking through the woods to catch up) but if he heard the wolves he would obviously move on the double.
That far?
It was only 3 rounds between when the chain broke
and when Durgan heard sounds of battle.
Durgan leaves the battlefield and flies back towards the boat. If his Fly spell will end before he gets there, he'll land on the riverbank downstream of the boat, or failing that, as close as he can get.
Fergus can't help but take a look.
A swarm of diminutive sprites flutter about Fergus, like a bonfire's embers carried on a strong, night breeze. The light swarm comes with susserance of tiny whispering voices that seem to speak to Fergus as stops, fascinated by the light.
"Pretty... lights...." says Fergus a look of awe upon his ghost-lit face.
"Who is it?"
"Is it a wolf?"
"A wolf!?"
"Are you a wolf?"
"Bark once if you are."
"It has a beard like a goat."
"Mutton."
"Is it a goat?"
"It looks more like a big gnome, or a small man."
"Are you a gnome?"
"It smells of fear and fire."
"Definitely a man."
"Are you afraid big gnome?"
"Small man."
"You shouldn't be afraid of us."
"We won't hurt you. Will we?"
"No."
"No."
"Of course not."
"There is nothing to fear."
"How does it taste?"
"It's dangerous to run through the forest at night."
"It should stay with us."
"Yes! Think of all the fun we could have together!"
"It will be grand!"
"Yes, you should stay with us."
"Just until dawn."
"Does anyone know how it tastes?"
Most of the group advances until it finds itself upon the edge of a high rocky outcrop, eye-level with some of the trees ahead. Do they dare leaping down into the uncertain dark? Or perhaps try to climb down the ridge or one of the nearby tree tops?
Jump! Acrobatics (jump) DC 20.
and/or
Accelerated Climb! Climb DC 15.
==========================================
Again this one needs everyone involved in the CHASE to individually attempt a challenge in order to pass. I did mess up a rule the last time though it is a move action to move through a challenge space, but it is a standard action to attempt to overcome the obstacle. See below. Note this one is special in that a PC can overcome it even if they fail by four or less--it just means they take some damage from a bad fall.
One further complication--how do you get the girl down?
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.
"Oh bother ..." Illthir winced and glanced back at Fergus and the tiny firefly sprites. It didn't seem terribly likely they would actually try to eat him - but the trolls and wolves certainly would if he stuck around.
To make matters worse she wasn't quite sure how they'd get the girl down the cliff. "I got rope! Any better ideas for the girl?"
"She can hold onto my back," Serena suggests, not wanting to lose sight of her.
Zokon takes out his 100ft rope and ties on the grappling hook, he sets it into something suitable at the top of the cliff and then climbs down himself.. assisting anyone that needs it.
"Here a rope for anyone that needs it and I'll help anyone climb down."
Balzeros releases the girl's hand for the others to handle as he runs back for Fergus. "NO! SHOO! Eat something else!" he orders the sprite swarm in Sylvan. "Fergus, snap out of it, come on, we've got to go!" he says, taking the Dwarf by the arm and trying to pull him back. We can't leave him here without trying first, it isn't right!
________
"That Entangle will buy us some time. Make sure nobody gets left behind. I'll go on ahead and scout if there are any obstacles coming up-"
Alia uses her superior speed to jump right down the side of the cliff.
Zokon takes out his 100ft rope and ties on the grappling hook, he sets it into something suitable at the top of the cliff and then climbs down himself.. assisting anyone that needs it.
Balzeros releases the girl's hand for the others to handle as he runs back for Fergus. "NO! SHOO! Eat something else!" he orders the sprite swarm in Sylvan. "Fergus, snap out of it, come on, we've got to go!" he says, taking the Dwarf by the arm and trying to pull him back. We can't leave him here without trying first, it isn't right!
________
"Give her to me - I'll leave the girl down there!", Alia mentions, holding on to the girl and doing the elven branch run technique with her.
Illthir grabs a small pebble and flings it at the dwarf as well. Surely being "attacked" by an "elf" would rouse his blood? "[sylvan]Yeah! Before the trolls breathe on you all![/sylvan]"
the pebble smacks fergus, causing him to glance about in a mild stupor before shaking his head. Sorry, Can't stay that long. Gotta go. just as he is tugged away by balzeros.
Serena waits by the rope, making sure that everyone in the party is on the way down or down before grabbing hold herself.
Zokon retrieves and secures a rope to a nearby tree.
Erevenywg helps the girl up on Alia's back where she clings like an opossum.
Taking the rope Alia swings down. She reaches bottom, and turns only to bump into Erevenywg, who somehow is already there.
