Samnell's Against the Necromancers (Inactive)

Game Master Samnell

At this point, I think we need input from Samnell before we make a definitive decision. If Bolkvar's checks were successful, then Ari would likely be okay with heading out before the fog clears.

At this point, I think we need input from Samnell before we make a definitive decision. If Bolkvar's checks were successful, then Ari would likely be okay with heading out before the fog clears.

Logistics issues, which I did not see coming, discussed over in OOC.

Bolkvar sets off a few hundred yards down the company's trail. It's not the easiest thing to follow on hard ground and in the fog, but they are many and patches of snow are frequent enough to let him correct as he goes. After a few minutes, he's convinced that he has and can hold the trail over rocks and snow alike.

So your options now: You can follow your footsteps back. You went awry an hour ago and tracking is at half speed, so that's a two hour delay before you resume course to Auvandell. Or you can stay where you are and see if the fog lifts. (It usually, but not always, does.) When the fog does lift, the day usually has 3-6 hours of clear conditions. You've been on the road for 3 of eight hours in the traveling day, so you're into that window. But the fog could lift at any point within there.

Every hour you are lost, fog or no, gives you a new chance to set a new course and get back on track. You get a cumulative bonus on the check for every hour lost. Full rules here. If the fog burns off, the checks become easier still.

"Very well then, as Bolkvar has found the trail, let's backtrack and continue towards Auvandell instead of waiting".

Thurvek grunts in acknowledgement, following Bolkvar direction.

Ari supposes she can give Bolkvar one more chance at leading. If he leads the group astray again, she plans to insist that her or someone else lead the way. The journey to Auvandell was long enough even without delays.

"Lead the way, Bolkvar. We should try to make up as much ground as possible before night falls."

"Aye, aye. But this fog is whats killin' us. I need all eyes helpin' me here, eh? Anyone here actually trained in followin' tracks? Thurvek, I know ye be good at this, ye've hunted enough orcs. Come walk with me."

Im thinking we have 2 teams. My survival with fog is +2. That's not much. So to ensure we don't get lost again...I get assistance from Thurvek, Hakon and Marcus. Then we have Aldon getting assistance from Ari, Barra and Ranek. This sound good to everyone? If so in the name of time, we could have the GM roll up both sets of survival until we mess up or something happens again

If we're going to do that, we should have the two people with the highest modifiers lead and the rest try to aid. The two highest would be Thurvek and myself. Marcus would be third highest. All three of us have decent modifiers, though, so it might be best for us to stick together, each roll, and follow the lead of whoever has the highest roll.

If we can't do that in terms of gameplay and/or mechanics, then we could have Thurvek or myself lead. I believe I have the highest modifier by 1, though. I think we'll be able to make it back onto the road with your initial rolls to find tracks. If only one can lead, then we can just have everyone aid the person with the main roll.

If we're going to do that, we should have the two people with the highest modifiers lead and the rest try to aid. The two highest would be Thurvek and myself. Marcus would be third highest. All three of us have decent modifiers, though, so it might be best for us to stick together, each roll, and follow the lead of whoever has the highest roll.

If we can't do that in terms of gameplay and/or mechanics, then we could have Thurvek or myself lead. I believe I have the highest modifier by 1, though. I think we'll be able to make it back onto the road with your initial rolls to find tracks. If only one can lead, then we can just have everyone aid the person with the main roll.

I chose Bolkvar as the leader to make survival rolls based on RP. It can easily be someone else, with Bolkvar helping them out with geography tips and such. I figure right now you don't know one another's capabilities well, so this could be part of learning IC.

I chose Bolkvar as the leader to make survival rolls based on RP. It can easily be someone else, with Bolkvar helping them out with geography tips and such. I figure right now you don't know one another's capabilities well, so this could be part of learning IC.

That works for me. In that case (whenever the hour's up and/or we can do checks again), we should probably have everyone attempt to aid Bolkvar's check. Though I don't know how much of that you may want to do behind the scenes yourself, Samnell.

