When you resume your journey the eye follows along.  It has been getting mixed messages about how welcome it is to tag along with the group.  If you want to get rid of it, now is the time to decide that as a group.

Later in the day you will also need to make some rolls to find and recognize the tracks.    Since you guys are a smart bunch, we'll assume you stick to low lands with damper, softer soil - the best place to pick up the trail.  DC 10 for soft ground, +5 for traveling normal speed, -3 for the size and distinct weight of the idol-laden cart.  The final DC for Glumr is 12.  Others may also roll either survival or search to notice and identify the tracks, but your DC is 17.  If you have not chased off the eye it will also get a search roll.

The sky is clouding up this morning and rain would mean bad things for future tracking.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:42, Wed 15 July 2009.

Snow thinks it's a little creepy but isnt made a liar since they're leaving triple fang territory it's okay for it to tag along.  If it follows them home, hopefully an elder will know what to do with it.  For all Snow knows the eye could have been sent to help them.

Snow watches for tracks like everyone else.  She wasnt much of a tracker but it was hard to miss wagon ruts in the soil.  That would be more luck than anything else to spot.

During one of the breaks, Snow sips some water from her water skin and tuck some hair behind her ear as she looks over the grounds thoughtfully.  If it was a wagon, it would tend to stick to more level ground, avoiding obvious ditches and obstacles.  Traveling away from the temple... would have the tracks going... that way... and the most level and obvious ground would be this way...

(Snow starts to wander off with a thoughtful look about her.)

Holly is happy enough when the eye wants to tag along, as it feels like she has another companion like Moonlight.  That Moonlight still keeps his distance doesn't worry Holly too much, as the horse is usually wary of new things.  That she has known Glumr, Mord and Snow for many years is the only reason Moonlight is happy to stay in the camp at all.

Holly lets Glumr track, as he is better trained, but she still keeps a watch out for anything unusual. As she goes, she asks the eye further questions as she thinks of them.

"Are you looking for our help?"
"Are you looking for someone?"
"Are you with anyone?"
"Can others see through your eye?"
"Do you need to eat?"
"Can you see in the dark?"
"Can you fly any higher?"
"Can you carry anyone?"

Seeing Snow begin to wander off, she considers for a moment, and then lets her go.  Snow knew enough not to get herself into trouble...

I think we should let the Eye tag along... It's made it this far on it's own and it seems not threatening... more so, it seems friendly enough with it's music.

Glumr notices Snow wander off..  Not sure if he should let her go or not as she's not familiar with traveling in the wilds.

Snow!  You think we should stick together?  He calls after her.

Not too worried about her, Glumr starts trying to track the idol as they march onward.  He too is looking for possible paths the cart could take and ground that may give up some secrets.  He also takes note of the weather, hoping it holds off until they have an idea where their quarry is.

Hello there...  Glumr waves at the eye  We are trying to find a cart with a large idol being pulled by men and horses.  Please um... let us know if you think we have missed something.

(Presumed to have been asked somewhere along the way, since at the moment Snow is wandering away a little)

"Mr. Eye... have you always been a floating eye or were you once something else, perhaps... human?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Back to the present)

We're these tracks?  Finding tracks and determining what they meant were two vastly different things.

"Glumr... I think i found something.  Come have a look and let me know if they're what were looking for?"

I'm not that comfortable with the Eye so I am keeping my guard up around it.  When we move,  I will follow behind it if it moves with us, so that it remains in my field of view.    Who knows, the others may learn something useful from it.

I spot some tracks at some point at confer with Glumr.

Quizzing the eye:

"Are you looking for our help?"     No
"Are you looking for someone?"      No
"Are you with anyone?"              No
"Can others see through your eye?"  No
"Do you need to eat?"               No
"Can you see in the dark?"          No
"Can you fly any higher?"           No
"Can you carry anyone?"             No

Clean sweep!

"Mr. Eye... have you always been a floating eye or were you once something else, perhaps... human?"            ???

You're not sure if the eye is unable or unwilling to answer.  Perhaps the answer is more complicated than yes or no.

The young Triplefang adventurers totally nail the tracks.  You find numerous possibles, but Mord, with his critical success gets credit for the original find of the real tracks.  You all gather around and confirm that these are the tracks you're looking for.  There is no doubt.  The tracks take you off your northern path to a course between WNW and W.  You follow them for about 45 minutes.  They're only a little bit ahead of you.  You'd say 2 or 3 hours.  At your current rate you should catch them today, rain or no rain.  You also manage to piece together that there are 6 people with the cart, so you're very slightly outnumbered.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:57, Wed 15 July 2009.

