Holly had kept her distance, especially with the view of both Rolf and Vidar on her being a druid.  At least that meant she could spend more time a little distance away from the cart with Moonlight.  She understands the importance of Pelor, even if she herself follows Obad-Hai, and seems happy enough to be trying to find out what happend to the Champion.  What interests her more is that she is travelling a new path, and one that means she sees more of Obad-Hai's work.  Moonlight seems content he is again the centre of her attention, and also seems more relaxed around both the eye, and their fellow travellers.

At camp, Holly takes the time to help Snow with gathering provisions for the pot.  Her knowledge of nature, and her own caution, should keep them all safe, if Obad-Hai wills it.  Taking her watch, she takes the time to prepare her spells for possible encounters with the cats, and also for other events.

Snow pretty much does her thing.  Provisions werent made for Rolf and Vidar, so food is a little trickier to manage.  She had taken some extra vegetables that she had intended for the horses that she can use to make up the difference, figuring the horse can graze people cant.

Preparing food isnt all that hard to do, and doesnt take up an entire watch.  Snow works on some sewing projects while she does watches.

Wouldn't this be +4 (+2 Wisdom + 2 Ranks): Glumr rolled 21 using 1d20+4. Survival.
Also, Holly had a conversation with the eye last chapter.  We should make that all happen now she's back.

Glumr's first day of travel has been mostly uneventful.  He put his pack on the cart, allowing him to travel light with just bow and quiver on his back.  He passed the time thinking about different plants and birds that they see.  He pointed out a few interesting ones here and there to the group.

At camp, he just sits back and listens to the conversations, awaiting his turn on watch.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Mon 10 Aug 2009.

What I meant was at +2 to your normal skill level.  In this case that's +6.  You got a 23.

Late on the second day of travel from Goldenpoint to Gollag you start discovering a lot of traces of recent goblin activity in these parts.  There's a real horde of them here someplace - 50 or more.

Holly checked the tracks that Glumr showed them, and nodded.  "Seems we have a bit of activity around here.  Large group you say Glumr.  Can we go around their back trail, or are they headed were we want to go?"  Holly considered her own small tracking skills to try and answer the questions herself.

Turning to the others she is about to say something, and then changes the wording so as not to antagonise Rolf and Vidar.  "Obad Hai will call forth the plants to trap them as he did for our fight with the Beasttamers, but I doubt he'll grant any mists as we have such fine archers in our band."  She makes sure she includes Glumr in this statement.

In reply to Holly (msg #37):

If there is a large group about, we need to make sure we dont setting ourselves up for ambush.  Cooking over a fire would be a mistake from here on out (sorry Snow) until we are in an area that can be defended.  I would gladly pit my club against any 5 goblins, but they live to swarm with many more than that and will drag us down to our doom if we are caught offguard.

The traces are not tracks of a band all moving together.  They have been in these parts leaving behind marks, small filled pits, various detritus, and of course their smell.  Some of it is quite fresh - a day or two, three at the most.  They are around.  You might be able to trace some tracks tomorrow, but it's already growing late and dark now.

Not keeping a fire is a mixed blessing.  On the one hand a fire would make you easy to spot and hunt down.  On the other hand, were goblins to attack at night, as they are often known to do, you would be left with but moonlight to see by.  Even moonlight is unreliable.  In this season rain is common and the skies often cloud over.  Goblins have no problem with such conditions thanks to their uncanny ability to see in the dark.

The terrain is grassland, with only very gentle hills and shallow valleys.  The grasses are rough and greenish-brown.  They are about 1 1/2 to 2 feet high and have gone to seed.  There are some areas of low bushes and occasional trees.  It is probably time to consider where to set up camp and what sort of watches and defensive measure you'd like to take

At the mention of no camp fire, Holly mentions she can cast a spell or two of light if they are attacked, and that although she'd like to be warm, she is happier to be safe.  When asked, she'll volunteer for the first shift so she can prepare her additional Light spell, and be ready for the darkness later on.

Glumr looks around the area to see if he can find an area that is protected from at least on side so that if they are attacked, they can have a side that attack will not come from.  He used his knowledge of geography and nature to find where a spot like this would appear naturally.

