Aldridge lets out a huge sigh of relief. "Much appreciated, Alwan," he calls out, aware that the element of surprise was now out of their grasp. He looks around at the items that fell with him, pocketing the tablets as he grabs the rope. "The bear definitely heard that, no doubt. Would everyone else mind grabbing the rope, get me out of here and ready?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:07, Thu 28 May 2015.

Westra grabs the rope and begins to pull (strength 13).

Featherwing pulls mightily and easily draws Aldridge out of the hole. “It's a good thing you Monkey clan are so scrawny. You want to get out of here? I'm sure that thing heard us.”
This message was last updated by the GM at 21:15, Thu 28 May 2015.

Westra hears a quiet rustle from the north. It's a ways off yet, but it sounds as though it's approaching.

Aldridge runs and hides on the south side of a tree near Alwanzatar (stealth 21). He nocks an arrow, aims generically north, and quietly sings a scale to warm up his vocal cords.

(The party should now decide if they are running away or attempting to ambush. Flutterwing is frightened and would prefer to run, but would rather stay with the party than to go off alone.)

"Much as I would like to avoid a fight, I suspect we will not succeed in evading this monster," Alwan whispers.

"We got what we came for," Westra says to the group. "I don't want to stay here and face whatever that is. It gives me a very bad feeling. I say we chance running, but I will stay and fight, reluctantly, if that is what the group decides."

Aldridge wants to fight, but he returns the arrow to his quiver. He looks around for resources, or a suitable escape route. Suddenly, he gets an idea. "I suggest we head southwest," he says coyly, pointing. "And we be unstealthy about it. I have a plan, provided we can keep ahead of the bear."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Thu 28 May 2015.

Alwan raises an eyebrow. "Do tell."

Flutterwing nods her head, “There will be time for explanations while we run. Let's move!” She starts to make her way where Aldridge indicated, looking back to see if people follow.

Aldridge hurriedly gestures to the rest of the party to follow Flutterwing's lead. "Ryudo and Westra, you're in the front. Make sure we don't stumble into another trap or another predator. Our heading is southwest, about 3 miles. I'll explain when we get within a half mile. Westra, can you turn into a bear again? Don't turn right now, but we're mostly downwind. You're also a hunter; if you can sense that the bear is still within a quarter-mile of us periodically, we can make sure to string it along until we're ready for it."

"Airdsgainne, Alwanzatar, and I will take the back. We're in charge of making sure that it stays on our tail, but not too close. I know that it's supposed to resist magic, but between the three of us, I think we can manage to cast something that can slow it enough to keep ahead of it."

"If we do run into another predator, take your shots on it while we run, cripple it, and let the bear have it. Then we reclaim its attention. As weird as this sounds, we need that bear."

Aldridge takes the tablets off his person, quickly glancing through one of them as he moves it to Saphira's saddle bags. He attempts to ascertain the contents as he leads his drake. At first glance, the text appears to be complete gibberish. Aldridge considers whether it is another language, arcane writings, or merely the carvings of a madman. More study will be required, but at this time, Aldridge puts the tablet away. For now, he runs.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:48, Fri 05 June 2015.

"This plan sounds mad," Alwan says with a smirk. "I like it." He follows from behind as instructed.

The rules for the chase are as follows:

• The bear is a half mile yonder. (2640')
• You are three miles from your goal. (15840')
• Time will be measured in minutes, unless the bear closes to combat range.
• You must choose how fast to travel:
  
  Careful pace (6 times your speed):
  You may cast spells, make weapon attacks, or other actions on your turn (including readying actions). You may make stealth checks. You may make active perception checks.
  
  Normal pace (10 times your speed):
  You may cast spells, make weapon attacks, or other actions on your turn (including readying actions). You cannot take stealth actions.
  
  Brisk pace (13 times your speed):
  Casting spells, making attacks, or using other actions requires a Constitution (Endurance) check. You may not take stealth actions. You take -5 on perception checks.
  
  Fast pace (15 times your speed):
  You may not cast spells, make attacks, or use other actions. You may not take stealth actions. You take a -5 penalty on perception checks. A fast pace requires a Constitution (Endurance) check (see below).
  
  Sprinting pace (20 times your speed):
  You may not cast spells, make attacks, or use other actions. You may not take stealth actions. You may not make perception checks. A sprinting pace requires a Constitution (Endurance) check, made with disadvantage (see below).

