The March of Kings

Game Master Daniel Rust

Surely everybodies risk is equal its just that say Sanglamores risk of getting murdered is after his watch when he goes back to sleep again?

Sanglamore says to Gudrun: "I still think I am right but I am happy to go with what the group decided. Perhaps I am over cautious, aside from one great expedition I have always stayed in cities and towns. You know the wilds much better than I, after all."

Rhaegal looks up at Gudrun "An unneccessary risk" he snorts before he searches for a good place for his first watch.

Rhaegal will try and position himself so that he can get the most use out of the light wind and would be downwind of teh most obvious approach to the camp. He will likely sit on top of one of the boulders so that he has a wider view and is more exposed to the winds. He will deliberately not hide so that if anybody approaches the camp, he will be seen by them. He reasons that his appearance might give some bandits pause before attacking and equally as an immortal being, it is better that he is hit by any surprise attack or arrow rather than Sanglamore.

"I still have much to learn," says Guðrún to Sanglamore as she watches Raegal depart. "Such as the nature of your companion. He reminds me of a... legend I once heard. A sabre-toothed beast of unusual size, strength and cunning... Tell me: what is he?"

Sanglamore lowers his voice when Rhaegal is out of earshot "The truth Gudrun, is that I do not know for sure. I know that he is ancient and that he definitely isn't a force for evil, although he doesn't follow the rules of others. I know that I am not the first that he has been bound to, or even the hundredth. I have seen statues of how he used to be before he came to me..." Sanglamore trails off as if remembering something frightening.

Sanglamore shakes his head and blinks back to the present. "I have led two lives, Gudrun. One after I joined with Rhaegal and one that I try to forget. he says grimly.

Sanglamore remembers himself and cracks a big smile "Sorry about that. You had better get some rest"

"I would also like to forget my past. But I cannot. Rightly or wrongly it defines who I am, just as my present actions will define the woman I am to become."

"I do not fear Rhaegal; he intrigues me. Why would such an ancient creature bind itself to you? I take it this is a willing partnership? What does Rhaegal gain from it?"

"I have wondered about your past also Gudrun. Particularly the axe that you take care of and carry with you always. My hammer belonged to my grandfather and although I take care of it, I do not worry about dirtying it in battle. Why do you carry the axe with you always, but do not use it?

"Rhaegal was trapped beyond the stars in another reality and he does not have the power to enter this world without my help. So what he gains from the partnership, is that without me he cannot feel the warmth of the sun or smell the earthy pines of the forest; he cannot further his goals (whatever they may be) or even physically exist here and now."

Guðrún seems a little uncomfortable at the question, perhaps a little shifty. She tries to conceal this with a bluff check:

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

"It's not a weapon... it's more of a symbol... In any case I am not worthy to wield it. It belonged to my father."

She is certainly bluffing the right person! With a -1 penalty to sense motive rolls Sanglamores maximum is a 19 so I won't bother rolling.

Sanglamore blathers on without sensing Gudruns discomfort "A symbol of what? Is it religious or does it represent something else to you?"

"Don't judge yourself too harshly Gudrun." he says warmly "Anyone can change in time and prove what worth that they have . . . whatever they have done in the past"

"No, my tribe worships Gorum... and Desna," she says indicating the butterfly necklace she wears. "The axe is a symbol of power, not faith. It means authority, but also the responsibility and trust that comes with authority. It is not for everyone."

The night passes uneventfully. After all that!

The sound of the woods keeps some of you awake longer than you would like. An owl flies silently overhead at one point and the sound of foxes calling carries from deep in the forest.

By the morning much of the cloud cover has been blown away by the wind and, although it is still cold, pale sunlight shines down on you.

You continue your steady progress along the edge of the forest when you come across another set of tracks, crossing the hoof prints of the bandits. A number of smallish, three-toed claw prints head from the hills that you are approaching into the forest, moving from the south-east to the north-west.

Survival please and any knowledges you care to throw at it.

Kn - Nature : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Kn - Local : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Survival : 1d20 ⇒ 13

By the size and shape of their feet you think this was a group of kobolds. The hill country to the south east might be typical kobold country although they have been known to lurk in forests too.