Glumr rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Knowledge - Find Protected Area.

Glumr will take the mid watch.  He will take position just outside the party, so he can watch over them.  Bow and arrow in hand, prepared for any goblinkind that might came to visit at night.

First priority is to get camp set up in a defensive manner, just in case they must wake to danger. Glumr thinks that maybe he can set the rope up as a tripwire in an appropriate spot once they find the camp area.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:17, Tue 11 Aug 2009.

Snow doesnt look pleased about the news of goblins at all.

"No fires.  I agree.  We should set up watches as usual and be more alert.  We should also distribute what the temple has loaned us.  Each of us, hold a healing potion to use.  If we dont need it, we return it to the temple, but i'd rather distribute such things now while it's quiet than fumble about for it in the dark in the midst of a fight."



OOC ~

Snow can prepare food with out a fire, it'll just be something akin to a salad or some such.  The food is still fresh, some bread with cheese might be on hand for a reasonabley tasty cold meal is what she has planned on the menu.

Yes, Rolf and Vidar should get one each also, presuming they agree to return it after the quest if they dont use it.  They dont have a stamp on their head that says 'NPC', and what more they're triplefang kin.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Tue 11 Aug 2009.

Mord kicks himself for not asking the temple elders for a light stone.    We can also set up a fire pit at our campsite with twigs and dry grasses that is ready to be lit if needed.


OOC
Light stone:  Simplest thing really - a priest casts a permanent light blessing on the stone and you put it in a sack when you don't need the light.  The rock gets eaten away slowly by the blessing, but it takes weeks or even months depending on the size and hardness of the stone.

For the fire pit:  Dribble some oil in a * across the kindling with a small puddle at one end.  Set the flint/steel next to the puddle.  Sparking kindling is a pain in the butt, sparking oil is not. Once the oil catches, its spreads across the kindling in an X of fire and if your kindling isn't wet, you gotz a real fieyah by the time the oil burns away.

Glumr finds a campsite to the south of a small pond.  The pond isn't very deep, but hopefully any attempt to wade through it would create enough splashing to alert you.  Being on low ground also makes your site less visible, but camping near fresh (although a little too stagnant for your tastes) water with no fire means you might have a few animal visitors.  There are a goodly number of various tracks in the area.  He lays out 40 feet worth of rope between wooden stakes a few inches off the ground on the east and part of the south side.  He's not completely happy with the results.  While the rope make cause the unwary to stumble, he's afraid that goblins would probably spot it in the dark.  Oh well, it's better than nothing.


Mord sets up a fire pit all ready to go, but not lit.

"Does anyone have any lantern oil?" he calls out.

His request is met by shrugs and excuses.  None of you expected a long trip when you left Volge.  You'll have to make do with what you have for now.


You each take a healing potion from the box.  Glumr and Snow now have two.


Vidar suggests that he and Rolf each sit in on one of the middle watches (Mord's and Glumr's), since those are the more dangerous shifts in his mind.  I leave it to a player the finalize the official watch schedule before the night begins.

Since no one stepped forward to set the watch order I'll add Rolf and Vidar.

New watch order: Holly / Glumr and Rolf / Mord and Vidar / Snow

On Snow's watch, between an hour and a half hour before dawn, she hears noises from the cart.  The eye is awake and notices something too.  It's still too dark to see well.

Snow is seated near the watchfire, its been a quiet watch, and she feels rested.  There wont be a fire, so breakfast will be cold.  Without light to see by theres little to do but sit there and pass time counting stars.

The noise makes her blink and wonder if the solitude is making her hear things, still better safe than sorry?  Shielding her eyes she points a finger at the fire pit, a small jet of flame emits from her index finger igniting the oil, kindling, fire very quickly.  Keeping her eyes looked away and shielded with her free hand she hopes to avoid being blinded by the fire flaring up.

Quickly she peers over to the cart, her eyes slightly lidded to avoid ruining her vision to see what was making the noise.  If it was nothing, well they have a cooking fire, if it's something, the sudden fire, might blind them for a few prescious moment for her to stir the camp.

