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Oh, weird. I don't ever play so I'm often in the dark about how player options work. I'm guessing they're full rebuilds? And, yeah, the big risk is that most crit fails in the trials are "no one else can attempt". The caribou field was such bad luck, where you rolled 2 times and crit failed all 3! The trials are a big way to earn points to get above the PP mark.
A big part was missing out on the trials. It's not that you didn't go as deep into that as possible, just that there were a lot of poor rolls. The crit failure in the last one really hurt, as you were down by 4 points from first place. You also had a rough couple days for overland checks. I'd say it wasn't just one factor but a whole constellation. The rebuild is purchasable in the AcP section of your My Organized Play section. I think once you purchase it, there's more explanation as to how it works.
Chronicle sheets are available here. The secondary success condition was finishing first, which you didn't do. Related, your GP was based off of how many progress points you earned overall. This team ended the race with 16 progress points, so you got the equivalent of 8 treasure bundles. Let me know if there's any errors! I'll be starting a new play-by-post soon and you all are welcome to join in! I'll post here when I open up recruitment :)
We have bedbugs! Again :D :D :D :D
Thanks y'all for playing and for your patience! I know this is a difficult time for me to keep up with, and I'm hoping you all are doing well. Working on chronicle sheets today and I'll link them here once they're done.
The bear falls to Savna's flickmace, rendering it unconscious. With the threat dealt with, the team is able to carry the members of Two Houses back to the trail and flag down the officials to help bring them to the finish line. Two tall, wooden linnorm statues mark the finish line to the harrowing Balgirdtrek. Crossing the line, the gathered crowd of spectators and participants cheers and applauds. Racers are met with blankets, soup, and medical supplies almost as soon as they are within the village of Frostgarten, where spectators are gathered to celebrate the competition and those who completed it. You all finish in fourth place. As the Wyrding Wayfinders finish the race last, the crowds murmur. Without Trace or Fail has been disqualified due to poor sportmanship and attempts to maim the Pathfinders! This brings the Pathfinder standing up to third place - a respectable showing for non-Ulfen - and the Fangs of the Remorhaz, the Varki team, wins the Balgridtrek. Clearly, this is a historic trek!
Round 3/4 Lilic - 28
The bear lets out an unnerving moan of pain as Lilic's sword bites into it. The creature stumbles in agony as it look to fight its way out of this situation.
Round 3/4 Lilic - 28
Raine's punches hit nothing but air, leaving the bear unharmed (except for the still-smoldering fire in its pelt, the bruises from Savna' flickmace, the scratches from - well, you get the deal). The bear claw as at Savna, desperate to push her back and tosses her away from the cave. Its claws rip into her as she goes flying. The bear, happy that at least one threat is neutralized, tries to claw at Chulyin's companion GM Screen:
Lilic - 28
Lilic's shortsword comes just short of hurting the bear, but the rest of the barrage of attacks hit true. It lets out a roar of anger. In the cave, the moans turn to shallow breathing. Clearly, the situation is dire.
Initiatives Round 2/3 Lilic - 28
Lilic's slices don't seem to cut through the bear's thick fur to injure the creature. However, Sanva's Flickmace hits the bear solidly. It growls in pain, turning its attention to the gnome. It moves to face her and tries to take a bite . The beast's jaws snap around her arm . Then, it tries to slash at her and tears at her . Fire continues to molder in the beast's fur.
Lilic - 28
Raine's sweet-looking punches are just a flourish, unfortunately. They do look cool as he does some sick backflips.
Iniatives!
Lilic - 28, undetected
The fire scorches the bear. It growls in pain and turns its gaze to the goblin.
Chulyin's summoned flame barely misses the creature, smacking into snow next to it.
Iniatives! Lilic - 28, undetected
Lilic's sword cannot pierce its hide. The bear roars with anger. At least one of the bodies in the cave lets out rattling moan. Clearly, there's some sign of life, but it sounds bad. The bear claws at Lilic and digs into his flesh . It keeps a strong hold on Lilic and tosses him back twenty feet .
So sorry about the delay. Regular posting resuming today!
As Lilic approaches the large island on the opposite side of the pond, he notices a bear at the mouth of the cave, ready to charge. Several unmoving human bodies lay inside the cave, too far away to determine if they are injured - or worse.