Kn - Religion : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 (it's bound to be relevant - not)

Well, the tracks are likely Kobolds, but I think we should ignore them on the outbound journey and keep focused on dealing with the Bandits. We can investigate these tracks on our return. This is my opinion, not a fait accompli I speak foreign!, what do others think?

"Agreed. There will be plenty of time for chasing kobolds but right now our priority is the bandits."

I doubt that Guðrún's skills can add much more to Jorquimo's analysis, but for completeness:

Survival (including Tracking): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Guðrún nods agreement to Rhodeus. "We have a limited window of opportunity before more bandits are sent to investigate what happened to the bowman."

Guðrún will continue to lead and follow the tracks of the bandits (using the rolls she's already made) and hope that Rhaegal will step in and correct any mistakes!

Rhaegal will keep close behind Gudrun with his nose to the ground. He speaks rarely but with a point of his head will indicate any occasional tracks and scents that she may have missed. He will acknowledge her skills as a tracker and will give her a respectful nod when she sees something that he has not.

I am not expecting any new information from this, but Sanglamore has just one skill and he will use it whenever possible! Remember about the guidance to help your memories when using knowledge skills

Knowledge Planes:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

While I wait in the kebab shop...

Rhodeus you cannot tell the kobolds' religion by the way they walk. Sanglamore, you don't think they are extraplanar kobolds, but you can't be sure... Gudrun, you count a half dozen kobolds passing this way.

You continue along the edge of the forest for a few miles. The land rises up to low hills to the east. The path along the forest now heads south west.

Knowledge history any one and also two percentile rolls from the next person to look.

Rhaegal will keep an eye on the trees as he expects an ambush.

Percentile: 1d100 ⇒ 75
Percentile: 1d100 ⇒ 48

Kn : History 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

I can make Knowledge History rolls untrained as long as the subject is human-related.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Well, that was worth it!

You move on, past the kobold tracks, and follow the trail throughout the day. It's a cold and windy but bright day. You keep the forest to your right and the hills to your left as you make your way through the Stolen Lands.

The night is setting in as you approach a slow running river, flowing out of the hills and into the forest. The trail turns north west along the north bank of the river and into the forest.

Night is about to fall.

Make camp taking the same precautions and using the same watch rota as the previous day.

Very sensible. Two percentile rolls, s'il vous plait. (I speak foreign too.)

Jorquimo - you remember reading about these hills. They were home to a number of barbarian tribes centuries ago. The hills are called the Kamelands, named after the burial mounds of their chieftains - Kames.

As Guðrún is tracking dastardly human beings, you reached the river before nightfall. (Assuming you follow the trail into the forest), it's harder going under the trees. The men led the horses at this point. It would be impossible to ride this way.

You have not come across any signs of a camp yet, and they could have made this journey in one night on horseback.

You travel a mile or so into the forest before night begins to fall. Then you make camp and set watch.

1d100 ⇒ 35
1d100 ⇒ 62

The night passes uneventfully under the canopy. There is much movement and rustling through the undergrowth which has you on edge, but it is only the night time animals going about there business.

You wake, hav breakfastbnd prepare for the day. As you move on, you soon come across more tracks than just those you were following.

tracking roll please

1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17

Add further +2 if humans.
Then Sanglamore and Rhaegal can pitch in.

More humans. As you progress further there a multiple tracks heading along this trail, sometimes heading into the forest, sometimes keeping fairly near the river. You don't think any are more recent than your quarry along this route in particular, but a pair of booted humans headed along the river towards you and then north into the forest a few hours ago.

"We're getting close to the bandit camp, I think. It may be in the forest north of here. We should follow these new tracks, but carefully. And silently."

Silently you say? Ooer, that may not go well for Rhody

"Very well, Guðrún. we shall proceed silently from this point onwards."

Ok Dan, how many days trail rations shoudl we knock off our charcter sheets?
Also I have assumed that if we "stealth" and my shield is just carried it doesn't incur the ACP penalty "it's just weight" ; it only occurs the ACP when it's strapped to my LH. Hence the different Stealth values on J's sheet. I also assume that if stealth is needed - YOU (as the GM) will roll and tell us how noisily Rhodeus is moving....

We've slept in the wild for two nights. This is the third day of travel since we left Oleg and Svetlana. I guess it depends on whether we took any food from them when we left.