The kindling crackles and lights, providing a dim bit of light.  You peer over at the cart.  There's a large, dark, furry figure about the size of a man but stockier digging through your provisions.  It sound like the figure might be eating some of the food.

"HEY!", Snow gets up quickly outraged on a personal level, "MORD GET UP THEY'RE STEALING YOUR BREAKFAST!"

Without thinking she instinctively makes a plucking motion at thin air, conjuring a Snowball to hurl at the hungry intruder.  "GET AWAY FROM THERE YOU MANGY MUTT!  HOLLY WAKE UP AND MAKE THAT THING GO AWAY BEFORE I PUT IT ON THE BREAKFAST MENU!"

Snow's voice is really loud, border line shrieking.

"Glumr!  Rolf!  Vidar!  Holly's not moving fast enough, you're all hunters!  Wake up and hunt!  Put an arrow in that thing!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Thu 13 Aug 2009.

Holly woke with a start, wondering what had set Snow off shouting like that. Rubbing her eyes quickly, she stood up and called out "Hold there. Let me try and talk to it. Just be ready in case it gets nasty".

With that Holly moved in plain sight and tried to see what it was as she cast a light onto a stone and threw it gently into the cart. She almost cursed as the stone hit the side and landed on the grass.

[Cast Light onto slingshot. Throw into cart.]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Thu 13 Aug 2009.

The creature rears back in surprise and lets out a roar.  Sounds like a bear.  The fire is beginning to catch from the tinder.  Everyone can roll initiative.

"Kill it Kill it Kill it!!! or make it go away or something!", Snow's not throwing any more snowballs at it just yet.

In reply to Snow (msg #51):

On my turn, I will move toward it with club at the ready.  I'll swing if I'm close enough and its not already trying to surrender.

Initiative order:
Vidar 22
Glumr 21
Rolf 16
Mord 9 (higher DEX)
Snow 9
Holly 5
Bear 2
Eye 1

The archers stand and ready their bows.  Glumr will step to D13 so he is not looking or shooting over the small but growing fire.

Mord stands and moves to K12, drawing his greatclub.

Holly casts light on a stone, but hasn't thrown it yet (that would be two standard actions).  She can say more now if she'd like to.  Otherwise the archers are likely to fire next round.  Also, if Holly would light to take a different action from casting light now that the situation is more clear, that's fine too.

http://zachery.path.med.umich....plefang/bear_map.jpg
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:08, Fri 14 Aug 2009.

Snow backs up to stand by Holly (I12), holding her staff defensively ready to fend off the bear if it charged.  If it does, she'll hold her ground and yell for Holly to RUN, figuring there was no sense both of them ending up on the bear meal plan.

Speaking low to herself she says a quick prayer, "Obad-Hai forgive me" and then calls out to the others, "Don't worry about me.  It's too hungry to talk, so aim for it."  With that she hopes she can aid the archers when she throws her light coin.

The bear moves to engage Mord.  It slashes its claw across Mord's left upper arm, shoulder, and chest.

00:42, Today: Fritzholm rolled 22 using 1d20+6. Bear - Claw to hit.
00:42, Today: Fritzholm rolled 5 using 1d4+4. Claw damage.

Mord has already stood (move action), moved (second move action), and drawn a weapon (free action), so he cannot counter attack this turn.

The dramatic opening chords of a song played by stringed instruments fills the air.  It turns your tension into a small rush of adrenaline.   The Triplefang get a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage now.

http://zachery.path.med.umich....plefang/bear_map.jpg

Vidar (the archer further back) fires off two shots.  The first one flies wide of the bear, but the second one hits the bear squarely in the body.

01:18, Today: Fritzholm rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Vidar first shot to hit.
01:18, Today: Fritzholm rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Vidar second shot to hit.
01:19, Today: Fritzholm rolled 5 using 1d8+1. Vidar arrow damage.

Rolf is less confident firing into combat.  He takes special care not to hit Mord, and his shot comes nowhere near the bear.


Mord, your knowledge of nature tells you that the bear is more dangerous than just the claw attack it made last round.  It can bite while mauling you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:27, Tue 18 Aug 2009.