The Hollow Man (Inactive)

Game Master trux

just to note, i have a light spell active. It may act as a guide.

Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

As he rushes around the trees, Kakao keeps an eye out for any of the grisly markers of the Hollow Man's path.

With the way those markers wind about, we probably need to skip at least the first place we cross the path in order to be sure we are ahead of that monster. I hope the others had the same plan!

Pointing to where some moss was scraped off the side of a tree, Kakao shouts "Looks like Morti came this way!" as he runs along.

So I think we've shortcut the Hollow Man's path a bit, but are then following it, ahead of him, hoping to obliterate as much of it between him and Levoca as possible.

Morti follows Caramir, trying to collect more nails out of the trees as the elf pulls down the corpses they affix. I don' know if the iron leads him or binds him, but it can't hurt to have a handful o' these either way...

It's night time, and all the trees look more or less the same, but Kakao sounds like he's on the right track. Mak and Mikka follow along behind Kakao and Okrin. Okrin pauses for a moment to look at the moss Kakao indicated.

All of this is not happening quite so fast as the thread may lead you to believe. It takes time to return across this distance, as well as time spent removing bodies along the way.

Morti's party recovers four more dead animals. Then, Karl sees movement to the west. The Hollow Man steps among the trees at the edge of his light spell. It approaches swiftly, the blood on its fists evidently drying under the light of your arcane illumination.

Did Mikka say she was going with Morti? Let me know if I missed something there.

That was my initial intent, however Zephyr being far better suited to spotting Morti's party from the air makes it easier for the second group to follow if I'm there.

Attend! The hollow man is here

Karl points, then lights his torch with fire, not light. Suddenly his brow creases with rapid thought.

An idea. Who killed the animals? Why would the hollow man do that? Who made the trail?

In that case, Mikka.

Zephyr flies down to land on your shoulder. Through your empathic link with him, you can tell he is concerned. He seems like he wants to ask you a question.

I'm assuming that Kakao believes he is still going in the correct direction.

Kakao slows down to his normal pace as Orkin examines the moss. Still looking ahead, Kakao says "No signs of the tortured critters here, so the group must have decided to cut through to the next section of path!"

"What is it my friend?" Mikka asks her companion.

Caramir freezes momentarily at Karl's warning, but he shakes it away - "We need to understand if this will stop him" - he pauses to try and understand if the Hollow Man seems hesitant.

An idea. Who killed the animals? Why would the hollow man do that? Who made the trail?

Those words strike a chord as he stares at Karl - "You are right... I had assumed the Hollow Man had did it but... I think you are right Karl!"

The Hollow Man doesn't seem hesitant. He is heading right for you (Caramir, Karl, Morti). What do you do?

Zephyr takes back off and flies back the way you came.

Turning to Kakao

"This moss here hasn't been disturbed. I think we may have lost the trail."

"C'mon, this way!" Mikka says taking off after Zephyr. "Whatever it is it must be important."

Surprised, the little gnome looks back as Mikka abandons them. "Ich glaub mich knutscht ein Elch!"

He looks the way he was headed, then back at Okrin. "Are you sure?"

Karls ripples out with the words of his second shield spell.

Caramir, I don't think what you are doing is helping. It's commi g right at us.

Is Caramir holding dead animals? Morti has a fistful of dollars. Er, iron nails.

Jus' because 'e's coming at us doesn't mean the critters aren't what he's following -- Caramir, go that way, I'll go this way, see whether he's drawn after us! Morti points perpendicular to the trail before heading off in the opposite direction, trying to keep an eye on the Hollow Man all the while.

Alright, I have an idea for where Caramir and Morti might go. Does Karl move anywhere?

Caramir nods, dashing in the direction suggested by Morti - "If we get separated, meet back at Levoca" - he adds, running off.

Karl looks left, and right. which way?
Seeing the approaching monster, he gulps, realizing he is by himself.

dammit, this was my last shield spell. and he moves after Caramir.
Wait up

Alright, you split up and run off a ways from the path. The Hollow Man seems to be ignoring you. He passes along his original route.

Meanwhile, a few miles to the north,

Zephyr darts to and fro among the trees. Occasionally, you lose sight of him as he pops up and away overhead. However, shortly thereafter he always returns. Do you take any breaks or are you going full hustle at this rate?

Karl's right -- he's still going! Morti calls, stopping as he sees the Hollow Man pass between them. A note of defeat in his voice as he trots back to the trail, ...What now?

Con check to continue running: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Kakao does his best to keep pace with the faster moving humans, breaking into a short run when needed.

Full Hustle

Mikka darts through the forest keeping sight of Zephyr and maintaining a steady pace after her companion.

Karl's right -- he's still going! Morti calls, stopping as he sees the Hollow Man pass between them. A note of defeat in his voice as he trots back to the trail, ...What now?

"We have no choice Morti! Move back to Levoca!" - the elf shouts, running back to the village - "We need to alert them, get them to move away from its path!" - he adds - "I regret we did not take the time to repair the kiln..."

Okrin will stay near Kakao so that everyone can share in the light.

"I can run ahead a bit, but I'm worried about the light."

Morti shakes his head in frustration before taking off after the fleet-footed elf. An' if we'd stayed to fix the kiln, we'd be sittin' on our heels in the village right now, in no better shape than out here!

"I can run ahead a bit, but I'm worried about the light."

Huffing a little bit, the small gnome replies "If you could run just far enough ahead to point out obstacles and scout the best path, that would help. I can clearly see anything within about forty feet of your light."

Low-light doubles the illumination of your light spell for me.

Right then, it's a race. Let's not come last.
Karl takes off, double timing it back to town.

