Heroes of Lastwall (Inactive)

Game Master Tilnar

I wanted to double-check the distance: we are a half-mile away from the smoke with the horses, while the scouts sneak in, correct? So that's 44 double-move hustles (faster at a flat run) so about 4.5 minutes without sprinting? (on foot, not on horse)

Just trying to get a gut feel for it. The scouts will take longer because stealthing is slower. So we'd expect them back in 20 minutes?

Assuming the half-mile (and rounding to 2640 to make the numbers cleaner) - it'll be about 72 turns of double move to get to the source of the smoke, unless you're abandoning Lani and Fiona who move 20 (and adding a few rounds to account for a few times you'd need to go around/over rocks and other terrain features).

You folks who can move 30 could do it in two thirds the time (48).

A run would reduce the time, but the terrain would prevent you from just running on a straight line the whole time -- plus there's a limit on running based on Constitution - with a 1-minute rest required when you're tired.

That said, given the perception penalties for distance and the grasses and scrub, you could likely start moving up without giving yourselves away - especially if the medium-sized folk dismounted and weren't towering over the limited terrain.

Edit: Sorry, the scouts.

Sneaking requires half-move, but you can still double-move scouting (for a total of... base move) -- so the 20-minute round trip is a pretty good one - I was going to say that you can shave a few minutes off since they're not likely to go all the way in, but stop when they can see something -- but if they take a bit of time to look around/watch from whatever distance they do stop at, it might largely balance out.

Finally finished Sahar's portrait in graphite.

I tried to add this quietly to her character profile, but can't update the profile because of 'you have backtracked too far' errors, so... here it is!

This is the work of one of the masters I've taken classes from so you can see the level of graphite skill possible (which I'm nowhere near.)

I dunno, Looks pretty darn good to me! :)

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to all! :P

(RL + Holiday = Slow posting Aged wizzie) ;)

I have to agree with Rags. I think it's pretty darned good.

If I could draw half that well, I would be happy. My best drawings usually resemble a disabled stick figure.

Don't get me wrong; I'm pretty happy. It's amazing to me that I can take the techniques from botanical illustration, apply them to people and clothing, work on them an inch at a time, then stand back and - bam! - there's a person. It's a weird kind of magic that astonishes me.

Hope everyone has survived the trytophan-coma. Well, all you American folks, anyway. (I mean, I also hope we non-Americans survived our absolutely normal and non-holiday weekend, but it's less special). ;)

HAH!
THIS year, ANY weekend that you survive is special! ;P

My daughter found (another) meme that I liked.

"When the new years rolls around, all y'all M-F-ers better not yell 'happy new year". Y'all better yell 'JUMANJI!' and get us out of this stupid game!"
;P

Sandy --

Two things -- one, Sahar correctly indicated that you can push your companion (and even get bonuses) without ranks in Handle Animal.

But, also, looking at your sheet, I'm not sure that I see 6 points of background skills (ie - 2 per level) -- and HA *is* actually a background skill... so that's a problem that could potentially fix itself.

Either way, I'm pretty sure "go there and come back as fast as you can" is probably something you can convince Kruss to do with a bit of work (I imagine Aid Another and/or Guidance could be used to boost the roll a bit, too).

[I'm also assuming that Kruss' "bonus" tricks were probably the standard trained for combat + attack II (so he'll actually bite undead and scary things) -- which would mean he knows: attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel -- so the only push would be the seek/go, as "come" is a trick he's good at.

I will indicate that the raptors are faster than Kruss and can leap over bad terrain (while double-moving) - though he does get to sprint once per hour.

At least, I think someone passed the knowledge check for the dinosaurs....

Whoops, I'm a moron.

"While using totem transformation, the lion shaman may speak normally and can cast speak with animals (felines only) at will" Druid level mins/round

But I can also get Kruss upto 60' speed with Longstrider.

You can speak to him that way, which allows you to explain the plan, no problem.

However, from what I see of your sheet, you seem to have applied the Feytouched Companion archetype to him, so you can't share spells.

Apologies, I thought it was a touch spell, not a personal one.

