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Kel hesitates when Carter volunteers. "That makes me a bit nervous for the mission to Fairhaven, but I sure won't mind having a second seasoned adventurer to share the work of protecting these refugees with...and I think it's clear you'll be a bigger hit with the kids than I will be."
"Lady, you misunderstand something. Devan founded the Samaritans but he's not our boss. He can't tell me to take your refugees over to Highspur, but I can offer to do that myself...and I will." Kelbows looks around at his companions, a bit surprised by the force of his own decision. "I hate to split off when we're close to a great danger, but she makes a good point. Knowing where the medusa's range is, I can probably guarantee these refugees safety better than she can. And I'm the one who suggested we avoid that damned thing instead of trying to kill it, so I bear some responsibility for it being in their path in the first place." Turning toward Rahaal, he adds, "And your knowledge of Fairhaven -- and of the path back there -- could make a crucial difference as well." "Don't get too excited though, gang," he smiles at his compatriots, "I'll be heading back after y'all on the way to Fairhaven just as soon as I'm able."
Kel grimmaces when he sees Rahaal pointing straight back toward the medusa, imagining what kind of work that monster would make of this crowd of refugees. "Oh no. Rahaal, there's something else you need to know. We just passed by there; we actually passed Highspur not too long ago. But yesterday we barely avoided a medusa, and it seemed as though she had quite a big range that she hunts within. I don't like the idea of you all going near her domain one bit."
Kel pops a berry into his mouth. When Devan asks for ideas Kelbows shakes his head, trying to think of a better way forward than the one the Samaritans are discussing. "Yeah, I'm not sure I see a better choice. We could certainly travel more stealthily...but we've already decided that we don't have the time to move slowly. Tris, I agree that when we next encounter a patrol we'll want to take out any hornblower as soon as possible...but otherwise I think we keep headin' toward Fairhaven, and pray that Desna keeps watch over our travels."
After seeing his compatriots retreat, the (suddenly massive) brawler follows Carter as they jog to the South, keeping a watchful eye back over his shoulder as he does so, in case the medusa speeds up and in so doing reveals herself. Turning to Carter as they run, he says, "Hey buddy, sorry you burnt that scroll for nothin'. Hopefully nothin', anyway! When this is all over I'll buy you a new one."
Kel feels the bizarre stretch and warp as his body doubles in size. After a shudder he smiles down at Carter, and takes another look for their foe from his new vantage point. Still not seeing the medusa, he shakes his head. Taking advantage of the visibility his new statue gives him, he hollers, "Gang, this is a losing game...and we've got bigger fish to fry. Any objections to high-tailing South?" Looking for their reactions, he adds, "I'll watch for y'all and then bring up the rear." _______
Kelbows has already given away his position -- and just grew to 10' tall so inconspicuous isn't one of his goals. He can call the question in character.
Well, I'm at least raising the question. I don't think the right next step is clear, but if you ask me I don't yet see a better option (though it'd be unfortunate to do so right after using Carter's scroll). What do y'all think? Did y'all see my question, above?
Time to run? Maybe the medusa won't follow. If she does, at least maybe she can't be quite so stealthy in pursuit. If we do run, I suggest:
Whaddaya think? Jubal, metaquestion, what's your preference about this kind of "table talk"? If you prefer it all be in character, shouted across the battlefield, let me know.
I did, bringing me to 30/32 (as in status)
I like it! Especially if you see a tree that's > 30' tall, so it's harder for the medusa to corner you from below.
Elbows' heart sinks as the medusa disappears. She could be anywhere! Once again, his hand nervously brushes his bandana, making sure it's still ready to pull over his eyes if need be. Then he draws his bow and nocks an arrow. "Cr*p!" Elbows shouts. "If you spot her, point her out!" _________
My thoughts:
EDIT: Kelbows' question: Lets say I was 60' away from the medusa at the start of my turn, and had blind-fight active. Could I take a free action to drop my bandana over my eyes, and then charge the medusa? I believe the partial cover doesn't interfere with the charge. Assuming I set my location before dropping my blindfold, does someone with blind-fight + a known target have any penalties to charging? Jubal, any word on this? (Fine if the answer is "Elbows isn't really sure", but I thought I'd ask in case there's something he'd know that I don't.)