In reply to Fritzholm (msg #83):

"Haha, only 6? I don't like their odds!"

Glumr's eyes flash blue...

We must make sure we are ready... It looks like we are a couple hours behind them, but if they have stopped for any reason, they could be around the next bend.  So keep your eyes and ears open.

Glumr wonders how they are going to take the idol back from the group being out numbered two to one... remembering the elder said there was to be no killing.  Should be interesting.  He thinks once he sees them, the party will be able to figure out some type of opportunistic attack.

While they are walking, he has an idea and asks the eye "'Lo... Are you following us because you are in need of assistance?" and a follow up "Are you trying to assist us?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Wed 15 July 2009.

Snow pursed her lips at the news of the odds, giving Mord a side long look, she thought to herself that she didnt like their odds either, though probably for different reasons.

Glancing at the floating eye, Snow thought to herself that it was rather impressive, would it be possible to use it to bluff a submission out of the theives?

"Mr. Eye... Would you perhaps be willing to help us recover some stolen goods from the theives?"

Glumr likes Snow's line of thinking... He gives her a nod in agreement of her idea.

Holly looked over in horror as she realised what Snow was proposing.  Moving to stand beside her she whispers, "I'll not allow you to use a creature, which might put it into danger!  We know nothing about it, or its culture.  If it is hurt, the Tribe might be punished."

Holly puts on her stubborn face, knowing that Snow has seen her in this mood before, and that it would take a lot to move her from this view.

"First it's not a 'creature', it's got a clear understanding of being able to communicate and think rationally for itself.  Secondly, I'm not 'making' it do anything.  I'm asking it nicely and it can say 'no' and that will be that.  It seems quite capable to communicate it's desires itself to us, and i dont see why you should feel the need to intercede your views on it's desires.  It's true... we dont know what it is, but, that means they wont too which makes using it to intimidate them that much easier?"

Snow has an easy going smooth matter of fact manner, that seems to cut things in such a manner to have her view seem very logical.

More blinkin' questions:

"Are you following us because you are in need of assistance?"  No

The wandering minstrel eye doesn't seem to mind answering questions you've already asked him.  ("Are you looking for our help?"     No)

"Are you trying to assist us?"

There's a long pause before the eye answers.  At first you assume you've gotten another ??? answer, but then it answers Yes.

"Mr. Eye... Would you perhaps be willing to help us recover some stolen goods from the theives?"   Yes

In reply to Fritzholm (msg #90):

I dont care if we "use" it to help us or not, but since it came from the West and WNW is where we are headed now, consider whether it may still be in league with whoever we are following.  There's no way to verify any of its "blinks".  What a joke it would be if some wizard in their group has just been snookering us the whole time.

At best, we might try  to convince them that the eye is linked back to Tripelfang's temple and showing them exactly who stole the idol... something like "we may be the first to pursue, but we certainly won't be the last and now everyone knows exactly who and where you are.  Hand it over before things get serious"  It certainly wont work if the eye is theirs.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Thu 16 July 2009.

Mord is correct that the eye could've come from wherever the thieves are heading.  However, the idol thieves would not have been in that direction yet at the time you met the eye.

I think the eye has nothing to do with the theives...  As we would have heard of it in the report..  Likewise, it's done nothing for us not to trust it.

Maybe we could use the eye to trick them into thinking it can destroy them if they do not return the idol.

Glurm turns his attention to the eye.  Do you have abilities that can aid us?

(and if the eye blinks yes, the follow up) Can you show off your abilities?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:43, Thu 16 July 2009.

In reply to Glumr (msg #93):

Maybe it knows how to jam some old-skool Pantera ;)

Do you have abilities that can aid us?

Can you show off your abilities?

It's not Pantera, but the eye does answer these questions with music.  It's more like Battle Without Honor or Humanity - a high energy, inspirational instrumental.  It sounds cool, but you're not sure how that'll help.

Snow frowns, "I dont think we should be asking for demonstrations.  That is can play music might be enough.  If we can bluff them into thinking it's dangerous then we dont need Mr. Eye to do more.  Remember, were not suppose to have anyone hurt, especially us.  If we injure one of them badly, im pretty sure their compatriots wont take it kindly and will seek to 'settle the score'.  It wants to help, i say let it."