Well Bolkvar knows Thurvek enough to put him in the lead. Thurvek is a warrior who is quite skilled at tracking orcs (+8 survival). Bolkvar is a scholar who knows maps and history books, but who hasn't actually gotten his hands dirty as much. So...

Assist Thurvek survival with +2 for research and -4 for fog: 1d20 + 4 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 4 + 2 = 10

Knowing that his knowledge regarding the theory of being in nature without enough practical experience was what had led the party astray, Bolkvar called Thurvek to his side. He had found the trail, perhaps due to luck, but with the thick fog he was afraid that he would lose it again. With his comrade in arms now leading the way, Bolkvar walked beside him, looking for landmarks with which he could place their location on a map, while Thurvek followed the actual trail. If not for the research he had done the night before, even that might have eluded him in the snow and fog. But as it was, he was confident that Thurvek could lead them on to safety.

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
"Follow me", said Thurvek after examining the map and consulting with others about their general location.

Samnell wrote:

I chose Bolkvar as the leader to make survival rolls based on RP. It can easily be someone else, with Bolkvar helping them out with geography tips and such. I figure right now you don't know one another's capabilities well, so this could be part of learning IC.

That works for me. In that case (whenever the hour's up and/or we can do checks again), we should probably have everyone attempt to aid Bolkvar's check. Though I don't know how much of that you may want to do behind the scenes yourself, Samnell.

I'll do all the not getting un-lost checks behind the screen. So basically if the party blows a survival roll, you'll know straightaway but it'll be on my end to determine how long it takes you to find out and if you've gotten back on track.

Ranek nods as Bolkvar finds their trail. "Well done. I feel fortunate that we have as many skilled trackers as we do. Else we could be lost for days."

Aldon hears Bolkvar's words and chooses to remain silent appreciating the dwarves lack of ego.

"Fog can stymie even the best of trackers. This is but a small mis-step and we can only hope, the worst that will happen to us.

In advance I wish to inform all of you that I have a talent for Mindlinking. I believe that when we approach dangerous situations, you should all allow me to link our minds allowing for silent communications when arriving in sensitive places or under sensitive situations".

Ranek nods as Bolkvar finds their trail. "Well done. I feel fortunate that we have as many skilled trackers as we do. Else we could be lost for days."

It's not too late. :)

Survival to aid Thurvek: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 9 - 4 = 8

Ari hears Bolkvar whispering in Dwarven, but decides not to listen closely. The dwarves deserved some measure of privacy. Or at least the illusion of some.

She shifts uncomfortably at Aldondrick's mention of 'mindlinking.' It sounded unnatural. Ari had just met these people yesterday. She didn't think she was ready to entrust her every thought to the others.

"I think hand signals and proper planning will be sufficient for most situations, Aldon. This 'mindlinking' you speak of seems unnecessary. Besides, if any of us are ever taken captive, it's best that we don't know everything about one another for the sake of everyone else's well-being."

Ari hopes her explanation will cover for her personal discomfort with the idea. Magic might be considered unnatural by some, but what Aldon spoke of was something else entirely.

"Sufficient perhaps but not tactically sound when faced with the threat of imminent death. A wise warrior utilizes all advantages over their foes to achieve victory.

What say the rest of you?"

"Hmm." Thurvek grunts as he consults the map once more. "Sounds terrible, but it would give those a tactical advantage. Table this conversation for when we have the leisure of a proper sitdown."

Marcus wasn't entirely sure about this mind linking idea although he had to admit in the right circumstances it would be rather useful. He asked Aldondrick, "Once minds are linked, how far does the bond stretch? Does distance even matter? Can the bond be broken and if so by whom?"

All the while he tried to help read the signs in the frost and snow. It wouldn't have been so bad but the fog was such a nuisance!
Survival: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 4 = 10

"I still think we're too far north... and I'm not sure I want to know what's going on inside all of your heads." Barra said, plodding through the snow. Between the wind and the fog and the talking, he had absolutely no idea if they were going in the right direction.