Lilic - 28, undetected
I'm sorry, we did miss the 30th. Things have been particularly difficult over here so I've been struggling with keeping up.
Lilic sees a couple potions littered among the broken sled and a trail of blood that leads to an island. A collapsed person moans in pain. It's none other than Leif, a member of the Two Houses team. "Oh, by Erastil's bow, saviors. Please, the beast took Oluf." he lets out a racking sob. "That cave. Save him, please."
The official usher the team away from the checkpoint and to the final leg of the race, just before Bluetongue's Brawlers take off. The trail here is easier than before, the easy final leg. About an hour away from the checkpoint, a broken sled lies in the snow at the edge of the path beside an old bridge. Fresh blood marks are clearly visible against the white snow as large, crimson swaths. Equipment is scattered across the snow and onto the frozen surface of the lake.
As Nina tries to grab at one of the reindeer, it startles and runs into another reindeer. That reindeer startles as well, then the next, triggering a stampede! Nina's caught among the herd A group of officials rush over, yelling and clearing the field of all participants for everyone's safety.
The day's travels are smoother than yesterday's, but still difficult with the snow piling up. Chulyin is able to mostly follow the bear's tracks as it also continues down the race's path, but they sometimes get covered as they snowfall outpaces the group's progress. A small, frigid stream runs between the dense pines, opening onto a frozen pond. To the east, a few small columns of smoke rise above the trees from several small campfires. To the north, a dozen caribou walk along the surface of the ice, snuffling and pawing at the thin grasses poking up from the snowy shoreline. As a race official watches over the small herd, the wind carries the gentle sound of bells. "Hail," the official says, "and hearten! This is the final task. When Balgrid lost his favored steed in a blizzard, he tracked a herd of caribou across the tundra, and watched their behavior from a distance. He watched day and night for over a week as he sought a beast that he could tame. He nearly escaped death as hundreds of caribou stampeded before he managed to sling his saddle bags over the animal’s back and lead his new companion out of the herd and into the taiga." "You are to recreate this. Four caribou in the pack have bells tied to their antlers. You must choose an appropriate beast and obtain its bell."
Perception DC: DC is 13. Failing means you'll take a -1 penalty on the next check.[/ooc]
[spoiler=Nature or Stealth DCs]DC is 17 for stealth or 16 for Nature. If you critically fail.... something happens and I'll tell you what.
The night passes by.. mostly uneventfully? Perception DC 13:
Though there does seem to be a strange animal lurking near the wate... Nature DC 19 ONLY if you made the perception check:
It's definitely a giant short-faced bear. What is that doing here? The snow continues to the fall the next day, blanketing the area. It's the final day of the race. One more challenge midway, and it'll be the finish line!
The official on this side of the river, a very hairy Ulfen man, looks in shock as Raine is pulled from the river. As the pickaxe is shown to him, he furrows his brow. "This is very serious! I'll inform the higher-ups immediately. As it is, I think it would be best if you all stayed the night to recover, just to be safe."
As Raine crashes into the river, the shock of the cold runs through his body.
Fortitude Save DC, reveal after you're done rolling!:
DC 16
Recall Knowledge (Society, Ulfen, or other appropriate lore) DC 16): There is a family rune on the pickaxe that belongs to the Oakfellers. Two of the Without Trace or Fail team members are part of the Oakfeller family.
On the first vault, Lilic manages to stick the landing, safe on the other side as Nina is swept away by the river. The current is strong here and the ice doesn't help. The cold chills her to bone She's swept twenty feet downstream as Chulyin throws the rope at her, just as she starts to be pulled under the surface.
In the distance, the race officials start to grab poles and run to river's edge, rushing to aid Nina.
Nina's beautiful outfit isn't much of a help as she falls into the river. It's shockingly cold.
Perception DC 16: Upriver, there is an ice pick that's stuck into the bank of the shore near a particularly large chunk of ice.
Dr Ripfang follow Savna with another beautiful show of agility and speed.