"Is this not the exciting, Ail-Ya?" Erevenywg says giddily while helping the wary girl down off the elf's back.
Fergus shakes off the enchantment with encouragement from Illthir that comes in the form of flying turf.
Serena stands guard as Balzeors uses his magic to snarl the path.
The path ahead is winding but looks clear.
Meanwhile atop the ridge...
Jump! Acrobatics (jump) DC 20.
and/or
Accelerated Climb! Climb DC 15 (+5 bonus for the rope).
==========================================
Again this one needs everyone involved in the CHASE to individually attempt a challenge in order to pass. Note this one is special in that a PC can overcome it even if they fail by four or less--it just means they take some damage from a bad fall.One further note, now that there is a rope you get a +5 bonus to climb and can try an accelerated climb check (as a full-round action) to get the same result as completing both challenges.
Zokon will do the accelerated climb as a full round action
"Keep an eye on the girl until they are here", Alia tells the strange Fey without giving an answer, then rushes onward on the clear winding path.
"Pew!" Illthir breathes a sigh of relief as Fergus breaks free and Alia manages to get the girl down. Now it was just the rest of them! "I'll try the rope ..."
If, and only if, all of her companions are down the rope, Serena will follow at an accelerated climb.
(Str+Bonus-ACP)
With Fergus on his way, Balzeros takes up the rope and shimmies down. That ought to slow those wolves down too, we should be able to widen the gap now!
________
"Pew!" Illthir breathes a sigh of relief as Fergus breaks free and Alia manages to get the girl down. Now it was just the rest of them! "I'll try the rope ..."
With Fergus on his way, Balzeros takes up the rope and shimmies down. That ought to slow those wolves down too, we should be able to widen the gap now!
________
[dice=Accelerated Climb (Ropes, ACP), DC 15]1d20+5-4
You try to climb more quickly than normal. By accepting a –5 penalty, you can move half your speed (instead of one-quarter your speed).
If, and only if, all of her companions are down the rope, Serena will follow at an accelerated climb.
Meanwhile, using a repelling trick learned from his mentor, Erlund Remuros, Zokon swings outward and drops into step beside Alia as she and the others with her rush ahead.
Fergus clambers down the rope with practically perfect aplomb.
Balzeros slips skinning the inside of his palms before experiencing the agony of defeat upon the cold rocks below.
A moment later, a heavily armed and armored paladin falls on him.
The forerunners begin hearing rushing water. And soon enough find themselves confronted by a rushing stream overflowing with melted mountain snow. A fallen tree provides a narrow, and slippery way across for squirrels, but do any of the partymembers think they can make it? Alternatively the span isn't that far, but because of the tangle of foliage there's no chance for a running jump resulting in an uncertain leap. Lastly, the heroes might dare the freezing white water--perhaps by accident.
Balance! Acrobatics (balance) DC 18.
or
Jump! Acrobatics (standing long jump) DC 22.
or
Swim! Swim DC 15.
==========================================
Or for the full-round action, you can choose to do any two.
Further back some of the group are still picking themselves up from their fall at the base of the cliff.
The wolves seem closer. But the sudden briar patch invoked by Balzeros's magic seems to have slowed them as they begin barking from the far edge.
Meanwhile, using a repelling trick learned from his mentor, Erlund Remuros, Zokon swings outward and drops into step beside Alia as she and the others with her rush ahead.
Zokon will help the two up that fell then draw his bow if he has time.
This... this is why I just walk around! Balzeros starts to get up when Serena crashes on top of him. Should have stayed on the boat...
"...ow..." he groans weakly. Thankfully with the aid of Zokon, he rises and limps after the others.
________
"Zokon, help me out here.", Alia shouts back, retrieving her own rope from her back, throwing it towards some tree while holding on to one end, then rushing across the tree. "I'll tie it to something on the other side!"
Zokon rushes back to help the fallen, but runs into people coming the opposite way.
Alia darts across the log.
"Zokon, help me out here."
"I can tie the rope, Ail-Ya." Erevenywg matches her actions to her words.
Seeing that the people appear to have help or picked themselves up he reacts to Alia's words and runs to the water and assists her with the tying of the rope to a suitable tree unless erevenwyg has done it in which case he crosses the log and gets ready to assist any that need it.
He looks for a long stick in case he needs to assist with fishing someone out of the water.
Serena sighs. When all of this is over, I'll need to look into getting an enchantment on my armor that makes it lighter.
Illthir winces a little in sympathy with her less agile companions. Ouch. But they seem to get on their feet at least so that's nice! "Are you okay?" she asks in a hurried whisper and then heads south towards the forerunners.