Nodding
"Happy to."

Okrin runs ahead a bit, keeping an eye out for obstacles while not losing sight of Kakao.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Can...we...cut...off...again? puffs Morti to Caramir and Karl Not...sure...I...can...outrun...him --certainly not all the way back to the village!

As he chugs along, the dwarf reviews the day's travel in his mind and watches for landmarks, hoping to find an opportunity to shortcut the Hollow Man's trail. Blasted forest all looks the same in the dark!

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
con check for run run run: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

getting flashbacks to lord of the rings. Gimli says "i can't run all the way to Isengard"

I guess he can part run, part stumble back :D

"We can try Morti" - Caramir slows his pace for a few seconds, to try and get his bearings, discussing the best direction to take with Morti.

How long did it take the group to get this deep into the forest? My character flew much of the way which is why I wonder.

Can't remember exactly, but I'm guessing at least half a day's travel?

That sounds right. We worried that if we didn't turn around we wouldn't get back until after night fall.

DC 12 con check Boo! Overland Travel! Boo!

Okrin, Kakao and Mikka is still behind, somewhere in the forest.

Meanwhile, Morti, Caramir, and Karl are able to get ahead of the Hollow Man yet again. You have a scene's breadth to prepare, do you stay there or move on to the village?

Morti pauses with Caramir, wheezing a bit and examining the iron nails he'd plucked out of trees Wonder if I could tap these into m' hammer --add a lil' bit of bite in case I have to distract th' thing again...

So what's our plan? Jus' try to shout real loud and get folk out o' the way b'fore it can find their heads?

Hustle on as best we can, unless somebody has a better idea!

"Okrin, I think we need a small rest!" Kakao wheezes out.

Looking towards Mikka, he asks "Any idea where or what your bird is leading us to?"

If all of us stop, Kakao will use one of my channels to heal. That should take care of the non-lethal damage on all except Mikka.

Trux, how long have we been running. Kakao doesn't want to run all night.

AFter the run to the village, Karl leans agains a convienient building and wheezes. Well that was fun. Reminds me of when Mak and I stole cakes from tully the baker.
He recovers a bit and looks around.
Well we are ahead of it. I think we have two options against it, both not the best. First if we can trap it, or lure it, into a house we can seal it in and burn the house to the ground. Or we do something even crazier. We wrestle it to the ground, and bind it somehow. At least disarm it of that scythe. Also it can't use it if we are very close. Going to hurt going in.
He wipes sweat off his brow.
straight fighting got us nowhere. We have to fight smart. Then we find who placed that trail of dead animals, because I don't think the golem did it.

Breathing deeply.
"A rest isn't a bad idea. I imagine sunrise can't be far off."

"Okrin, I think we need a small rest!" Kakao wheezes out.

Looking towards Mikka, he asks "Any idea where or what your bird is leading us to?"

If all of us stop, Kakao will use one of my channels to heal. That should take care of the non-lethal damage on all except Mikka.

Trux, how long have we been running. Kakao doesn't want to run all night.

You've been running for an hour. You all have another hour or more to go.

Sunrise is four or more hours away.

Morti, you can tamper with your hammer over the course of a few hours if you have an appropriate skill.

Karl looks around for a house, some structure abandoned, or at least unoccupied. Also is anyone up in the village?

Alright, well then.
If Morti, Karl, and Caramir continue on to Levoca at this pace, they take a second point of nonlethal damage. You see the houses in the shadows of your light, but no torches save the one I assumed Karl is still carrying.

The unlit torches linger outside the homes, just as the menfolk had installed them. Two of the villagers come up to greet you, one is a particularly quiet and thin man. He pulls up his oversize belt and attempts to tighten it while the other speaks.

"You look rough, fellovs. Vhat's vith all the loud stuff?"

If Kakao rolls his channel, it will heal everyone present of their nonlethal issues. Just roll your channel minus 1 for drain.

You all will arrive approximately five minutes or so after the first group.

trouble is coming. you need to rouse the guard.

Variant Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 1 Halved and -1, get 0 normal and 1 Non-Lethal damage healed.

Since Mikka hasn't posted, I'm not sure if either her or her bird are in the area. She might like the rest just to be able to finish putting on the rest of her armor.

Kakao catches up to humans and makes sure everyone is close enough. Calling on his god's power, he frowns at the result. The plants all around look a bit healthier though.

"I'm not liking how some parts of these woods leeches power away. I don't mind when the plants are healed as part of the whole, but this is stealing." It isn't clear if the gnome is talking to himself or one of you.

Shaking his head.

"I can't explain it. There has to be something at work here beyond the deranged wooded creation."

"The plants In this part of the woods seem to draw a portion of any blessing into them. It didn't happen on the path Cyanne and I took into the woods, but it does here. If we manage to get ahead of that monster, I might be able to use it in order to obscure the original path as we make a new one."

Kakao looks in the direction the group is headed.

"I fear we missed the others. I just hope we can get ahead of the monster enough to create the false trail."

Light...torches...Hollow Man...coming... pants the dwarf, doubled over with hands on knees to catch his breath.

do we recognize this fella? you know, when i'm not staring at my toes?

"Stay in your homes and yes, light the torches! We will try to steer him away from any of you" - Caramir adds exhausted to Morti's words, turning to his companions - "We must try"

Bottom line that is Caramir's plan... Lead the Hollow Man in a wild chase after him (or them), pulling him with arrow shots. Not much of a plan, but he doesn't want to see any more dead villagers :P

"Perhaps into an empty barn that can be set on fire..?"

Trux, does Caramir remember any such place?

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

A barn would be perfect.