AS Chulyin attempts to vault across, he notices a large brick of ice floating down the river. As he tries to avoid it , he realizes that he can't close the gap without falling in. He swings back to the first shore. Lilic also struggles with the unsually icy river. As he places the pole down, it slides out from underneath him. Luckily, he wasn't yet over the gap! Nina's grasp on the pole slips as she tries to span the jump. For a heart-stopping moment, it seems like she's about to fall into the river below. She manages to get her grip on the pole and use gravity to bring her back to the orginal shore.
Savna really doesn't know what all the fuss is about. She soars across the gap on the pole in a perfect arc.
Rainesong continues to flip and flutter across the ice.
Sanva's muscles ripple as she pulls the hand sleigh full of gear.
------------------------------------ Steam and spray from the Whitegold River hangs in the air as the checkpoint draws near. The wet air carries a cold sting. The snow on the trees drips, plopping heavily to the ground and the snow and frost seem to be clinging only in shadowed nooks and slick patches, despite the frigid air. Race officials prepare fish caught from the banks of the river near the camp. South of the campsite, another official stands near the riverbank. Several long poles lean against a mossy rock. Across the river, the course stretches away from the river and through the thinning trees into the snow-dusted
"This trial," the wiry official says seriously, "is one of the most important of the Balgridtrek. After spotting the tarn linnorm, Balgird gave chase to the beast. The linnorm slipped through the trees and made its way across the Whitegold River to evade Balgird. The rushing river was frigid and cold, and as Balgird approached he could see the tarn linnorm lurking in the trees on the other side, waiting to pluck his exhausted body from the shore if he swam across. Balgird felled a tall sapling from the riverside and vaulted across the river with as much of his gear as he could carry, foiling the linnorm and chasing it further into the wild." "Your task is to cross the Whitegold River. The traditional way is to that one of the poles and vault across with your gear. All team members must complete this trial or be left behind. Any questions?"
The official's eyes go wide at the sheer amount of fire produce. "Oh dear," she says as the ice begins to melt. "I guess you... succeeded, albeit in an unorthodox manner." She is much happier with Ripfang's performance and his careful movements. As the team finishes up, the officials carefully examine everyone for any wounds, signs of disease or poison. After being cleared, you can choose to either camp here for the night or try to push on and camp in the wilderness. -----------------------------
The next day brings snow with it again. The cold nips at any pit of exposed skin. At least it isn't storming, right?
Sorry, turns out, moving apartments is hellish! Ended up in the Comcast office today for several hours....
Nina doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary with the other teams. All of the teams are present, though the Fangs of the Remorhaz is preparing to depart and and the Wyrding Wayfinders are just arriving at the check point. The cheery official looks over the rest of the Pathfinder team. "Just the one? No one else going to try?"
We can push for the 30th! I'm in the process of moving, so I'm off this week. I'm going to start botting characters more, in that case.
Crawling across the ice, Chulyin doesn't even begin to crack the ice. His magical flame gently melts the ice, gently freeing the ribbon.
Rainsong dodges the snowball, avoiding hypothermia. He's lithe and manages to nimbly dash across the snow.
----------------------------------------- Among the tall drifts and dunes of snow and ice, a small hollow reveals signs of life. A large fire pit is encircled by tents and snow shelters as officials stand near the warmth of the blazing fire. Beyond the camp, a large sheet of exposed ice is marked by race banners. In the middle of the ice, a delicate ribbon lies partially frozen in the sheet. The official, a prim-looking Ulfen woman in leathers, smiles as the team approaches. "Listen! Once, the winds blew hard in the night as Balgrid slept. When he awoke, his gear was scattered. As he followed the trail of pitons and caltrops, he discovered one of his scrolls was frozen in ice. With great care, he slid across the thin ice to where his scroll was trapped. He crafted a lens from the ice and used the heat of the sun to melt the ice away and free the scroll." She gives a clap. "Your task is to retrieve the ribbon without damaging it. Be careful, though, for the ice is thin."
The referee, an Ulfen woman with strawberry blonde hair, takes stock of the presented evidence. "I will have to report this up the chain," she says after reviewing the tools. "We take cheating allegations very seriously. Unfortunately, we can't take action at this time, so Without Trace or Fail will continue to participate in the race. If you find any additional evidence, please let us know immediately." Dr. Ripfang's assembly job is glorious. ----------------------------------- The weather the next morning is clear and sunny. The cold still bites at any exposed skin, but it's downright balmy compared to yesterday.
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