Sheesh guys! I leave you alone for ONE night! ;P
Now I'm gonna be all night catching up! ;)

Better get started,...

And you did it again! ;P

LOL, NOW I have this image.

Merlan sneaking forward, crouched low in the grass.
When he pops his head up, he looks right, then left.
When he does so, his familiar Squeaks, perched on top of the hat, looks the opposite directions at the same time.
Then he ducks down again.

Think of a scene from Scooby-Doo. ;)

Honestly. I'm so busy playing/being a 'Wizzie', that forget the lil guy is also a lvl 1 SLAYER. ;P

Honestly. I'm so busy playing/being a 'Wizzie', that forget the lil guy is also a lvl 1 SLAYER. ;P

In case you weren't good enough at sneaking. (Also, studied combat is helpful - and applies to ray spells, too).

So - at the moment, you guys see two raptors. You can spend a move action to "actively" search for the others, if you'd like - though that would be all you get to do in a surprise round.

Alternatively, you could just wait for them to pop up - as they're probably likely to react to being attacked.

yep, Merlan spent his surprise round (1 action only yes?) doing a 'Slayer Study' of one he can see.

Merlan designates THAT raptor, 'Target X'. ;)

It is, indeed, one action only. Per the map, Red is the closer of the two you can see -- I assume that'd be your new dino-pal?

Now that someone's made noise (as one cannot, per the rules, whisper a spell -- Xia notwithstanding), the Raptors'll get a percpetion test to notice the nice big gang of meat coming to see them.

Of course, some actions (like hitting them) will certainly guarantee their notice. ;)

It is, indeed, one action only. Per the map, Red is the closer of the two you can see -- I assume that'd be your new dino-pal?

"Red" is my new dino-buddy!

You know, for as long as it lasts. :P

I won't be able to post today, but should be able to do so tomorrow.

Fiona can't really do anything at range, so she'll sit tight and try to intercept any approaching dinos. Even Merlan's "friend".

I'm keeping up, but won't be able to check the map for the next two days... could someone keep Fiona near the front, trying to intercept any attacking scalies? Thanks!

I think Merlan's icon is fixed now.

I would be very happy to have Fiona up near me! 40' of movement would put her just adjacent to Sahar and near/just in front of Lysander & pals.

Oh yes please! The more bodies between Merlan and the oncoming pack of teeth the better! ;P

All - I apologize if I have been delinquent. Somehow the window with this game it it got closed, and have been really busy and totally forgot to check. I will try together caught up later tonight or tomorrow, and definitely by the weekend.

Glad you're OK. That's not a given in the Days of Plague.

All - I apologize if I have been delinquent. Somehow the window with this game it it got closed, and have been really busy and totally forgot to check. I will try together caught up later tonight or tomorrow, and definitely by the weekend.

Like Treppa said, I was starting to get a little nervous that something had happened -- so glad to hear you're okay.

Ditto on the glad your OK!

It's Christmas Eve, and so I probably won't be able to post for the next few days -- and I imagine that many of you will be doing other, holiday-related stuff.

So, I'm going to pause the game today, with the intention of restarting on Monday -- that said, if I have time between now and then, I'll post some perception spoilers based on what people said they were doing.

That out of the way, wanted to also say: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all the best to each of you (and yours).

Oh, and one last thing. I'll put on my Santa hat and hand each of you one shiny new Hero Point (as long as that doesn't put you over your maximum). I'm just generous that way.

(Plus, really, if I gave you coal, someone would be turning it into fiery pitch and flinging it at orcs and raptors or whatever, and I don't want to have to figure out the stats for that...)

LOL! Aw man, you know us too well! ;P

Merry Christmas (Eve) to all! And to all a good night!
(Cuz aged Wizzie is tired!) ;P

Thank you, Santa GM!

Hope everyone who celebrates it had a good Christmas. 2020's almost over!

My New Year's Eve song.

I approve of the choice in music. ;)

LOL :)

I'm back (well, mostly, anyway -- posting still won't be up to my usual insane standards 'til next week)...

So...

Xia will continue to carry Merlan so that he can cast and direct her from his new higher perch.