Survival: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (5) - 4 = 1

Hakon nods. Mind linking makes excellent tactics. It's odd, true, but if it works as they say it does, it would be an amazing boon.

"There are similar communication magics as well, although they are much more complex than I am currently capable of casting. This may be similar. Tell me, is maintaining this mindlink draining to you?"

On the Silverymoon road, six hours out of Sundabar.

There were a few close calls, but with so many eyes looking and so many feet to make a trail, the company soon made steady progress back through their old footsteps. As they walked back to the east, the day grew warmer -if still short of comfortable, and downright frigid for those used to southerly climes- and about the time they reckoned themselves halfway back to where they drifted from the road the sun finally did its work of burning away the morning fog.

Though they still looked up at an overcast sky, the shoulder of the Nether Mountains appeared to the south, all snow-cloaked, sky-piercing, and thickly covered with pine, blueleaf, and stands of looming duskwood duskwood until they all gave way to rocks, snow, and ice. The bare stone, all darkness rising through rocky soil, seemed to cast a shadow on nearby snows.

Putting the mountains to their left, the company started forward again toward their shadowed, blue-shaded kin on the horizon. The road, for they found it and its marker stones with ease now, stuck clear of the mountains and passed by small clumps of houses and fields. Each had its own wall, usually a wooden palisade, but more rarely stout stone farmhouses that stood on their own or with just a few others. Everywhere the company saw people abroad, whether digging snow away from doors and yards or watching flocks of sheep and cattle, they had blades, bows, axes, or spears close to hand.

Everywhere they saw civilized people outside, those people likewise marked the company with wary looks. None hailed them or bid them come near, but nor did they ready weapons or shout alarm.

As the afternoon wore on, small clusters of buildings grew rarer. More often, tumbledown stumps of walls and rotting, flame-scarred but still standing timbers remained where folk had once lived. These too grew sparse as Sundabar grew more distant, though the company passed through a few small villages all the same. There the people looked on them with less wariness and oft dismissed them after a quick glance.

As dusk fell, the company found themselves still on the open road and with the last village miles behind. They found the overgrown remains of a tower, enough of its walls still standing to break the wind, in a copse of pine not far from the road. The remains of many campfires, none that recent, lay within.

"Hmm", grunts Thurvek. "This will do for tonight. It might be our best hope for cover from the elements."

Barra dropped his pack and stretched. "We should set a watch. Anyone want to volunteer for first?"

"I will take first watch, so long as someone else starts our campfire", stated the dwarven cleric.

Bolkvar said "Me eyes see well enough in the dark. I'll take any watch. But in the meantime, let me fix this tower up."

He begins to chant, and the stone from the ground rises up, creating a three foot high wall to complete the gaps left in the tower. Should any foes attempt to come up against them in the dark, they would have something they would need to climb over. It also blocked more of the wind.

He then continued his chanting, and a small stone structure formed. About as large as a good sized tent, it was enough for him to lay his sleeping gear out within, comfortably protected from the elements.

"Wake me when ye need me to stand watch. An' if anyone else wants a wee cover as well, now be the time to ask. But for watch there be seven of us. So first and last watches, the easiest ones, they be an hour and a half each. All others be one hour each. A total of eight hours o' sleep."

Expeditious excavation used twice. As for fire guard, first and last shifts are indeed the best. It gives you uninterrupted sleep, and it is often hard to fall asleep immediately. And last watch just means an early start to the day.

Thurvek lets out a small chuckle, which for him, is as rare as good red dragons.
"Many thanks, Bolkvar. Rest well."

many thanks indeed! I did not fancy sleeping in a drafty ruin! Hakon laughs and settle down. I can see in the dark as well, so I can take one of the later shifts at watch.

"If I may, Thurvek, I would like to take the first watch. I don't mind the longer shift and my eyes... Well, I think they see fine, but they don't have the same capabilities to see at night as yours do."

