"Wait!" Ariella cries out when she sees the naked man. "Are you alright?"
Rikka watches the crazed man lunge from the cave and smash into the rock without moving - her katana held low, seemingly forgotten, and her bow tucked against her other forearm. She glances over her shoulder briefly at the cleric's outburst, unsure for whom her command to wait was meant.
Was she speaking to me? Do I look like I cut down mad nudists whose only likely weapons are swinging between their legs?
"Wait!" Ariella cries out when she sees the naked man. "Are you alright?"
It seems to go quiet.
Maeltheron remains hidden in the nearby foliage within 30' of the cave entrance, listening to what the group plans.
Well, is someone going to suggest that we go in?
Alenthyn also remains hidden. He was no good at social encounters, anyway. The girls can handle it, he thinks as he splits his attention between the naked man and the cave from which he ran -- fully expecting there to be more in there.
"Good sir, come out! We won't hurt you!" Ariella shouts into the mouth of the cave, moving forward to within several paces of it. "Maybe we can help you." she calls in a slightly quieter tone.
Maeltheron remains hidden in the nearby foliage within 30' of the cave entrance, listening to what the group plans.
Well, is someone going to suggest that we go in?
There is more to the stealth skill than simply being hiding from sight, it's also moving silently and going unnoticed, while yes, a person looking directly at you if you're out of cover he'd certainly see you but in that same situation if you approach from his rear, coming in low and careful to avoid his peripherals he could get the drop on him.
It all depends on the situation, in this particular situation yes, Alenthyn will gain the benefits of stealth simply because there is no one observing him.
You continue to hear no sound coming from the cave.
Okay. Not sure what you mean with 'you need to be at least kneeling with a bow' Roshan, but the stealth parts sounds good. Like I said a few posts ago, it always makes you quiet. So it sounds like we're using RAW with a small house rule about facing to make it more realistic (ie you can sneak up 'behind' someone).
I'm fine with that, I just want to avoid what happened in the other thread with Charon where she got into PVP and then was able to escape by running around a corner and rolling a stealth check, over and over forever. Now, if the naked dude is in the cave and you two are far enough to the sides, you would have cover from him. Thus making you hidden, at least until he clears the cave lip.
Sniping is already extremely nerfed. Believe me, been there tried that. The only way to get it reliably before 6th level is Ninja with Vanishing Trick. I don't want to drag this out anymore, I'm not mad or offended. Hope I didn't piss anyone else off either. Just trying to make sure things are fair. Back to the game!
The situation Charon faced was different, she was in a town, moreover a cramped alleyway in a nexus of alleyways. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of hiding spots for her to take advantage of, sure while she was looking Nera would have eventually found her but that doesn't change the fact that there were TONS of places to hide, once she broke line of sight and was quiet enough she would have been able to hide anywhere within reach. While this isn't the best idea (as nera would only need to search the areas she could have possibly made it to) it was possible. Out in the middle of nowhere with no cover it's a totally different story.
No harm done, it's a good idea to get this sort of thing settled now, if you have any other questions about how I run things let me know, lets try to keep this sort of thing in the discussion thread from now on though.
Maeltheron steps out of hiding, his cowl still drawn up obscuring a good portion of his face.
Well, are we going in, Rikka? I am with you.
I think you got the wrong alias...
When the crazed man doesn't respond to Ariella, Rikka shrugs, puts the arrow back in her quiver, and shoulders her bow. "Time for a different sort of diplomacy." She keeps the katana in hand and held low as she walks casually towards the stranger and the cave.
She keeps her tone light and non-threatening, "You cold there, friend? Need some help... or possibly just some clothes?"
When the crazed man doesn't respond to Ariella, Rikka shrugs, puts the arrow back in her quiver, and shoulders her bow. "Time for a different sort of diplomacy." She keeps the katana in hand and held low as she walks casually towards the stranger and the cave.
She keeps her tone light and non-threatening, "You cold there, friend? Need some help... or possibly just some clothes?"
Looking into the mouth of the cave you see a floor strewn with bones and refuse, tufts of fur, teeth, and bones of many shapes and sizes, near the cave's back you see what looks like the same man huddled behind a pile of rubble staring at you, growling softly.
Ariella continues forward, until she is next to Rikka. She will reach down and pick up a pebble before murmuring a short phrase. It begins to glow, and she gently tosses it into the cave. "Sir, can you understand us?"
Ariella continues forward, until she is next to Rikka. She will reach down and pick up a pebble before murmuring a short phrase. It begins to glow, and she gently tosses it into the cave. "Sir, can you understand us?"
He hunches his shoulders and hisses at you, pressing his back into the wall behind him. When the pebble illuminates him you get a better look at his face, he has some crazy crooked teeth, huge deep set round eyes, a very narrow face. Strangely, he seems to lack a nose, spittle oozes from his exposed nasal cavities as he hisses at you.
Ariella will pull some food out of her pack, maybe an apple. She will hold it out towards the man. "Are you hungry? I can share some food with you." she says in a calm voice.