Hey guys. I was in York for the weekend so haven't been on line. We have eight sets of trail rations in the party gear. I will wipe them out to cover our food for the last few days.

Sanglamore will put a hand on Rhodeus's shoulder and indicates that perhaps they should move along forty feet or so behind the other more stealthy party members. He will also offer to take Jess if Jorquimo wishes to move ahead.

Gudrun, are you better on your own? I would say i'm averagely stealthy. My adopted parents say it must have been in my genes 'cos they clod-hopped about like nobodys business, but it is all natural, i've had no training or practice, so if you think i'd be better at the back here with the others, I am happy to defer to your wisdom in these matters.

So what we're saying is that Guðrún and Rhaegal are the only characters trained in stealth? And Rhaegal can't go more than a 100 feet from Sanglamore without feeling queasy? From a player's perspective, I'd much rather get ambushed as a group, than fumble a stealth roll while on my own!

Guðrún lets out a long breath. Perhaps the faith being placed on 'her wisdom' is weighing heavily upon her.

"We shouldn't stray too far from one another. We don't know how many bandits we are dealing with. Perhaps Rhaegal and I should go a little ahead, and the rest of you follow as quietly as you can. Don't let us get out of sight, though."

What do we think? 40 feet ahead sound about right?

what are our charge distances, that's how far ahead I think you should be

Maximum charge distace equals twice your Speed. However, you can't charge across difficult terrain.

By the way, now that we're in the woods can Guðrún keep an eye out for moon radishes? Not really her priority at present, but if she sees some...

ooh yes - good point - I'd like to keep my eyes open too please.

You head away from the river and deeper into the forest, following the new tracks of the two men heading north.

Guðrún and Rhaegal take the fore, the others following on behind. You can't charge in difficult terrain (as Guðrún says) which most of the forest is. It would have to be a clearing to do that. You can take a double move in one turn but you can only move at half speed in difficult terrain. That means 20 or 30 feet is your top speed in one round in the forest depending on your encumbrance. How far back are you?

You all attempt to move quietly as Guðrún and Rhaegal try to pick up this new trail, all the while keeping an eye out for moon radishes.

Stealth from everyone and tracking from G and R.

If we strike off your rations in the morning each day, those 8 you picked up will have been eaten (as Sanglamore says). You had a good breakfast before you left the trading post and some food for the day, so let's say those rations cover you up to and including today.

I think it's more fun if you all roll your own stealth. Then you can feel the shame as everyone looks at you when you fail. Correct on the ACP only coming into play if you are wielding your shield. It's hard to sneak with a big plank of wood on your arm.

This is where Guðrún demonstrates your misplaced faith by strapping a pair of cymbals to her knees and starting to yodel.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Tracking: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 + 2 = 22

Edit: Or maybe not! This won't last, you know.

Perhaps rhody has the cymbals, we shall see:

Stealth: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (17) - 4 = 13

As Sanglamore will probably screw this up, lets have Rhaegal first. Can I use guidance on Rhaegals survival? If not take 1 of the roll below

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

The cymbals have found an owner! Well he is six and a half foot tall and built like a fridge

Stealth : 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Assuming it maybe dangerous from here on in so sword & shield readied

Edit : pah, I see your cymbals, and raise you an entire percussion section

You leave the river behind and head into the forest. Guðrún and Rhaegal move silently forwards, following the trail as it winds it's way into the woods.

The tracks are fresh and easy to follow. They do not follow a direct path but they zig-zag and stop-start as they make their way further in. You think they were trying to be stealthy and cautious in their movements and at various points the two men stopped and waited before moving rapidly for a short time. You are very confident you are gaining on them.

Meanwhile, a little further back...

The heavily armoured Rhodeus moves painfully slowly as he tries to keep as quiet as possible. The concentration on his face is apparent as he keeps as close to the shadows as he can. His caution is undermined, however, by the staggering about of Sanglamore and Jorquimo, who curse involuntarily as they trip over dead branches, snag their cloaks on trailing vines and, at one point, sneeze loudly after taking a sniff of a lovely flower.

After about an hour's travel everyone roll perception.

How far back are you?

Based on what you've said, I'd say thirty feet back. Far enough back not to be a burden, but still able to see one another and to arrive in mêlée support in one round.