Ari hopes Thurvek will let her take first watch. She's okay with taking a later watch, if necessary, but she has a lot on her mind and doesn't think she'll be falling asleep anytime soon anyway.

Bolkvar responds to Hakon by nodding and making a stone tent for him as well. With incrediable difficulty he makes it (more or less) in the shape of the holy symbol of Torm.

3/6 lvl1 spells remaining

"If I may, Thurvek, I would like to take the first watch. I don't mind the longer shift and my eyes... Well, I think they see fine, but they don't have the same capabilities to see at night as yours do."

"Fine", grumbled Thurvek. "I get second."

"Thank you, Thurvek. I don't have any firewood, but I do have flint and steel once the wood is gathered. I'll help gather some."

Ari mutters a few words and four lights appear before her that she pushes in front of her as she begins searching for wood.

"There. That'll make it a bit easier to spot wood, if only for myself."

Marcus was glad to be back on track and had enjoyed the hike. When the decision was made to make camp, he watched the impromptu repairs and shelter making with amazement, "Remarkable! That will definitely make our stay more comfortable. I'm happy to take the last watch, I'll need to be up early anyway for prayer."

"Suit yourself", responds Thurvek.
Walking outside the tower, The cleric looks both ways. Looking back to the archer, Thurvek states, "You check east, I'll search west."
Walking west, the cleric begins his search for viable firewood.
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Ari smiles to herself as Thurvek walks off to the west. She thinks he wants others to see him as gruff, but she suspects he has a kind heart. After all, he volunteered for the first watch and to search for firewood. Perhaps it was just an aversion to people of other races. If so, Ari hopes she can cure him of that, in time.

If we're going to be grouped together for any length of time, we'll need to learn to work together. And perhaps even to enjoy one another's presence, Ari thinks.

Walking to the east, Ari searches for firewood while extending her lights in front of her to illuminate her path.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Barra blinks at the repairs. Hm. That's dwarves for you, I suppose. He busies himself setting up his bedroll in the lee of the tower, saying "I'll take middle watch - I've no magic, so it won't hurt me at all."

"I will take the last watch.

Continuing our earlier discussion, think of the link as a private conversation, you share only what you want and naught else but no others can hear the discussion. To link us all is draining and at the moment thirty minutes are all I can achieve but some sacrifices are worth their cost".

The Monk begins to meditate.

Spend a power point to not have to eat or drink till the next night.

Marcus already offered, no problem if you wish to take his watch.

Ranek nods appreciably at Bolkvar's stone fortifications. "The extra protection from the elements and creatures in the night is most appreciated. Thank you very much."

"I'll take the second to last watch. Though I cannot see in the dark, so long as we have sufficient firelight, I should be able to see well enough."

To Aldon he says, "Aldon, are you capable of doing other things while maintaining this mind link, or does it consume all of your concentration?"

Aldon grins at Ranek, "Indeed, I will be capable of doing other things. Once established, the link extends as far as is necessary though not to other planes of existence".

Bolkvar responds to Hakon by nodding and making a stone tent for him as well. With incrediable difficulty he makes it (more or less) in the shape of the holy symbol of Torm.

3/6 lvl1 spells remaining

wow totally misunderstood, thought this was bigger for everyone c so now I feel. As and Hakon would feel bad...

This of us not on watch should sleep on the tents. That way, everyone will have rest and shelter--- maybe we can pair off, the people who see in dark should be paired later and those who cannot should be paired closer to dawn or sooner?

Assuming Ari finds some firewood...

Ari returns to the group and tosses the firewood she gathered into one pile. Getting out her flint and steel, she quickly has a decent-sized fire going.

She walks over to one of the tower's walls with a view to the surrounding area and leans against it to watch the surrounding area for the duration of her watch.

Take 10 Perception + 10 = 20

"Aye then. I'll make three more tents then. It be the limit o' me powers anyways. That'll make a total o' five tents. We then have two awake for fire watch. Shifts go like this.