Yay! Self-walking stilts! :)

Careful,... he could get used to this! :P

I hope everyone's able to have a Happy and safe New Year's Eve (except DSX, who's already into 2021) -- and wishing everyone all the best for 2021. Looks like it'll start pretty rough, but at least things should be trending upward.

I have to be nice on special occasions, so later when I'm in cruel GM mode, you'll only curse my name and not also my bloodline or firstborn. ;)

May all your rolls be better in this new year.

May all your rolls be better in this new year.

By the gods, I hope so!

LOL!

remember,
be careful!

2020 is about to turn 21 and start drinking!

(I, on the other hand, have already started!) :D

Lysander Volpe wrote:

May all your rolls be better in this new year.

By the gods, I hope so!

Thus the reason I play casters - so far fewer rolls to screw up.

So true. If I hired someone who completely failed 5% of the time, they'd be gone before their 90 days was up.

EDIT: Almost forgot! Best wishes for this coming new year. May you be free of plague.

So true. If I hired someone who completely failed 5% of the time, they'd be gone before their 90 days was up.

EDIT: Almost forgot! Best wishes for this coming new year. May you be free of plague.

It'd only be your security people. Skill checks don't automatically fail. Plus, competent folk probably take 10 all day. ;)

LOL!

I never thought of (any of) my job(s) that way!
That,... actually makes a lot of sense now that I think about it,...

>_<

Happy New Year ya Murderhoboes you! :D

Hey - best job is being a Meteorologist, you pretty much screw up 50% of the time, and nobody cares.

I KNOW, right?!?!

I wanna job where I can be wrong (at least) 50% of the time and not get fired! ;P

I KNOW, right?!?!

I wanna job where I can be wrong (at least) 50% of the time and not get fired! ;P

So... many.... potential.... jokes.....

*cough*

Ok, there, I've resisted the urge to slam Rags. I think I may have shortened a year from my life to do it. ;)

Just for people who might have lost the thread (IC) over the holidays (a long encounter can be rough enough in PbP, even without the Christmas/New Year's pauses), here's the Coles Notes (er, Cliff's notes for you American-types) version of where you're at:

* You left town to head toward one of the message drop sites indicated on the maps you got from the orcs last night;
* Daven waved you over to a message drop, indicating there was a Bloodtalon (orcish) hunting party sighted (the report hadn't been confirmed);
* After about an hour or so of travel, then you saw a pillar of yellow-green smoke ahead of you (well, slightly north, too);
* After some scouting, you found there was a pack of Velociraptors near the smoke -- busy eating (and not in pack hunting mode);
* Scouting also suggested that they may have been baited to the area;
* They tried to warn you off from their food (later found to be orcs), you didn't leave, so the pack (minus the alpha) attacked you;
* During the fight, Merlan realized his spell component pouch had been sewn shut... And Sahar's bowstring snapped when she pulled it;
* Despite those little setbacks, you fought off the raptors, but as you did, there were some flashes and bangs in the sky -- followed by screeching wails from the smoke;
* The alpha (who had brighter plumage than her pack) reacted to those, first entangling you then flying away on gossamer wings with an arm in its mouth -- taking shelter in the rocks a 'safe' distance away;
* You've discovered the source of the smoke isn't a fire, it's probably alchemical (explains the colour, too);
* There was no orc corpse near the smoke where the alpha had been -- all you've noticed from your current positions are the source of the smoke and some stones;
* Merlan noted that there's a drake closing in on your position (presumably lured here by the smoke, flashes and/or noise);
* Oh, and, you've now got less than 30 seconds before it gets to you.

... I think that's it. The key points, anyway. There was also the matter of a fox following you that Sahar warned off.

I'm sure someone could fill in anything else that I might have missed.

Edit - had to go remove something that nobody's noticed yet due to perception checks. Oops.

Ragadolf wrote:

I KNOW, right?!?!

I wanna job where I can be wrong (at least) 50% of the time and not get fired! ;P

So... many.... potential.... jokes.....

*cough*

Ok, there, I've resisted the urge to slam Rags. I think I may have shortened a year from my life to do it. ;)

You don't get brownie points for making fun of Rags you know.

NO freebie points for you! ;P