Endurance: Endurance checks are Constitution checks to continue running. You may add your proficiency bonus if you are trained in Athletics. Every character may automatically choose to succeed on a number of Endurance checks equal to 3+Con modifier. (Expended automatic successes return after a short rest.) If you have disadvantage on the check, you may expend one automatic success to negate the disadvantage or two to automatically succeed.

It is now the party's turn. Indicate your speed, make relevant checks, and declare other actions. Turns will fast forward to the next decision point, so indicate if you plan to do something a few minutes hence so your plan isn't fast-forwarded through.

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Fri 29 May 2015.

Aldridge recommends a Brisk pace for four minutes, and a Normal pace on the fifth, repeating until a call to action requires differently.

"Ryudo, you're a bit swifter than the rest of us. Your normal pace should be as fast as our Brisk pace, so I'll let you decide how far ahead you want to scout versus how carefully you check our surroundings."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Fri 29 May 2015.

Alwan nods his agreement.

Ryudo concurs. He stays quite near the front of the party, but keeps a sharp eye out. (Passive perception 15) At a normal pace, Ryudo travels up to 450'.

Westra travels at a brisk pace, but plans on slowing to a careful pace every four minutes to check on the bear (perception 19, 9, and 18 for the first 15 minutes of travel).
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Fri 29 May 2015.

The party makes it's way quickly over the hills and through the woods. The bear is no longer sneaking, but rather following the party pell-mell across the snow. After about ten minutes, the party reaches a sharp cliff face. The face is rough enough to climb (DC 10) and about 20' tall. It would take about a minute to climb carefully from the top to the bottom.

Ryudo and Westra conclude that the bear is approaching the party and may even overtake it, if the current speed is maintained. Westra also concludes that the cliff is likely to slow the bear by a minute as it climbs down, but probably not much more than that.

Ryudo is in the front and reaches the cliff first. Flutterwing and Alwanzatar are both 600' behind him. Aldridge is 180' behind them and Westra is 240' behind him. Airdsgainne trails the group on his short little legs, 230' behind Westra, almost a quarter-mile behind Ryudo.

(The party is starting to thin out. The people in front should decide whether they want to slow down to stay with the slower members. The slower members should decide whether they want to pick up the pace, possibly making checks to move faster.

Everyone should indicate how they wish to handle the cliff. It is too wide to be relevantly walked around. It can be climbed at the cost of a minute and a DC 10 Strength Athletics check. Other ways to travel down cliffs, some more quickly, exist. A character with a DC 15 climb check can give advantage to one adjacent person climbing down next to them. A character can climb down quickly with a DC 20 Strength Athletics check; this only takes half a minute.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:03, Tue 02 June 2015.

Seeing the bear gaining on him, Airdsgainne picks up the pace. (Fast Pace, automatic success)

"Westra!" he shouts, "That bush at the cliff is Mammoth's Blood, harvest it if you have time!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:56, Mon 01 June 2015.

Aldridge walks back towards Airdsgainne, using the time to catch his breath and get a look of their surroundings and the fast-approaching bear. Once Airdsgainne catches up, Aldridge picks up the midget and stuffs him in one of Saphira's saddle bags. "Try not to move around too much, bags of flour are usually pretty still." He smacks Saphira just above her tail. "[Language unknown: Pr si th, korad hitiun. Rea icaratand ndelesoun est strallomewitons, ons ss se on traoutone sonaveiou!]" She groans in protest as she takes off ahead of her master.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:54, Mon 01 June 2015.

"I can take five of us down safely with another Feather Fall," Alwan announces loudly.

"Take the others. I'll meet you down there!"  Ryudo says when he approaches the cliff.  He starts climbing down immediately while the rest run to catch up. (Athletics: 2)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Mon 01 June 2015.

"Flutterwing!" Aldridge pants as he nears the cliff. "When we land, carry Airdsgainne! I trust you a little bit more than Saphira here." The drake is too busy eyeing the cliffside, wary of the height. Aldridge groans. "Flutterwing, do you mind climbing down and letting the drakes Featherfall? They're not as graceful as you!" He looks over the edge. "Though probably a little more graceful than Ryudo."

Aldridge thinks to himself before attempting what doesn't look so hard: scaling the cliff at full speed. (Athletics 15)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Mon 01 June 2015.

Once Airdsgainne points it out, Westra also recognizes the Mammoth's Blood bush.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:03, Tue 02 June 2015.