Expedition: Fingers/The Ghostly Trial - 16 July 2021

[Marullus]

Markd offers recompense to Mrs. Frogmorton for her hospitality and the group sets out after a sumptious breakfast. Bandy visits Pierpont's tower and retrieves his items and then they're off to the Ford. They tell the Guardsmen their business and Bandy leaves his pony in the care of the delightful Frogmorton girl, who looks enviously after the group. It is just mid-morning when the group has all crossed the river Ford.

The afternoon is stretching towards evening and they expect they should soon be coming on the low hill of the crypt and the stone pyre of Kellstrom's remains. Bandy and Markd begin to doubt their path across the trackless plains, not seeing things looking familiar as they hoped, the large ruined city appears on the horizon northeast instead of north as a landmark. You then notice movement ahead of you - You see smoke rising from a squat stone ruin of a building, a stagnant canal with a clogged lock next to it. A pair of ogres then rounds the corner at that moment, pointing across the plain in your direction.

(You're 180' feet apart.)

Date: 6:00pm, 18 July 2021
Effects: None
Distance Travelled:
Injuries: None

[onlyme]

The afternoon is stretching towards evening and they expect they should soon be coming on the low hill of the crypt and the stone pyre of Kellstrom's remains. Bandy and Markd begin to doubt their path across the trackless plains, not seeing things looking familiar as they hoped, the large ruined city appears on the horizon northeast instead of north as a landmark. You then notice movement ahead of you - You see smoke rising from a squat stone ruin of a building, a stagnant canal with a clogged lock next to it. A pair of ogres then rounds the corner at that moment, pointing across the plain in your direction.

Markd officially mapped this area already, so I would believe they wouldnt be at risk of actually taking a wrong path/turn, etc. Can we read into this, then, that the landscape itself is moving/altered?

[Zhym]

Fingers looks quickly for anything to take cover behind—or at least to blend into with his fancy elven cloak. "Dammit, I knew we'd want a wizard along," he mutters. He spares only a moment trying to think of ways to avoid combat before firing an arrow at the distant ogres.

'Silmaril' (THAC0 18): [1d20+4] = 11+4 = 15, [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3

[Alethan]

Bandy, unsure as to what they're going to do about the ogres, starts to think of a plan... when Fingers begins firing at them.

So he does as well.

Shortbow [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8 Damage [1d6] = 1 THAC017

[DavetheLost]

I don't suppose any of you speak Ogre?

Father Hengist will ready his staff for combat.

[Marullus]

Markd: Lost.

Markd officially mapped this area already, so I would believe they wouldnt be at risk of actually taking a wrong path/turn, etc. Can we read into this, then, that the landscape itself is moving/altered?

Lab Lord rules for losing direction are on p. 45-46. You don't have a road, so you have a 15% chance of getting lost when on open plains (with or without a map). The ruined city is a landmark (and visible from eight miles/one hex away), so helps you orient when it comes into view, which is now. With a map and compass and the half-speed penalty, you can reduce the chance of getting lost. Even at full speed, the map and compass help you reorient, so I'll tell you that you got off course sooner and help you know which way to course correct (as I did here) where otherwise you need to figure that out. If you have the Surveying Tools, I'll help correct your maps to make sure you know correct truth (where normally policy is that I don't).

[onlyme]

Markd likewise flings a harmless arrow toward the pair.
Shortbow (Thac0 16) [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9; [1d6] = 1

[Marullus]

Finger's shot flies true, striking the largest ogre and making him look rather angry. He starts yelling at the building and four more ogres come tumbling out. They pick up rocks off the crumbling fenceline and hurl them your direction as they begin to close the distance to you. (now 120') The rocks fall harmlessly short, for now.

Date: 6:01pm, 18 July 2021
Effects: None
Distance Travelled: ~8 miles
Injuries: None

Ogre rock [1d20] = 2 [1d10] = 9 target [1d6] = 2
Ogre rock [1d20] = 11 [1d10] = 8 target [1d6] = 6

[Zhym]

Fingers does some quick math and doesn't like the answer. "Whoa crap. Run! C'mon, Sprinkles, let's get the hell out of here!" As he runs, he'll aim for anywhere his cloak might help him blend in as he flees.

[onlyme]

Markd likewise retreats, hoping to stay with the group.

[Marullus]

Do you run or do you hide? Which direction?

[onlyme]

Direction, back the way they came, hopefully. If there is anywhere to hide, then sure.
He just wont be the only one standing there facing them if everyone else has skedaddled.

[Alethan]

Bandy follows Markd in making a hasty retreat. He doesn't care where he goes, he is just focused on sticking with someone. In this case, Markd.

[Zhym]

Fingers won't peel off and hide if the other two are running. Especially because Sprinkles won't be able to hide as well as Fingers can.

[DavetheLost]

Hengist will run away with the group. Especially as he is not dressed for hiding, running seems like a better option.

[Marullus]

Page 52: 60% chance of escape.
Escape [1d100] = 60 catch up [1d100] = 78

You flee from the ogres, running pell mell back across the plains, trying to outdistance them. They seem to be hot on you trail, though, and hound you for a few hours. Finally, as dusk is falling in the overcast sky above, you think you have finally lost them. Pausing at last to get your bearings and catch your breath, you assess your surroundings. You think you were running back towards the river ford, but wouldn't have expected to reach it yet. You are unsure how far you ran, see nothing distinguishing in the trackless grasslands which surround you, and night is falling.

Date: 10:01pm, 18 July 2021
Effects: None
Distance Travelled: No idea
Injuries: None

[Zhym]

Pendleton pulls up, panting. "Good dog! Wasn't that a nice run?" he says, patting Sprinkles on the back, as if trying to keep the dog's spirits up—though Sprinkles probably enjoyed the run more than anyone.

"I think we lost them," he says, peering across the darkening grasslands all around him. "And us. Well, I guess we'd better find a place to sleep. No point wandering around in the dark." He looks around for a place that will be at least a little sheltered and hidden.

[Marullus]

Fingers helps the group find a place in a slight culvert to rest... a bit wetter, but less visible in the wide plains. There is little else to offer shelter.

The night, however, passes uneventfully with everyone getting some bit of sleep. As no spellcasters need rest, the group rises early, soon after sunrise, to head out once more.

Date: 6:00am, 19 July 2021
Effects: None
Distance Travelled: No idea
Injuries: None

[Zhym]

"Okay. So. Lost. Crap." Fingers looks for the mountains to the south, the Gehl Pinnacle to the north-ish, and the sun rising in the east to at least figure out which way is which. He searches for any sign of their recent passage in the grass for a clue on which way to retreat. Assuming he sees none, he sighs heavily and pets his dog.

The bloodhound mix.

Shrugging, figuring anything is worth a try at this point, he bends down to Sprinkles. "Hey, boy! Can you find our old trail?"

"Yeah, I know he can't understand Common, but anyone got a better idea?" he challenges the others.

[DavetheLost]

"The dog's nose is better than mine, and I don't know this country," Brother Hengist accedes to Fingers' proposal.