Finally, we only have five stone tents. Marcus, ye can protect someone from the elements, aye? Whomever only has a sleepin' bag an' the wall should be assisted by ye."

My experience with setting fire guard has been with 50, 20 and 4 people. With 50 it is easy. Only do it every 2-3 nights for an hour. With 20 it isn't so bad either, and if you are lucky you won't even have to do it. With 4...it becomes 8 hour shifts. Which is less than fun. With 8 people I think that this is the best. First and last watches are longest because they are the easiest and give the most uninterrupted sleep. First watch gets priority for some rest before their shift begins. Last watch is allowed to knock out after their shift ends and when the party gets ready leave. Also first thing in the morning Bolkvar needs an hour for his deific obedience, which I don't think will be a problem in such a religious party.

Boklvar - hour for deific obedience. Ranek - hour to study spellbooks. Ariyana - hour to study spellbook. Thurvek - hour to pray. Marcus and Hakon - hour to pray. I don't think anyone is going to complain about an hour after wakeup for setting out. Aldon's the only one who doesn't have to do something every morning, I think.

Ranek nods in agreement with Bolkvar's assignment of the watch before ruefully thinking, I wish I'd thought to buy a tent. Earning a good reputation in the city certainly won't be helped by freezing to death in the night. After quickly eating, he'll take advantage of the recommendation to gain a quick hour's sleep before taking the first watch.

Sitting near the fire during his watch, he watches as Ariyana walks over to the wall and looks into their surroundings. After a little while, he asks, "So, tell me, what made you decide to help shepherd the Ilmatari all the way to Sundabar? Surely there were closer lands to the South you could have sought refuge in."

Ari glances over to Ranek as he asks her about her past. Or at least, that's how she interpreted his question.

She looks over at the others, knowing they would likely overhear anything she said. Ari had still only known these people a day. Or perhaps - more properly - only been acquainted with them for a day.

Everyone had been a little short regarding details of their past. They seemed like decent folks, considering their mutual agreement to assist Brother Bardeid in the recovery of the urns. But they could all have ulterior motives for all she knew.

Returning from her thoughts to the question at hand, Ari realizes she had been staring off into nothing for the better part of a minute after Ranek had finished speaking.

"I... I felt it was my duty. The Ilmatari are my people. One of our leaders died before we left Calimshan and he asked that I lead them here to seek aid. I'm still not entirely sure why he picked here of all places, but I felt obligated to fulfill his wishes. So here I am."

"Me an' the monk. That'll do." Listening to the others speak, Barra pulls a pot and some dry porridge from his pack to set over the fire for dinner.

Barra has nothing he needs to do in the mornings as well.

Marcus was busy cleaning his gear, and was sat near Ranek and Ariyana as they talked. Duty was something he lived and breathed so found himself empathizing with her story, remarking "Duty often leads to strange places and situations. Certainly I never expected to live in the north having grown up in Waterdeep. The winters up here are harsh but I've found they have a certain beauty, something about the way the light plays across ice and the snow. Some of the mountains in winter can be majestic and the air crystal clear."

Aldon remains quiet after he elaborates on his Mindlink. He listens to his new companions but with his eyes closed as he begins his meditation, he does not partake in food nor drink.

Day 3: Kythorn 18, Year of the Worm (1356 DR)

The time passed in chilly silence, save for the distant howls of wolves toward deepnight and the steady sound of breeze through the trees' needles. Between Bolkvar's shelters, the fire, and the walls of the tower, the company was spared Auril's most intimate touch.

Godswake brought the fog rolling in once more, coming with the first grayness on the horizon and whelming steadily until the land was well mired and lit by a directionless white-gray blur that muffled all sound and carried the same unwelcome chill as yesterday.

Still the road beckoned. Morning prayers and Art attended to, the eight found their trail and set out again into the murk.

Did you ever establish a marching order? I'm terrible at remembering the things.