A substantive and boosting change for Sanjar!

In reply to Sanjar Zand (msg # 14):

"Would depend upon how they see their status here.  Be this a temporary encampment and they'll be using the ship to leave in the near future?  Then the ship be most guarded.  If this be a permanent settlement, and the ship a resource, then the camp be the most guarded.

The condition of the ship may give insight, if it's well-kept and barnacle free, especially if there be crew working upon it, then they be expecting to leave at some point.

In any case, we have some small time of protection.  If we be sending Rhaskos ahead to scout, he should make haste and return quickly.  If not, then let's go."

Orinastron shrugs, "The camp seems closest, the beach is on the far side unless we try and circle around... Perhaps we should start with the camp?  As we're scouting I don't think it makes sense for us all to blunder around - there is more risk of us being heard or seen.  I'm happy to go ahead but confess I have no particular skill in sneaking around.

"Alternatively, is it obvious where they get their fresh water from?  If it's outside the camp then we might have the opportunity to take a prisoner for questioning who would ultimately be missed, of course"

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 17):

Rhaskos thinks for a while: If they've come by boat, then they'll guard the boat most carefully. If they lose that, then they have no line of retreat. The camp may be a smaller group, but more likely to expect trouble as they are further into unfamiliar territory.'

'I'd be happier scouting with another pair of eyes at my back - in woods, you can be surprised in an instant. Two can move almost as fast as one, and nearly as quiet. We can move to the edge of the tree line, and see. If we can get a better view of the camp. Anyone care to come with me?'

Rhaskos prepares to move quietly - he drops his pack and other equipment and readies only a javelin, knife and waterskin.

In reply to Rhaskos (msg # 18):

I'll make a secret roll for Rhaskos' stealth. It'll be modified due to the foliage and cover.

Rhaskos' stealth roll will be applied on a team basis to anyone who goes with him.

Rhaskos, make me a Perception roll.

Anyone joining Rhaskos at the forest edge can make additional perception rolls of their own, in case they spot additional information
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Thu 24 Jan 2013.

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 19):

Rhaksos checks the tree line carefully as he approaches.

Perception test (61) - roll is 10

My stealth is default and my DEX+INT isn't anything to be overly proud about.  If nobody else volunteers, however, I'll follow along behind Rhaskos from a slight distance to at least cover him if something-bad-happens(tm).

In reply to Kordan Mardahar (msg # 21):

(Lotta activity today!)

#11

Tanek chuckles at Oriniastron and says with a grin, "No it's not an old breechclout, you can clearly see that the pouch on this thing isn't large enough to hold my stones.  Come to think of it, maybe it used to belong to you?"

#21
I am just as worthless at stealth as Kordan and am happy to provide cover with my sling.

[ooc @Tanek - ROFL! /ooc]

Orinastron will take off his helm and pass it to Tanek, "Don't know about your stones but you can hold my helmet.  Here, I'm pretty quick on my feet, I'll go with Rhaskos. I might not be able to sneak about like him but I'll outrun him if we have to come back in a hurry and I guess that's what matters, hey Rhaskos!?".

Orinastron will leave his buckler and helm with the group, taking his bow, arrows and sword.  He will join Rhaskos at the very edge of the forest and see what he can see...

19:32, Today: Orinastron rolled 98 using 1d100. Perception (45).

"Wow.  It's absolutely deserted.  This should be easy.  Come on Rhaskos"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:52, Fri 25 Jan 2013.

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 23):

Rhaskos picks his way carefully to the forest edge; Tanek and Orinastron go with him, following the path the stealthy hunter has chosen, and Kordan hangs back just behind ready in case of trouble.

Peering between the leaves and boughs, you can see in front of you an area of level ground by the sea, which slopes off to the left down towards the beaches.

The ground has been cleared of brush and small trees, and in the middle of the picture in front of you is a stockade. It is more or less circular, surrounded by a shallow ditch, the earth heaped up behind and topped with a palisade that is little more than a fence of rough-hewn stakes. The whole thing is maybe 30-40m across, and 65m from your vantage point. It looks like the gate - which is just that, a swing gate - is on the left (West) side facing the beaches

Above the fence you can see the head and shoulders of two individuals, clearly standing on the parapet.