Carter, how does this sound to you? (Assuming the medusa stays where she is) I walk to the yellow triangle (which I just marked on the map) and activate my Blind Fight ability. Meanwhile you take a 5' step to the blue triangle and cast Enlarge Person on me. The following round, I'll drop my blindfold and charge to my death...and you'll take copious notes to feature in your next journal! ;0)
Knowing that there's a medusa nearby sends a chill down Eblows' spine. He tries not to imagine being turned forever to stone. OK, quit pissin' yourself, Elbows. Time to give this a shot... He fidgets briefly with his bandana, readying himself to pull it over his eyes when necessary, and then takes off North and East. He steps on a rather loud twig as he travels...and hopes that the distance was enough to keep the medusa from detecting him.
Devan, that's how I'd read it. I'm pretty certain he *can* get petrified...because the Celestial Appearance evolution (and maybe a couple others) grants +2 to saves vs petrification (amongst other benefits). And as a bonus, you'd have a stone Arend head to keep as a souvenir. EDIT: Kelbows' question: Lets say I was 60' away from the medusa at the start of my turn, and had blind-fight active. Could I take a free action to drop my bandana over my eyes, and then charge the medusa? I believe the partial cover doesn't interfere with the charge. Assuming I set my location before dropping my blindfold, does someone with blind-fight + a known target have any penalties to charging?
Jubal, the map shows her but the text only said we saw an arrow. Can we see her yet?
Hey gang, catching my breath after a crazy week. Seems like we'd have been plotting as we talked, knowing that a medusa can turn one of us to stone. Here's what Kel would suggest: Kel has the ability to gain blind fight for one minute. Seems like Kel could potentially sneak toward the source of the arrows and then pull a blindfold over his eyes and attack (if he gets lucky, maybe even with surprise). Is there anyone else that makes sense to get within spitting distance of the medusa? Or do we have everyone else attacking from range? If we go this route, Enlarge Person on Kel sounds good to me. I don't really know what I'm getting into, but I could see Kel + some disposable summon of Devan's going in while all else fight her with arrows. (Heck, maybe Thondrir approaches and puts on a blindfold too. He'll very rarely get a hit in while blind, but he'll at least help to split up her attacks...and no one is better than he at absorbing attacks!) Whaddaya think?
BTW, between a sick daughter and being slammed at work, I'm too tired to write a real post. I hope to write something tomorrow or Saturday.
Jubal, how much further to Fairhaven? Samaritans, do we want one person at a time on watch or two? Two seems safer...but (in order to get time for everyone to rest up) it means we end up taking longer before we get back on the road to Fairhaven. I think I'm leaning for two anyway. Kel will take whatever watch we agree on. When not on watch he'll sleep in his (light) armor. Initial watch proposal: 4 2-hr shifts, as follows,
Seeing the remaining orc focused on Tris, Kel seizes the moment to duck behind his foe and punch him in the back of the neck. He then turns toward to his friends and nonchalantly says, "Ugh good point. Without their wolves I think it's a brilliant plan. With them though, I think we oughta just hustle to Fair Haven as quick as we can."