Rikka signals the elves to move closer. "What sort of man is born with a nose like that?"
Maeltheron keeps his bow at the ready while Ariella and Rikka attempt to lure the man out.
"I don't think he was born that way at all, looks like someone cut it off. He appears to be suffering from some sort of mental debilitation as well as probable malnourishment." Ariella whispers, still holding out the apple.
Alenthyn advances after the group, forsaking the cover (if necessary) to maintain a visual on the strange man. His steps continue to be stealthy, however, unsure if there are watchers or not. His eyes flit constantly from the noseless savage to everything around them -- watching for potential traps or ambushes.
Examining the cave, despite the large amount of refuse it doesn't look like there's any other place to hide.
The continued words of reason don't seem to do anything in the way of calming him down. In fact his growling grows softer and his gaze grows more serious.
It's hard to know if it's natural or an accident that happened later but there seems to be no scaring around his face, then again it's hard to tell with him being so dirty.
Placidly, Rikka observes, "If I know anything about wild animals, I'd say this fellow is about to attack if we stay here much longer. We should either leave or prepare to deal with him." It seems clear that neither option bothers her.
Alenthyn, can you determine if the tracks of the horsemen continue on, or do they end at this cave?
Maeltheron begins to circle the outcropping to find the tracks.
Perception:
"No, the tracks we were following continued on. I was curious about these tracks, though I'm quickly losing interest. I'm sure this savage would be more than happy if we left it be."
Ariella will toss the apple into the cave and say, "It doesn't look like this man will let us help him. I would rather leave than be forced to hurt him. Lets go back to the trail." As she says this, she begins backing slowly away.
Back to the trail then?
Rikka trails behind the others, keeping an eye on the madman in the cave until they are well out of attack range.
Back to the trail then?
Alenthyn follows Rikka's lead, cautiously backpedaling halfway to the horses before really lowering his bow. As he's mounting the horse, he looks back at the cave, "Certainly not what I expected. Definitely not interested in a random delay, though."
Okay then, returning to the trail you see that it leads directly into the forest. Twisted grey tree limbs reach almost desperately towards the sky, the ground itself seems to almost die and become barren a hundred feet from the nearest tree. Without even an eerie hooting or cawing, the entirety of the forest is dead silent.
Afternoon, a few hours before nightfall.
"A few dead trees are no reason to stop. We should follow the trail to its terminus." Ariella says continuing into the trees. "Of course we should keep our wits about us."
Again, Maeltheron flanks the party to the right and front attempting to use the trees as cover for his approach.
Stealth:
Perception:
As they enter the trees, Alenthyn dismounts for a few minutes, inspecting the tracks closely as the sun continues to move towards the horizon.
As he looks, he keeps his eyes and ears straining for signs of ambush. If I were an ambusher, this would be a good spot.
Rikka leans over her horse's neck, watching Alenthyn stoop at the ground. She keeps an eye on him and another on their surroundings, "Anything?"
The path becomes obscured a few miles into the forest as you come upon an overgrown house with a large tree growing from it's center. As you progress further and further into the forest the greenery returns, it's still ominous but the ground beneath your feet is no longer barren.
"How would you like to proceed friends? Obviously we should search this domicile for signs that those we are following were here. Perhaps we could search the outside first and then head inside?" Ariella asks the others, while drawing her bow.
As Alenthyn dismounts to circle the strange house stealthily, he mutters something under his breath, seemingly unaware that he's actually spoken aloud.
He ties the horse off on a branch before the circuit.
Rikka slides from the saddle, addressing the comments of her comrades. "'Thyn, can you tell if the others stopped here or the creatures we follow? Did they pass on? I can make nothing of this strange land."
She looks at the odd structure. "Strange though it is, it is a house. Perhaps we should knock?"
She looks at the odd structure. "Strange though it is, it is a house. Perhaps we should knock?"
You quietly move up to the house, and you hear nothing coming from within.
Alenthyn will circle the house, not only searching for signs of life or potential danger, but also looking for game and humanoid tracks, especially those that appear to run into the house itself.
Alenthyn, circling around said house you come upon an area where something clearly happened. Long, tawny vines lay coiled on the ground and a spot where it looks like a whole tree was completely uprooted. Several vines appear to be scorched and the air carries the faint scent of burning tea leaves.
Just beyond this battleground you can clearly see a swath that has been cut that continues on past this point, a path in a straight line leading further into the forest.
Ariella also begins to circle the house, when she comes upon the scene of the battle she stops and says, "Oh my. What in Sarenrae's blessed light happened here?"
Maeltheron comes to the side of Alenthyn.
Well, should we follow the swath of destruction into the woods, or check the interior of the house first?
The trail meanders around and heads in the direction of the very large, very distinct trail but is soon lost among the debris.
It's a single story, several rooms, about 80 sq ft.
Rikka raps on the door - sure that any occupant of such a small house will hear her.
"Hello the house! A friendly traveler bids you answer."
Maeltheron positions himself between the door and the swath through the jungle, actively perusing both locations with an arrow notched.