The wandering minstrel eye plays its tune as the group crests a hill.

"Hey!  There they are!" Mord shouts, pointing north.

Sure enough.  Down the other side of the hill and through some trees is a wagon and 6 thugs.  What's more, you recognize them.  Members of the nomadic Beasttamer clan - Holbart, Duncan, Mila, Krone, and two others you don't know.

"Look what we have here, boys," shouts back Holbart.  "It's the Triplefang.  Did you come to take back your idol?"

He spits on the ground, and sweeps his leg in front of himself in a gesture that you'll go no further.

"It's GO time!"


With that the battle has begun, but your task to defeat them without killing anyone has become much clearer in everyone's mind.  You know these warriors.  This isn't a life or death fight.  It will be a Faol Batte - a non-lethal style of fight where you surrender once seriously injured instead of fighting onward.

Faol Batte  (Wolf Fighting)

Faol Batte is a style of non-lethal fighting with lethal weapons.  It is well known among the clans and avoids most deaths in conflicts between clans that are not at war.  The rules are quite simple.  Attack and defense are just as they would be in a normal fight, but a seriously wounded fighter falls and surrenders before he receives mortal wounds.  Since both sides are using their full skill and power the outcome of Faol Batte is said to be the same as a full fledged fight.
After a Faol Batte the losing side is left with their weapons, armor, and other belongings including food and water.  They must, however, leave the area and not return until they have fully healed.  (It is presumed that this recovery takes place normally over about a week or longer, not by magic.  Thus, you cannot be defeated and return quickly after quaffing potions or receiving clerical healing.)  The winning side is allowed to take certain spoils and trophies, but this is poorly defined.  Suffice it to say that the losers are typically in no condition to argue without escalating to lethal combat.
Breaking the honor based rules of Faol Batte will certainly put a black mark on an individual's reputation.  They can even become outcast by their own clan.  If an entire group is seen to break the rules, this will strain relations between the clans and could even be an excuse for clan warfare.

Game rules:
When you get to half HP or below you have been seriously injured and must drop your weapons and drop to the ground.  (Exception - Mord may battle until he drops below 5 HP including temporary hit points from raging.)  You have surrendered and may subsequently leave the battlefield after lying in place for 5 second or more.  You also may surrender before you reach half HP if you so choose.  If you are knocked down or fall over due to clumsiness or bad luck you may recover with a DC 12 tumbling roll.  Otherwise you should accept your situation instead of risking accusations of false surrender.  Though the battle continues, opponents may not attack someone who is treating a unconscious warrior.  Certain deadly attacks such as rogues' Sneak Attacks, fighters' Power Attacks, use of poisoned weapons, and critical hits are not allowed.  All critical hits except for 20-20 rolls are ignored other than being an automatic hit.  Some very confident warrior use only subdual attacks in Faol Batte.  This will not cause serious injury and opponents will usually battle until knocked out.

Init rolls:
Snow 21 (critical success)
Glumr 20
Mord 15
Holly 10
Beasttamers 9
eye 5

Due to her critical success, Snow will get one free round with Beasttamers flatfooted.  Then you will all act in initiative order, so Snow will get two rounds of action.  Please note that you do not have to post in initiative order.

Here is the battle map:

http://zachery.path.med.umich..../idol_battle_map.jpg

It can also be found by going to the game map and clicking on game links.

Each square is 5 feet.  For now you have the high ground on your opponents.  This is good for a +1 to hit.  If your line of fire goes through trees and/or the wagon, your target will have cover.

"Well so much for diplomacy, they always were a bunch of bullies... okay fangs, lets show them what were made of!", Snow had hoped for diplomacy or guile though it looked as if they were beyond that.  She'd lead them into battle if no one else took the intiative.  Quick light feet bring her forward where she picks out a target with her sling and lets it fly.

The startled theives barely react helping Snow's aim as the sling bullet raps off one of the oafish beast tamer.


Game Mechanics:
Presuming I'm allowed to pick what i have ready, it wont be my staff, i'll have a sling and bullet out and ready.

Move Action 30' North to T21 (That puts H and K at 50' for Snow)

Std Action Sling attack the one in less armor.
10:28, Today: Snow rolled 14 using 1d20+2. Sling Attack at thieves (least armored).

Presuming they're flat footed, and hoping their showing AC isnt higher than 4, i'll presume a hit.
10:32, Today: Snow rolled 2 using 1d4. Sling Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:36, Sun 19 July 2009.