Outside the stockade and standing well above the height of the palisade is a T-shaped timber construction, on which something large and feathery has been fixed, as if crucified, facing West. If it is a bird, it is clearly massive.

Rhaskos' Perception roll - "it looks like a bird, but it's bigger than me," he whispers. "And you know what? - it's got a human head"

Tanek - Perception roll

Tanek and Orinastron - Lore (Tactics and Drill)

When telling me what you do next, let me know how long you will observe for before moving on to next actions.

In reply to Simulacrum (msg # 24):

Rhaskos stays very, very still for no more than two minutes, trying to see if the parapet guards have a patrol routine, or are just standing watch. He'll use that time to inspect the palisade for obvious gaps, and the gate for the position of hinges etc. He'll also scan the ground for any signs of well-worn paths away from the encampment into the trees; he's thinking about where they are getting water from - in his mind, they're too near the beach here to have dug a well inside the palisade

At the end of this time, he'll motion the others to move back further into the shadows of the tree line, where they'll be out of sight. He plans to keep watching the guards as he does so for any obvious signs of being spotted.

00:57, Today: Orinastron rolled 100 using 1d100. Lore (Tactics & Drill) (30).

Uh-oh.

[ooc It's all or nothing with Orinastron... 2 crits on the Foamfollower and 2 fumbles here... /ooc]

"They're a marching band"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:01, Fri 25 Jan 2013.

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 26):

Rhaksos starts moving gently away from this obvious arrow-magnet standing next to him...

In reply to Rhaskos (msg # 27):

06:45, Today: Tanek Sanasin rolled 53 using 1d100. Lore (Tactics & Drill) (24).
06:44, Today: Tanek Sanasin rolled 33 using 1d100. Perception (31).

"This looks rather familiar.  I know there's something I should be noticing, but I just can't put my finger on it."

I'll move back into the shadowed area as Rhaskos indicates.

In reply to Rhaskos (msg # 25):

Well in the couple of minutes you scan the scene, nothing changes. The two figures visible seem to be pretty at ease, and they are not acting like they are on a patrol circuit.

The stakes for the palisade are all freshly cut (not weathered), and they are not entirely regular so you would expect there are small gaps between them unless they have been packed with something.

There's obviously a trail from the where the gate is leading out, but it's not obvious from 65m away where it goes. Likewise the gate is side on to you, so other than the fact it looks like a simply swing gate (basically a wide door), you can't get any more info from here.

Kordan probably isn't far enough up to see, but can Rhaskos make out nationality from this far away?

In reply to Kordan Mardahar (msg # 30):

He can't, there's nothing on view that gives that away.

[OOC: 19:17, Today: Sanjar Zand rolled 80 using 1d100. Perception: 30. ]

Sanjar had stepped forward a bit with the others, only just far enough to get a glimpse, then turned to face to play rear-guard while waiting on the others.  When the retreat begins he follows along quietly, continuing his rear-guard action.

In reply to Sanjar Zand (msg # 32):

OK, everyone except Kordan has now followed Rhaskos to the forest edge, taken a look and then moved away back out of possible sight from the stockade to consider next step. Time to consider what that is.

Sanjar's spells still have nearly an hour left to run, as at Rhasos' behest only a couple of minutes was spent on observation. So far you are confident you have not been detected.

It is moving into late afternoon, maybe equivalent of 5pm. There are roughly 2 hours until dark.

Orinastron asks the others, "What exactly is our intent here?  I understand that Safra wants revenge for her father Prishad's murder but what exactly do we envisage that to entail?  If that vessel is Haliskome's do we just head down their and slay everyone or does she expect us to recover Haliskome for a more 'personal' revenge?

"It occurs to me that they have the advantage of an encampment and numbers.  It would be foolish simply to assault their camp.  We have the advantage of surprise and their not knowing our numbers.  If we are to attack this gang then stealth and attrition may be our most favourable strategy.  Take one of them here, another there.  Wittle their numbers down, worry them.  A stand-up fight will go against us.  Whatever we choose to do before they are aware of us should be whatever we can do to archive the maximum impact.  For example, if we can incapacitate their boat then they are stranded here until they can make repairs and we can shave their numbers and their resolve more at our leisure.  If we do this right they will,feel under siege by unknown assailants and it so then they who must come out to us rather than the reverse.