The worg rider's blade cuts under Kel's shield, leaving a painful red sting on his side. Wordlessly, Kelbows takes the opportunity to step in closer, kneeing the orc in the belly and then -- as it winces -- giving it an elbow to the nose, feeling cartilage break as the orc yowls in pain and rage. Kel tries to follow up with another punch, but the orc barely gets his shield up between them. _______________
"YES!" Kel cries out at when the worg finally falls. "Devan, nice to have you -- and your pets -- back in the game." Meanwhile he bounds over the falled worg to get behind the rider, attempting to slam the orc...but the rider sees Elbows' blow coming and manages to step aside. _______________
"You’re...going...DOWN!" Elbows bellows, swinging again at the wolf. He manages to land a punch this time, but the wolf skirts aside when Kel tries to follow it up with a kick. _______________
"You read my mind, Tris!" Kelbows grins, stepping over the body of the fallen orc to flank the giant wolf. He attempts to punch and kick it, but finds that between the body at his feet, the thick underbrush, and the wolf's own agility he's not able to land an effective blow. _______________
Feeling the urgency of the situation, Kel falls back on what he knows best: pummeling. He kicks at the orc beside him, going wide, but spinning himself in close to elbow the orc in the face. He feels the orc's nose shatter as it calls out in pain. _____________
Jubal, I'll happily follow your call on cover -- and suspect if you say that everyone off the trail gets cover in melee it'll probably help us more than it hurts us -- but I was surprised that two foes face to face outdoors would have cover from one another, especially when it's not considered difficult terrain. I just checked the PRD. It talks a lot about range, but the only thing it mentions for cover in melee is: When making a melee attack against an adjacent target, your target has cover if any line from any corner of your square to the target's square goes through a wall (including a low wall). All that said, if you say the vegetation is such that all melee off the trail has cover, I'll believe you! Unless you say otherwise, I'll start adding +4 to my foes' AC when in melee.
"DEVAN!" Kel's face turns grim as he sees his comrade fall. He steps toward the nearest unoccupied orc and snatches it's falchion right out of his hand. Kel tries to follow it up with an elbow to the face, but the orc easily avoids the blow. _______________
Kel continues to close toward the orcs as fast as he's able while shooting. The arrival of reinforcements distracts his focus though, and his next shot at the dire wolf flies far afield. Hearing Devan's suggestion to Carter he hollers a reply: "How many more reinforcements can a second horn blast call, that the first didn't? Let's not forget this first wolf either. I suspect it's on it's last legs and we'll all be happier if we finish it off before we have two of them on us at once." __________
"Did you catch that shot, Carter? I want to make sure it makes it into your next article," Elbows chuckles as he continues to walk forward. Having felled the rider, he takes aim at the dire wolf, watching his arrow strike deep into the beast's breast. "Hey Samaritans, if they're going to hang back out of javelin range for us, let's see if we can at least finish off this wolf before we get too close!" __________
I just made him 0. I was just warning that I did it differently, so his number will need to be moved manually.
Hey Jelani, you didn't number the Northmost orc. I just wrote a red "0" over his square...but now that I look at it I think you actually modified and replaced the images. Mine's just text that'll have to be moved with him. Has to be good enough for now though, off to sleep. Hasta manana.
Kel immediately jogs forward down the trail toward the orcs, drawing his bow as he does so. Following Esau's lead he draws a bead on the worg rider, looses his arrow, and smiles with satisfaction as it strikes the rider in the throat. __________
"Hehehehehe," Kel chuckles at Tris' ribbing, adding, "I dunno, I bet even if we launch grandpa from a catapult he'll still be the last to arrive." "Speaking of which, isn't there a town around here somewhere we're meant to save? Let's hit the road!"
New marching order works fine for me...though I'm sorely tempted to suggest a reorg, just cuz! ;0)
Ahhh, fair point. OK, then lets forget stealth, go for speed, and Kelbows will elbow his way toward the front of the pack.
We might want our stealthier folks up front, maybe 30' ahead, to see if we can gain an advantage without telegraphing our presence. Looks like (including ACP) we're:
what do y'all think about:
(I put Throndrir in the front of the second pack, since he takes a while to catch up with the action, and Esau in the back, since he's tougher than the casters and is good with a bow.) If folks don't like the idea of a quiet vanguard, Kel will just make his way to the front.
Kel returns Tris' grin and then claps her on the shoulder. "OK then, what're we waiting for? Let's go wade through an enemy army and defeat a demon-dragon!"
"Can we really hope to make a difference against such odds?" Kelbows' brow furrows for a moment. Then he bursts without warning into laughter."Well, I guess we try, eh? People are in need."
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