"Should we, for example start by waiting till dark then scout their vessel, confirm it is Haliskome's and then sabotage it... However that is done I don't know but Kordan will."

[OOC:

- Can I get any kind of a lore check or the like concerning the feathery creature that is crucified by the fort?

- Perhaps a chance to get a better look at it?  Is it alive?

/OOC]

Sanjar nods towards Orinastron, stroking the charms woven into his beard as he considers his own words.  "Let us set about here, keeping a careful watch for comings and goings from the fort during the daylight.  I also am quite curious about the creature that we saw crucified by the fort.  It speaks to happenings here that are more deep and intricate than those of which we are currently aware.  If we have a chance to ambush a likely party coming or going from the camp, we should take it, but otherwise remain out of sight and wait to see what there is to see.  After dark, we go to take a look at the ship under the cover nightfall.  Right now I think we would have little chance of doing so without being spotted.  And be wary also of the interior.  That thing which is by the fort may have friends, and they may assume we are enemies."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:29, Sun 27 Jan 2013.

Orinastron agrees, "That sounds like a plan.  We'll go have a look at their boat under cover of darkness and in the meantime find a good spot from the treeline from which we can watch comings and goings over the course of tomorrow to try and determine of there is a pattern to their movements.  Then if there is a foraging or water party we can ambush it."

In reply to Orinastron (msg # 36):

Rhaksos kicks the ground at his feet for a while.

If we were hunting, and these people our quarry, then I would want them not to know about our existence until the last possible moment. If we sabotage their boat, doesn't that tell them we're here?

I think we should take a look at their numbers down by the boat, but leave them in peace for a while. The fort-thing here is where their strength lies, and we should keep our eyes here for any advantage.

I'm in favour of whittling down their strength little by little, but they'll be wary - that bird was left as a warning to others of its kind, which they clearly expect to come back. So any foraging party is going to be ready for trouble when it leaves the camp. We'd be well-advised to keep an eye on the skies, too.

But our biggest advantage at the moment is that they have split their numbers. We need to keep that advantage for as long as we can before they know we're here for sure.

For Rhaksos, this amounts to a major speech, so he gives a quick smile then returns to kicking the ground.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:27, Sun 27 Jan 2013.

In reply to Rhaskos (msg # 37):

So the party returns to the spot chosen by Rhaskos earlier (GM note: with a critical stealth roll no less, which just got repeated - so I am running with the idea that Rhaskos has found a perfect hiding place from which to observe the stockade. Chances of being detected are negligable unless someone actively comes hunting or one of you does something daft)

You then observe the camp, awaiting an obvious opportunity to act, or nightfall...

Sanjar considers the crucified winged creature. He appreciated Rhaskos' observation is a good one - it is quite possible it is nailed up there to discourage others from trying to attack the occupants of the stockade. He does not know what it is, but he does know things that appear part human and part animal can be made by gods, spirits - or sorcerers. Sometimes they turn out capable of breeding. Its feathers flutter ragged in the breeze, other than that it is still as death.

An hour passes

Event 1:

A party arrives bearing filled waterskins, and approaches the stockade. This party is 10 strong, includes two men in armour, and a couple of others are bearing spears.

Team perception (9) - the armoured men are carrying crossbows; that's an exotic weapon rarely seen outside Assabia.

Another hour or so, and then

Event 2:

Individuals have come and gone, with no apparent purpose other than banal things like relieving themselves a few yards from the stockade. But a little before sunset two figures exit the gate and appear to 'stroll' in the late afternoon. They are not visible for long before wandering out of sight on the far side of the stockade; but as they stop to gaze upon the crucified bird-creature, even at this range you are convinced one of them is a woman.

Nothing else can be gleaned for now (team perception failed - 72)

Sanjar seems rather taken aback at the crossbows and various other signs of serious preparation.  "Everything about this seems like we are in a situation we do not yet apprehend." he says, frowning and muttering to himself.

The returning water-party is watched with some interest, but ultimately to little end or comment by Sanjar.  The second group however, later in the evening, sparks his interest.  "Mmm.  Do you think we could circle this enclosure and attempt to close on that pair unseen?"